Newlands to host French
8 Oct 2009
The Springboks will play their 2010 home Tri-Nations Tests in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria, while France will play in Cape Town.
Newlands hosted the only sold out fixture in South Africa during this year’s competition, with the Tests in Bloemfontein and Durban producing a number of empty seats. Loftus witnessed a full house for the deciding Lions’ Test, while the dead rubber at Ellis Park was also not a sell-out, as was the case for the opening Test of the year in Durban.
WP Rugby MD Rob Wagner told this website that the reason Newlands would not house a Tri-Nations Test was due to scheduling, but they would host France for the season-opener on 12 June.
‘You don’t get a Tri-Nations Test two years running,’ Wagner told keo.co.za. ‘The only reason Bloem will have Tri-Nations Tests in 2009 and 2010 is due to a hiccup in the system caused by the Lions’ series. We had the All Blacks last year, and Australia this year.
‘It’s all part of a cycle, one year you have an incoming Test and the next a Tri-Nations one, which will start up again from 2010.’
Venues for the Boks’ opening three internationals of the year against France and Italy haven’t been confirmed, but Wagner said the former Test was scheduled for Cape Town.
Fifa 2010 regulations mean most rugby venues are off limits for this period. World Cup venues are handed over to Fifa 15 days before the start of the World Cup while major sporting events at non-Fifa venues in hosting cities are prohibited seven days before and after the World Cup, which kicks off on 11 June.
‘The issue is currently being discussed,’ said Wagner. ‘SA Rugby are doing that on our behalf, and at this point the France Test is scheduled for Newlands.’
‘We have met with the LOC [Local Organising Committee] and have asked for modest relaxations in some areas,’ Andy Marinos, acting MD of SA Rugby, said in a statement. ‘We have requested a follow-up meeting in the near future with the LOC and Fifa in the hope of having a non-Fifa venue, such as Newlands, made available.’
Meanwhile, the Boks kick-off the defence of their Tri-Nations title with two Tests in New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington), and then their final away fixture is at their unhappy hunting ground in Brisbane.
The Boks then return for Tests against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, and two against Australia at Loftus and in Bloemfontein.
Springboks’ 2010 fixtures:
Saturday, June 12, South Africa v France, TBC (Scheduled for Newlands)
Saturday, June 19, South Africa v Italy, TBC
Saturday, June 26, South Africa v Italy, TBC
Saturday, July 10, New Zealand v South Africa, Auckland
Saturday, July 17, New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington
Saturday, July 24, Australia v South Africa, Brisbane
Saturday, August 21, South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg
Saturday, August 28, South Africa v Australia, Pretoria
Saturday, September 4, South Africa v Australia, Bloemfontein
By Grant Ball
39 Comments
8 Oct 2009, 09:40 am
Good. We tend to struggle there anyway.
8 Oct 2009, 09:40 am
Swak
8 Oct 2009, 10:06 am
SO Newlands must be one of the only venues able to host france and Italy?
I think that it is pathetic the way FIFA have banned all other sports for the duration of the world cup, are they so insecure, i understand if say on the same day in the same city at more or less the same time but so say that the only sporting event is soccer really bugs me
PS i loath soccer
8 Oct 2009, 10:08 am
Good. Half the ******** in the cape support the Kiwis anway. Let them fly up to to Jozi now.
8 Oct 2009, 10:23 am
#3 hoven: It’s a fairly easy explanation really – playing rugby digs up the turf on a field, which in turn makes it difficult to play football on.
Do you loathe soccer, or soccer players? I only ask because I can watch any sport really, be it rugby, soccer, or lawn bowling.
The world cup, is after all, the premier global sporting event.
8 Oct 2009, 10:28 am
Aussies in Bloem…
I like it, get them out of the cities they love like CPT and Durbs.
8 Oct 2009, 10:34 am
#5 RedMan:
Nah. I think the problem is this sentence:
“while major sporting events at non-Fifa venues in hosting cities are prohibited seven days before and after the World Cup…”
8 Oct 2009, 10:36 am
HOPE WE AT LEAST GET FRANCE AT NEWLANDS!!
