England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

by **Biltong** Tue 17 Apr 2012, 7:39 pm

Here are the dates and venues for the English Summer Tour.

June 9: South Africa v England, King's Park, Durban (1600 BST)
June 13: SA Barbarians South v England, GWK Park, Kimberley (1330)
June 16: South Africa v England, Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg (1600)
June 19: SA Barbarians North v England, Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom (1810)
June 23: South Africa v England, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth (1600)

Should be a good one.

Jurie Roux

The South African Rugby Union CEO Jurie Roux praised the decision. "I think all rugby fans will be excited by the idea of having England on tour in South Africa for five matches over three weeks. South Africa has not hosted a three-Test tour against a single nation since the visit of New Zealand in 1996, so this will be a special occasion for all of us. The Rugby Football Union has also agreed to two midweek matches, which gives us the opportunity to take international rugby away from the major metropolitan centres. It also presents a chance for players outside of the Springbok and Vodacom Super Rugby camps to demonstrate their ability against top-flight international opposition."

Stuart Lancaster

"This will be a massive and exciting challenge for us," he said. "England have never had a three-Test series in South Africa and, with two midweek games against opponents who will be desperate to impress, these five games gives us a great opportunity for a wider group of players to put their hat in the ring and gain international experience. We were pleased with the progress we made in the Six Nations and this tour is another important step on the journey towards 2015."

by Morgannwg Tue 17 Apr 2012, 8:30 pm

So what players will the North and South Barbarians consist of? Could they have not played a provincial team?

by **Biltong** Tue 17 Apr 2012, 8:43 pm

Morgann, Due to the Super Rugby Franchises who would be taking a break (those not involved with the tests) The remaining Vodacom teams aren`t that strong as they are mainly the leftovers, so I think the idea is to take the most promising of those not involved in Super Rugby and put two teams together.

by fa0019 Tue 17 Apr 2012, 8:46 pm

I assume the South Barbarians will be made up of players from WP & the Sharks and the North will take players from the Lions, FS & the Bulls. It will consist of players who aren't in the test squad.

Hopefully they will be competitive and SARU won't just play CC/Vodacom Cup players who will get spanked 50-0.

In many ways if its done right then it will strengthen the challenge as all teams will be depleted by player withdrawals to the test squad so its better to pool the best players from two or more franchises to give the midweek ENG side a run for their money.

by fa0019 Tue 17 Apr 2012, 8:53 pm

biltongbek

It would be bad if the players are only Vodacom cup standard.... it wouldn't even be a competition.

When you think last years winners of the Vodacom Cup was Pampas... i.e. the Argentinian U20s/development side then we realise matching even the best of the Vodacom cup players against the 2nd team in ENG with a possible backline of

Dickson, Flood, Sharples, Twelvetrees, Turner-Hall, Monye, Brown.

would mean a certain mismatch.

I really do hope it will be Super rugby players of note who are just not making the test squad.

by **Biltong** Tue 17 Apr 2012, 9:01 pm

Fa Jurie Roux said players outside the Super Rugby Franchises, But I disagree with you as to the competitiveness of these two teams.

There are some ex Super rugby players in the Vodacom Cup

by Morgannwg Tue 17 Apr 2012, 9:08 pm

Is the Currie Cup now the Vodacom cup?

And ah I see. Didn't they do something like that for the Lions tour (the Southern Kings)?

by fa0019 Tue 17 Apr 2012, 9:11 pm

hmm, I'm not so convinced but I will wait and see who gets selected as you are right there are some decent players in Vodacom albeit limited.

For example, a friend of mine who plays for villagers in CT, he played for WP Vodacom Cup and managed one or two in the CC.... he went to the UK a few years ago to try his luck but only managed to play for a League One side... the ENG 3rd division. There is a big gulf in playing standard in my opinion.

by fa0019 Tue 17 Apr 2012, 9:13 pm

Morgannwg

No, Vodacom Cup is the competition below Currie Cup. Its a development league in essence and its the first level above age grade rugby.

Argentina have their U20/developement side in the competition and they are the current holders.

by **Biltong** Tue 17 Apr 2012, 9:29 pm

FA, here is a possible Southern Barbarians squad, these are all players who have played Currie Cup premier division.

