The Springboks will kick off an excellent 2023 season against Australia in Pretoria in July in the first round of the shortened Rugby Championship and will face Argentina in Johannesburg in their last home game before build-up to the Rugby World Cup defense begins. .
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In August, the Boks travel to Argentina to take on the Pumas before taking on Wales and the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup warm-up matches in Cardiff and London in the final build-up to the world final in France, which begins on the second weekend of September.
The charges of Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber will kick off the international season on Saturday 8 July with their opening Rugby Championship test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, before traveling to New Zealand to face the All Blacks on Saturday, July 17.
They will return to South Africa to conclude their campaign against the Pumas at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park two weeks later on Saturday 29 July.
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This will be the first time since 2016 that the Boks have hosted Australia in Pretoria, and the first time since 2013 that they have faced Argentina in Johannesburg, with South Africa winning both games, 18-10 and 73-13 respectively.
The away game against Argentina is scheduled for Saturday 5 August before facing Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 19 August and a second test against New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday 25 August.
South Africa will kick off their Rugby World Cup title defense on Sunday, September 10 against Scotland in Marseille, followed by group matches against Romania in Bordeaux (September 17), Ireland in Paris (September 23) and Tonga in Marseille ( 1st October).
The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of October 14-15, the semi-finals on October 20-21 and the final on Saturday, October 28.
“Loftus Versfeld and Emirates Airline Park are iconic stadiums, and we greatly enjoy the fanatical support of the home crowd at these venues, so we are delighted to kick off what is a vital season for the team at these stadiums,” said Nienaber.
“These Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches are going to be crucial as we look to get our Rugby World Cup season off to a good start and playing New Zealand and Australia and Argentina in the highveld will be ideal for our preparation.
“All three teams will enter the international spectacle in France among a handful of teams that will be considered as potential title contenders, so we expect a thorough test throughout the campaign.”
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SA Rugby Director of Rugby rassie erasmus He added that the match against the Pumas in Argentina ties in very well with their preparations for the RWC: “Playing against Argentina in South America is unique as they have a very passionate home crowd that brings out the best in their team, so the atmosphere It will be good. preparation for our team with an eye on the Rugby World Cup, especially after getting a taste of the atmosphere we can expect at the international extravaganza in our match against France in Marseille last November.”
Nienaber said that the national coaches have been hard at work with their planning for the international season, in which they will look to build on an encouraging 2022 season: “The coaches have started working this year and we will continue to work hard. as we try to make sure we leave no stone unturned ahead of the World Cup.
“We are on track to finalize our planning for the season and we are excited to return to the training ground,” added the Springbok coach.
An announcement will be made in due course about the Test venues in New Zealand and Argentina, as well as the Boks’ training grounds.
Springbok 2023 matches:
rugby championship:
Saturday July 8: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday July 15: Springboks vs New Zealand (venue to be confirmed)
Saturday July 29: Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
RWC warm-up matches:
Saturday August 5: Springboks v Argentina (venue to be confirmed)
Saturday August 19: Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday August 25: SA vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
RWC pool accessories:
Sunday September 10: Springboks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday September 17: Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday September 23: Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday October 1: Springboks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Weekend of October 14/15 – Quarterfinals
Weekend of October 21/22 – Semifinals
Saturday October 28 – Final