8 Oct 2009, 10:43 am
PE should get a Italy test…. but i heared Border are favourites …. go figure
8 Oct 2009, 10:53 am
Very pleased that all the Tri-Nations next year will be at altitude.
Great to see All Blacks at Ellis Park always get box tickets there so will be fixed up for that game.
Oz gets two games at altitude. Love it
Will make a effort to go to Loftus to see that game. Never been to Loftus and that will be a good time to go.
8 Oct 2009, 10:54 am
#10 Puma: morning boet
here is the sharks team
Following their loss to the Blue Bulls last week, Griquas will find The Sharks in similarly focused mood and with the announcement of a near full-strength side to travel to Kimberley in the final Absa Currie Cup pool match, will have their work cut out for them.
Griquas need a minimum of two log points out of the game to ensure they progress to the semis and for the hardworking team who have remained in the top four since the tournament started back in July, a fairytale season faces a bitter end should they come out of the match with anything less than two points.
A number of changes have been made for this week’s match, the good news coming in bucket-loads for John Plumtree who has been able to include Riaan Swanepoel and John Smit in the starting lineup and Jean Deysel, the trio returning from injury and all three vital members of the team.
In the only changes to the backline, Swanepoel starts at centre, to be partnered by Adrian Jacobs in the midfield in a new centre combination while the injury to Jacques Botes sees Michael Rhodes starting at flank.
Alistair Hargreaves will start at lock alongside Steven Sykes, with the hardworking Albert van den Berg reverting to the bench while John Smit returns at tighthead to give the front row a distinctly international flavour.
Craig Burden is also over his injury and will provide back-up to Bismarck du Plessis while Jean Deysel has been named in the number 19 jersey after missing the past two matches.
Rory Kockott, Andries Strauss and Waylon Murray will provide cover for the backline.
The Sharks:
15. Stefan Terblanche (Capt)
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Riaan Swanepoel
11. JP Pietersen
10. Juan Hernandez
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Michael Rhodes
6. Keegan Daniel
5. Alistair Hargreaves
4. Steven Sykes
3. John Smit
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Jean Deysel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Andries Strauss
22. Waylon Murray
8 Oct 2009, 10:57 am
Dean, half of newlands filled with nz fans? Mate thats an urban legend – those guys number between 500 and 1000. Are you FREE or are you DOM?
8 Oct 2009, 11:02 am
#11 sharks_lover: Morning mate,
Very pleased to see that Deysel, Smit and Swanepoel are back.
Just hope that Deysel is over that injury 100%. We need him for the semi more I think. Then if we pick up the 5 points we may still top the log. WP would then need the bonus to stay top.
8 Oct 2009, 11:04 am
#11 sharks_lover: So John to start this week. Good news that. Also pleased that Kockott is back on the bench.
Team on paper looking better than last week.
8 Oct 2009, 11:23 am
F**k this k@k of Newlands not getting any Tests (barring the possibility of the June Tests)!!!
Newlands has been putting a good number of asses on seats for a consistant time period now! While the ticket prices are high, somehow Newlands always manages to draw a crowd regardless of how well the local team is doing…
I’ve been living in the Cape now for 6 years, and I experience a feeling of “child-like excitement” every time I go to Newlands, hell… I get excited just thinking about a home semi-final at Newlands next weekend! No doubt, it will be packed… I love WP and I love the Boks… but it is something extra special to experience a packed Newlands in full voice!
I’m not saying that Loftus, ABSA Stadium and Ellis Park aren’t the same… But if they aren’t filling their seats, then give us at Newlands a chance!!!
May I just add… I’ve never been to an international Test at Newlands in the 6 years I’ve been here
But one thing is for sure… There is no better, than a packed Newlands!
8 Oct 2009, 11:28 am
#14 Puma: good team but still light in the back of the scrums
we need muller back and also deysel
john has a lot of light weights pushing behind him , thats not good
infact i think its for that reason hargreaves is starting and not albert
albert has been great in the lineouts though
8 Oct 2009, 11:34 am
Not pleased with this at all…
8 Oct 2009, 11:34 am
#16 sharks_lover: Yes we do need Muller. Not sure when he will be back though. Agree there are some light weights behind John. Think we also miss Muller in the lineouts. Hope Hargreaves don’t let us down there as Albert has been good in the lineouts.
