The present focus for South African rugby continues to be centred round the home group’s performances in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, however this consideration will quickly shift to the Springboks’ planning for his or her World Cup title defence.
Some alignment and planning camps are anticipated to happen in the close to future, whereas the Rugby Championship – shortened to only a single spherical of fixtures – will kick off in July.
The Springboks have already deliberate some blockbuster World Cup warm-up matches, earlier than selecting their 33-man squad that might be heading to France for the World Cup.
It’s nonetheless early days, however for these questioning when the Springboks are subsequent in motion, right here are a few of the key dates to stay in your diary.
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SPRINGBOKS FIXTURES IN 2023
Rugby Championship:
✈ 8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Venue and time TBC)
✈ 15 July: Springboks vs New Zealand (Venue and time TBC)
✈ 29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Venue and time TBC)
World Cup warm-ups:
✈ 5 August: Springboks vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)
✈ 19 August: Springboks vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
✈ 25 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)
Rugby World Cup:
✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
✈ 17 September: South Africa vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Meanwhile, in different information, there may be hope that Springboks lock RG Snyman is making encouraging progress together with his damage restoration.
Snyman has performed simply 4 video games for Munster over two years and has but to play for the Springboks since serving to them win the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The highly effective lock has endured a nightmare interval with knee accidents, whereas he additionally sustained burns in a firepit accident in June 2021, additional delaying his return.
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Snyman continues to be battling back from a second cruciate knee damage after struggling a setback in his restoration earlier this season, however this week was concerned in some gentle coaching with the Irish membership.
It’s believed Munster are hopeful that Snyman might be back in motion for the second half of the season, and there may be each probability he might be back in competition for Springboks choice previous to the begin of the Rugby Championship.
He can have restricted time to stake a declare for World Cup choice, however there is no such thing as a doubt that he stays on the Springboks’ radar contemplating he’s one in all the most proficient locks in world rugby when match and in type.
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SNYMAN FEATURED IN 23 TESTS BETWEEN 2018 AND 2019
Snyman’s fellow South African born lock Jean Kleyn just lately hailed the character that the 27-year-old has displayed.
“I actually can’t commend the man more,” Kleyn mentioned. “He’s had two years from hell in phrases of not simply his accidents, however household bereavements, being away from house as properly throughout all of this.
“I feel it speaks volumes of his character that he’s nonetheless coming in on daily basis, huge smile on his face, at all times concerned. He has been sitting in on conferences for the final two years and nonetheless making an attempt so as to add though he is aware of he’s six or eight months out – clearly that’s six to eight months in the past.
“There’s not a single fella that’s not excited to have him as a part of the group and back in coaching, back on the pitch. He’s a fella that slotted in extremely properly from the begin, he’s an extremely likeable man.
“His resilience is insane. I’ve by no means met a fella who has gone via extra and maintained a extra optimistic mindset. It’s astonishing. I’d say if I used to be in the similar place, I might simply have thrown the towel in.
“Nothing seems to be able to keep him down for too long. He’s a phenomenal guy. We’re all very much looking forward to seeing him on the pitch again. He was involved during the warm up and a bit of skills today and you can just see that the man is just an athlete. He’s a 6′ 10″, 135 kilo athlete, which is scary. So we’re all looking forward to seeing him involved again. He’s going to be a massive benefit to the team.”
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