1. Wickus Blaauw
2.Kyle Cooper
3. Ross Geledenhuys
4.Barend Pieterse
5.Jandre Marais
6.
7.Cornell du Preez
8.Luke Watson
9.Bolla Conradie
10. Dimitri Catrakilis (did great in the Currie cup last year)
11.Jongi Nokwe
12.
13.Wandile Mjekevu
14.S Sithole
15.wandile Stick

by aitchw Wed 18 Apr 2012, 2:11 pm

It makes the tour very intensive and I like the idea that this gives a chance for all the England squad members to get game time. I see this as very much a development tour and it fits well for this. I hope SA can get something similar from it. Whilst seeing the Boks as being a bit stronger they are almost as much in transition as us and wish them both well. Still hope we can come away with at least one test win though.

by formerly known as Sam Wed 18 Apr 2012, 2:18 pm

against the 2nd team in ENG with a possible backline of

Dickson, Flood, Sharples, Twelvetrees, Turner-Hall, Monye, Brown.

would mean a certain mismatch.

Lee Dickson is first choice and to be honest I'd be suprised if his brother Karl got called up despite his training squad cover in the 6N as he's 29 and a bit too average. Care, Dickson, Youngs are the likely scrum halves with either Simpson or Spencer likely to be added, though to be honest Youngs needs the summer off. If Flood is in the mid week team I will be very suprised indeed as on current form he's the best 10 in the AP and whilst Owen Farrell can't get a game at 10 and his daddy is no longer the England backs coach. Expect Trinder in for JTH as well.

by ChequeredJersey Wed 18 Apr 2012, 2:58 pm

You might also be looking at Wade or May on one of the wings

by ChequeredJersey Wed 18 Apr 2012, 3:25 pm

But whatever the backline is, it looks strong-

Could be

9- Youngs/Care/Simpson
10- Flood/Farrell/Burns
11- Sharples/Monye/Benjamin
12- Twelvetrees/Allen/JTH
13- Trinder/Joseph/Lowe
14- Wade/May/Strettle
15- Brown/May

And that's a lot of players who could really do some damage on a hard track

by Effervescing Elephant Wed 18 Apr 2012, 4:47 pm

I've decided to volunteer for the role of 'Tour Genealogist'. See if i can dig me up some Granparents. "Get in the back of the van Saffer, you're coming home with us!!!" devil

by bluestonevedder Wed 18 Apr 2012, 4:50 pm

by formerly known as Sam Wed 18 Apr 2012, 4:55 pm

I've decided to volunteer for the role of 'Tour Genealogist'. See if i can dig me up some Granparents. "Get in the back of the van Saffer, you're coming home with us!!!"

Hookers and tightheads only! Well ok maybe an enforcer or two but mainly hookers and tightheads.

by yappysnap Wed 18 Apr 2012, 5:00 pm

Make sure they're good and over the hill and the more injury prone the better!

by Effervescing Elephant Wed 18 Apr 2012, 5:09 pm

Spoiler:

by **Biltong** Wed 18 Apr 2012, 7:57 pm

Carpe Diem wrote:I've decided to volunteer for the role of 'Tour Genealogist'. See if i can dig me up some Granparents. "Get in the back of the van Saffer, you're coming home with us!!!"

Good, I feel the need for hunting some sunburnt to toast englishman running around our stadia with a genetic blood test set. England itinerary for South Africa tour announced. Superhero

England itinerary for South Africa tour announced. Superhero

by Portnoy Wed 18 Apr 2012, 8:20 pm

Biltong, Will the English be playing much at altitude or will they be going up and down like a whore's drawers?

by **Biltong** Wed 18 Apr 2012, 8:38 pm

Durban sealevel
Kimberley 1100 meters above sea level
Johannesburg 1500
Potchefstroom 1300
P E sealevel

by Geordie Wed 18 Apr 2012, 8:50 pm

Its gonna allow the 1st team a cracking chance to gain yet more experience and build on the 6n....but also gives a few firnge players a chance to break through....

Away from the usual back row debate..i think the likes of May, Wade, and Garvey, should be looking to this tour to make a REAL shot at nailing a 1st XV spot....

by Sponsored content

England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.

Re: England itinerary for South Africa tour announced.