Saru confirms Cardiff clash
3 Mar 2010
The Springboks will play Wales just a week after the Super 14 final.
The Test on 5 June will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Millennium Stadium, which was opened in 1999 with a match between Wales and the Springboks that the hosts won 29-19.
Saru is set to pocket £500 000 (R5.73 million) from the game, which explains why it has happily added another Test to the Boks’ already jam-packed programme.
The world champions will now play 14 Tests in 2010, despite warnings from the likes of Prof Tim Noakes that they are playing too much rugby and will suffer the consequences at next year’s World Cup.
‘As we opened the stadium 10 seasons ago, it was only appropriate that the Springboks should be the nation to mark the anniversary,’ said Oregan Hoskins, president of Saru.
‘Wales were very keen that we should share this day with them and although it is a break with the traditional shape of our domestic season I am sure it will be a momentous rugby occasion – the kind of event that Test rugby is all about.’
The Boks then play France at Newlands on 12 June, followed by two Tests against Italy on consecutive weekends.
The six-match Tri-Nations follows, plus a Grand Slam tour at the end of the year. Just for good measure, the Boks also play against the Barbarians in early December.
‘Obviously we are aware acutely aware of the player management issues that this [additional] Test [against Wales] presents,’ said Hoskins, ‘but I am sure that the Springbok selectors will look at this as an opportunity to Test combinations.’
82 Comments
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3 Mar 2010, 08:15 am
play this team vs wales
1 beast
2 bismarck
2 bj
4 juandre kruger
4 a bekker
6 brussow
7 j smith
8 A Johnson
9 januarie
10 b james
11 mapoe
12 jdv
13 a jacobs
14 jpp
15 f steyn
Bobs your aunt…
3 Mar 2010, 08:19 am
Come to think of it, we could play the following team against the Italians:
Fowards: Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Bees Roux, Flip Nel, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Stegman, Potgieter, Rossouw
Backs: Heinie Adams, Wacko Jacko, Pretorius, Dippenaar, Kirchner, van den Heever, Mametsa
Maybe a couple out of position, but thats not a problem.
3 Mar 2010, 08:24 am
@BlueBlood:
Yer and you would get beaten.
3 Mar 2010, 08:29 am
@BlueBlood: Pride comes before a fall.
Bulls getting way out of hand….careful….a bit of humility now and then please.
3 Mar 2010, 08:40 am
@NZINCHINA: agree. Smashed I’m afraid. So they’d have to play in blue shirts far removed from the fabled green.
3 Mar 2010, 08:42 am
@grant10: morning Grant. How you bud? Newlands on saturday?
3 Mar 2010, 08:43 am
@grant10: trying to do some work from home this morning. As one can see, failing.
3 Mar 2010, 08:45 am
this is just dof.
seemingly, the only way out is to forfeight next years S14.
top boks rested and reconditioned for a good 3 months after the end of year tour.
that’s the only way we will have a chance of performing next season.
3 Mar 2010, 08:48 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl: They already said that the Bokke won’t be playing in this year’s Currie Cup.
Also, next year is the Super15, which is a much longer competition, so I am sure that the Bokke won’t play in the second half of that either.
Will probably be rested for the Tri Nations as well.
So, there is ample opportunity for rest.
But, I dont know how teams like the Lions are going to cope with such a long competition, they dont have the depth.
3 Mar 2010, 08:56 am
@grant10: butch is a bigger sicknote than schalk, forget about him, get him out of your head, let go!
He was always solid without ever being spectacular.
You always preach the pas glories don’t mean diddly squat, this is a classic case!
3 Mar 2010, 09:01 am
Dit was hierdie same test tien jaar terug that we lost our unbeaten record teen Wallis.
3 Mar 2010, 09:02 am
Lots of rugby , i like it !
3 Mar 2010, 09:05 am
the only thing left now is for pdv to let us in on his PLAN…i sure hope he has a plan
3 Mar 2010, 09:07 am
@grant10: # 54,
surely you know he isn’t sierieaaaaas!
Well i he is sieriaaaaaas… he must stop smoking that stuff..
3 Mar 2010, 09:09 am
@Transformation: he has – he’s taking the Kings to Wales….
3 Mar 2010, 09:13 am
keyboard………. hell no!!!!!!!!!!
3 Mar 2010, 09:16 am
@grant10: PDV will play his strongest team v Wales, more likely to see an experimental side during the two tests v Italy.
3 Mar 2010, 10:41 am
@poppa69: (41) Don’t mock it. That survey reached 100% of New Zealand’s literate and sober population.