Just pleased that Deysel is there even on the bench for now. Do hope he and John are over their injuries. Don’t want to play them now and cant play them for the semi if their injuries flare up again.
Also pleased to see Swanepoel starting this week.
8 Oct 2009, 12:14 pm
is wp rugby going to move to green point after the soccer world cup or are they staying at newlands?
8 Oct 2009, 12:17 pm
#19 die denker: Staying.
8 Oct 2009, 12:56 pm
#4 Dean: There will be plenty of empty seats for them to sit in.
8 Oct 2009, 12:59 pm
How does FIFA get to tell other sports when they can and can’t play?
8 Oct 2009, 13:02 pm
#8 grant10: Hell no! They normally whip the Boks’ behind in Cape Town. In fact, everyone seems to perform best in the Republic, down there… I dunno why…
8 Oct 2009, 13:26 pm
ok…we got the French….great…better than the same old same old stale Tri Nations…
8 Oct 2009, 13:44 pm
#23 BishopsOD:
That’s an urban legand bud… 19 Tests have been held at Newlands since unification in 1992… The Boks have won 13…!!
8 Oct 2009, 14:15 pm
Say we do have a test in the prohibited time at a non world cup venue, what will fifa do?
8 Oct 2009, 14:17 pm
This is a perfect opportunity to expand the game to the “platteland” and host the tests in places like George, East London, Kimberley, Potchefstroom, Welkom, Witbank, Stellenbosch etc. A France test at Coetzenburg for example would be perfect for rugby fans to escape the soccer crowd in Cape Town as well as a reward for what Stellenbosch has done for Springbok rugby through the years.
8 Oct 2009, 14:18 pm
“Newlands hosted the only sold out fixture in South Africa during this year’s competition, with the Tests in Bloemfontein and Durban producing a number of empty seats. Loftus witnessed a full house for the deciding Lions’ Test”
What’s the diffrence between full house and sold out?
8 Oct 2009, 14:41 pm
#28 st.a.t.w: Sold out is when you sell all the tickets for an event.
A full house contains three matching cards of one rank, and two matching cards of another rank.
8 Oct 2009, 14:48 pm
Frogs: Cape Town
1st Italy test: Kimberley
2nd Italy test: East London
Rad.
8 Oct 2009, 14:51 pm
#28 st.a.t.w:
full house is something offered in the classifieds…? Didn’t know they witnessed such things at Loftus… what next… Lions and Gladiators???
8 Oct 2009, 14:57 pm
#28 st.a.t.w:
seriously
full house is when it looks like there are no empty seats…
sold out is when there are no empty seats…
(I think)
8 Oct 2009, 15:27 pm
#25 ufo: Urban legend or not, you and I know that there is a sense of insecurity amongst the Boks and fans alike whenever they play at Newlands. The reasons are just too obvious and have been rummaged through for a while, now…
8 Oct 2009, 15:37 pm
It the consolation prize… Lets just beat them this time. Not like 2006. At least Breant Russell scored a try that day.
8 Oct 2009, 15:38 pm
#34 WP_: Brent
8 Oct 2009, 16:08 pm
#3 hoven:
I can not stand watching this soccer/football sport!
Yes they’re skillful and yes they’re fit, but darn, so are those weirdo’s who do long distance running/cycling/swimming/boring/boring.
Quite fun to play the game, just k@kboring to watch.
9 Oct 2009, 05:32 am
#15 Gambit25:
agree 100%
Newlands “in full voice” is an amazing place to be. Hell, just the braai before the game at one of the local schools is a reason to go there by itself. The stadium breathes atmosphere. I don’t understand why people are so damn shy of the place?
#36 iamyourfather:
K@k boring to watch indeed.
#28 st.a.t.w:
A full house is something that sports commentators and writers borrowed from poker to sound poetic and clever.
9 Oct 2009, 07:30 am
NZ tour SA for a whopping one test, whereas SA are in Australasia for three tests
9 Oct 2009, 14:01 pm
#38 sglazer: That is why we need Argentina in the competition – the teams from Down Under will have to cross the Pacific to play them which is farther than crossing the Atlantic.
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