Boks to change gear
The Springbok playing schedule for 2013 has been confirmed, with a venue switch to accommodate another sporting event in June.
The opening fixture of a new-look quadrangular tournament between the Springboks, their World Cup 2015 opponents, Scotland and Samoa, as well as Italy, will now take place at 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.
The Boks away fixtures in the Rugby Championship will take place in Mendoza on August 24 (against Argentina), Brisbane on September 7 (against Australia) and Auckland on September 14 (against New Zealand).
Coach Heyneke meyer's team will then end off their busy international season with a tour to Scotland, Wales and France in Europe in November
The trip to France will be the Boks' first since 2009 and will only be the third Test against the French since South Africa won the 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.
Springboks 2013 fixtures:
Saturday, June 8, 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
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, Newlands, Cape Town: Springboks v Australia
Saturday, October 5, Ellis Park, Johannesburg: Springboks v New Zealand
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
