Rugby

Boks to experience the unknown Down Under

You are currently viewing Boks to experience the unknown Down Under
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is chased by Wallabies captain Michael Hooper

The Springboks will play a Test in Adelaide for the first time when they line up against the Wallabies in the first of their two Rugby Championship matches in Australia.

Rugby Australia confirmed the Boks’ destinations on Monday, with SA to face the Australians at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, 27 August and their second encounter scheduled for the following week in New South Wales on 3 September, the venue yet to be confirmed.

SA Rugby also confirmed that all six the Boks’ home Tests this year will kick off at 5:05pm – against Wales in the incoming tour in July, as well as the three Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa, against New Zealand at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit (6 August) and at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (13 August), and the final match of the tournament, against Argentina at Kings Park in Durban (24 September).

Jacques Nienaber is excited about the Boks making their first appearance in Adelaide, and returning to New South Wales for the first time in more than a decade in the southern-hemisphere spectacle, and said it would be a great experience for the team after becoming accustomed to playing mainly in Brisbane and Perth over the past few years.

“We are very excited about playing in Adelaide for the first time and hopefully we can make the most of this occasion in a season that will be vital as we build towards to the Rugby World Cup in France next year,” the Bok coach said.

“The players enjoyed the experience of playing four Tests in Queensland last year, and Adelaide will present another exciting new challenge for the team, while the last time we played the Wallabies in New South Wales, was back in 2011 in Sydney.

“It also offers us the opportunity to start on a new slate at a fresh venue in a country that we have come to know very well over the years.”

Springbok fixtures and SA kick-off times:

Incoming Tour:
5:05pm: Saturday, 2 July – Springboks vs Wales (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
5:05pm: Saturday, 9 July – Springboks vs Wales (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)
5:05pm: Saturday, 16 July – Springboks vs Wales (Cape Town)

Rugby Championship:
5:05pm: Saturday, 6 August – Springboks vs All Blacks (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
5:05pm: Saturday, 13 August – Springboks vs All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
TBC: Saturday, 27 August – Australia vs Springboks (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
TBC: Saturday, 3 September – Australia vs Springboks (New South Wales, venue TBC)
9:10pm: Saturday, 17 September – Argentina vs Springboks (Estadio Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
5:05pm: Saturday, 24 September – Springboks vs Argentina (Kings Park, Durban)

Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images