3 Mar 2010, 10:59 am
@Big Hit: PdV’s strongest team isn’t nescessarily the strongest team available..!
3 Mar 2010, 11:10 am
SARU can do this with the provisio they don’t select any players involved in the final – so that’s pretty much everyone except the Bulls
3 Mar 2010, 11:14 am
@Storm outta hell: well he doesn’t change the side much so we know who it’s likely to be.
3 Mar 2010, 11:16 am
@katman:
lol
I heard it was conducted from all the South Africans that have stayed out of crime.
3 Mar 2010, 11:17 am
@Big Hit: Yep…it’s the likely players on the bench that bothers me…and then he wonders why we always go to sleep in the last 20..???
3 Mar 2010, 15:42 pm
All these Tests could be a blessing IF, and a HUGE FARKEN IF, the selectors actually choose young “FORM” based players unlike last years end of the year mix up. Combine that with Grant’s suggestion of European based players and it could work out fine.
As long as the jokers actually chose Forwards who have played in the last 6 months and who are REAL Springbok potential, then could be great opportunity. Can rotate Smittie and Bissie all year long. We have enough loosies, scrummies and need to give our back – up Flyhalf (whoever they eventually decide) an extended run.
Home games against Italy to build confidence, Wales away game, plus European tour. Perfect. The KEY is the selection and coaching…So forget Dickie Muir – he has had his chance and not too successful – too much experimentation. Get Heyneke, Rassie and Alistair Coetzee and ask them to run these “Shadow Boks”.
3 Mar 2010, 17:17 pm
@toddke: I agree! Its a good opportunity.
I like the idea of giving the European-based okes a run in this game. Although I dont know how it affects the team dynamic/morale etc…
3 Mar 2010, 18:01 pm
Great idea. Yes lets see how much more we can play our top players into the ground. This game should cheer up Noakes no end!!
These are the types of games where a mandela 15 would be appropriate!!!
3 Mar 2010, 18:17 pm
grant10 – That should Bob’s your uncle and Fannies you aunt.
I think BJ for Beast, Beast also needs a good rest.
Hopefully The Sharks donnot make the S14 playoffs and their players get a rest!!
3 Mar 2010, 18:20 pm
@TASSIES: I am there Tassies…corporate box with the suits….cold beer and snacks…hopefully a Stormers win!
3 Mar 2010, 18:23 pm
bih hit….we got a super 14 semi…..maybe final…then to wales…then home to France??
Bloody hell…
3 Mar 2010, 18:39 pm
@grant10: tough going but France play the weekend before tests all the time, maybe leave the Bulls players out of the trip north
3 Mar 2010, 18:52 pm
@Big Hit: 80
Thats what i mean….if Bulls make final it will be difficult to expect them to front up in wales a week later then against france at newlands…..
crazy schedule….money …plain and simple
10 Mar 2010, 20:36 pm
South Africa will field a team stripped of a host of home-based players when they face Wales in Cardiff in June.
Coach Peter de Villiers has confirmed only two players per Super 14 franchise will be picked for the squad.
The rest of the squad will be chosen from players exiled in Europe in what will be a pre-World Cup trial for them.
The World Cup holders’ coach said: “I would be skinned by the media if I didn’t take the opportunity to look at players based in Europe.”
The Saturday, 5 June clash at the Millennium Stadium comes just five days after the completion of the current Super 14 season.
De Villiers is unwilling to rely on his home-based players, especially ahead of a busy pre-World Cup season that will see the world champions play 14 Tests.
Instead De Villiers will focus his attention on the Tri-Nations campaign, which begins when the Springboks play New Zealand in Auckland on July 10.
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“Our focus will definitely be on the Tri-Nations this year, given that we play our first game of the tournament at the same venue where we’ll be based for next year’s World Cup.
“We’d be stupid not to focus on that game and, by extension, on the entire Tri-Nations tournament.
“I will take only two (contracted) Boks to Wales from each franchise, at most.”
The South African Rugby Union has a policy of not selecting players plying their trade abroad.
But De Villiers will overlook that and give the likes of BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Butch James, Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn a chance to forward their claims for a World Cup place.
“By choosing overseas-based players for the Wales Test we won’t be putting the Springbok brand at risk,” said De Villiers.
“Instead, it will be an opportunity for us. We won’t have another chance to look at these players and at our depth again.
“I have to think about what will be best for the Springboks with a view to the World Cup, and I would be skinned by the media if I didn’t take the opportunity to look at players based in Cardiff.
“I’m loath to say it, but this could be a one-off trial for players overseas to push for a World Cup place.”
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