Top Gear forces changes to Springbok schedule.

The Springboks will end off a busy international season with a tour to Scotland, Wales and France in Europe in November this year, while the venues for the first two Springbok Tests of 2013 have been reversed to avoid an event clash.

The opening fixture of a new-look quadrangular tournament between the Springboks, their RWC 2015 opponents, Scotland and Samoa, as well as Italy, will now take place at Mr Price Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, June 8.

The second round will be played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit – the first-ever Test at that venue.

This change in venue has been effected due to a clash with the Top Gear motoring event in Durban on June 15 and 16.

Furthermore, the Springboks will play their away-fixtures during The Castle Rugby Championship in Mendoza on August 24 (against Argentina), Brisbane on September 7 (against Australia) and Auckland on September 14 (against New Zealand).

In November, the Springboks will return to France for the first time since 2009. It will only be the third Test against the French since South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in Paris in 2007. The venue for this Test still has to be confirmed by the hosts.

The Springboks will also play Tests against Scotland and Wales on their traditional season-ending tour to Europe.

All home matches are subject to the conclusion of commercial terms with planned hosting venues and all fixtures are subject to change.

The Springboks 2013 fixtures are:



Castle Incoming Tour:
•Saturday, June 8 (Mr Price Kings Park, Durban): Scotland v Samoa; Springboks v Italy
•Saturday, June 15 (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit): Samoa v Italy; Springboks v Scotland
•Saturday, June 22 (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria): Team 3 v Team 4 ; Team 1 v Team 2

The Castle Rugby Championship:
•Saturday, August 17 (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein): Springboks v Argentina
•Saturday, August 24 (Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza): Argentina v Springboks
•Saturday, September 7 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane): Australia v Springboks
•Saturday, September 14 (Eden Park, Auckland): New Zealand v Springboks
•Saturday, September 28 (DHL Newlands, Cape Town): Springboks v Australia
•Saturday, October 5 (Ellis Park, Johannesburg): Springboks v New Zealand

Castle Outgoing Tour:
•Saturday, November 9 (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff): Wales v Springboks
•Saturday, November 16 (Murrayfield, Edinburgh): Scotland v Springboks
•Saturday, November 23 (Venue TBC): France v Springboks

I like top gear, but they don't show their event on TV, so it doesn't benefit me at all.

I'm happy our test at your's is at Cape Town, always think we have a chance to win there

I expect your article is more diplomatic and measured than Mr Clarkson's would've been if Top Gear had been moved instead though Biltong!

On the Top Gear note I remember seeing an interview with the three presenters at one point and one of the reasons they like doing live shows and motoring festivals in SA is that health n'safety regulations in the UK prevent them from doing much of what they want to do in the shows these days.

I wonder how they will work that 4 nations tournament, Scotland and Italy don't play each other, and Samoa and South Africa won't play each other, so it is a bit strange that the 3rd round of games is 1st place V 2nd and 3rd V 4th!

So if both Scotland and Italy beat Samoa and lose to South Africa, who comes in 2nd place? Score difference?

Suppose that's the only way to do it.

king_carlos wrote: I expect your article is more diplomatic and measured than Mr Clarkson's would've been if Top Gear had been moved instead though Biltong!

On the Top Gear note I remember seeing an interview with the three presenters at one point and one of the reasons they like doing live shows and motoring festivals in SA is that health n'safety regulations in the UK prevent them from doing much of what they want to do in the shows these days.

I saw that too, they love the freedom SA laws provide them.

I am always diplomatic mate.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I wonder how they will work that 4 nations tournament, Scotland and Italy don't play each other, and Samoa and South Africa won't play each other, so it is a bit strange that the 3rd round of games is 1st place V 2nd and 3rd V 4th!

So if both Scotland and Italy beat Samoa and lose to South Africa, who comes in 2nd place? Score difference?

Suppose that's the only way to do it.

I also find it strange, why don't they all just play one another once.

Please can SA keep Clarkson and his dim-witted friends. Thanks.

With that draw its likely a SA vs Samoa 'final' (mainly because Samoa dont play SA and the other two do). Normally I'd say what an unfair draw but then for Italy to play SA and Samoa away has got to be good experience for them with the Samoa match a good chance for them. The Samoans will love the fast ground though.

But I do wonder how ready it'll make SA for the RC given we have a tough 3 tester against France and Oz have the Lions as a 'warm up'. They'll likely have less injuries and will be able to play more benchers but in terms of hard match play, they could be underdone.

In thinking about this more...SA are probably in the best position. Oz and NZ are going to be stuffed by the time the RC kicks in. Oz could be severely depleted (if thats possible) with injuries after the Lions pack get into them. NZ should be ok given theyre not carrying many injuries presently and mccaw will be resting. But FRance over 3 will be brutal, especially if theyre 6N or GS champs by then.

For the last 3 Lions tours the host has gone on to lift the trophy... perhaps because they are more battle hardened.

Injuries are always a risk but I'd back the team going into the tournament fired up rather than one only luke warm after games vs. Italy, Scotland and Samoa.

France may not send their top side (they hardly do) so its not guaranteed NZ will get the necessary match practice. Can't see them winning the GS (perhaps the 6N though)... to do so they have to win at Twickenham... which they hardly ever do... twice in the last nine 6N matches there.

A three test tour of NZ, and not bring their best side?
With one or two I can understand but they'll be the joke of the rugby world if they bring a second side to this. No reason for it and a waste of everyones time.

The final of the top14 is on the 1st June so I doubt any player involved there will play in the 1st test a week later on the 8th. The turnaround would be a big ask... i.e. fly on the monday, select side on thursday and play on Saturday.... with little or no time together and jet lag to get over.

Depends who is contesting the final.

Kind of puts FRA on the backfoot if at the first test they may be missing say 10 first team players.

Didn't that happen in the 1st test a few years back when FRA caught you out cold in the 1st test of 2???? They only played their first choice for the 2nd test.

Bit of a shame.

If thats the case why do they agree to these stupid schedules. Why do the IRB come up with a test on the other side of the planet a week after a major final. Geez we have some fools in this game.

Yeah they caught us in the first test for the trophy that no one seems to have known (press and the team itself) that it was decided on points agregate for the second. I believe we took a penalty to increase our lead but needed a try to overcome the first test deficit. Team management...in their wisdom...decided not to tell the team that it was based on aggregate.

Weird thing is, the fans, press etc- everyone...no one knew of it either...