ABs back at Ellis Park...for now

 

SARU have confirmed the Springbok fixtures for 2015, which includes a clash with the All Blacks at Ellis Park for the third consecutive year, although SARU CEO Jurie Roux said that the recent practice of hosting New Zealand only at Johannesburg venues had been reviewed during the allocation process.

 

“Member unions have made a case for hosting the draw-card of a Springbok v All Blacks match at their venue and we have heard them,” he said.

 

“In the next round of allocations from 2016 onwards that fixture will be moving around the country including to coastal unions such as Western Province and the Sharks,” he explained.

 

Their other home game will see them face Argentina at Kings Park in Durban, whilst their only away game in the Rugby Championship will be against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

 

The schedule was amended as a result of the condensing of the competition competition to three rounds because of the World Cup, which begins in mid-September.

 

Durban was due to host the Springboks’ home match against Australia – which was one of the matches to be removed from the schedule.

 

It will now receive the visiting Pumas while Western Province, which was due to host that Test, will be the venue for a match against a World XV on either 22 or 29 August.

 

The match against New Zealand was always scheduled to be held in Johannesburg.

 

July 18 v Australia – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (Rugby Championship)

July 25 v New Zealand – Ellis Park, Johannesburg (Rugby Championship)

August 8 v Argentina – Kings Park, Durban (Rugby Championship)

August 15 v Argentina – Venue TBC 

August 22 or 29 v World XV – Newlands, Cape Town

September 19: South Africa v Japan – Brighton (World Cup)

September 26 v Samoa – Birmingham (World Cup)

October 3 v Scotland – Newcastle (World Cup)

October 7 v USA – London (World Cup)