VIDEO: Why November Tests are the perfect World Cup dress rehearsal
South Africa’s four-Test year-end tour is a dress rehearsal for their World Cup campaign in France next year.
It gives the Springboks four challenging Tests on consecutive weekends.
It starts against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday (November 5), followed by encounters with France (November 12), Italy (November 19) and England (November 26).
Facing the teams ranked first, second, 14th and fifth will ensure Nienaber’s squad will be tested at all levels.
The top-ranked Irish have won six of their last 10 encounters with the third-ranked Boks.
Nienaber said Saturday’s year-end opener at the Lansdowne Road Stadium is a crucial outing for both teams.
“This will be quite a big game,” the Bok coach said, adding: “Especially if you have your eye on the World Cup.”
Drawn together in Pool B for #France2023, South Africa and Ireland will also face ninth-ranked Scotland, Tonga (ranked 16th) and Romania (17th) before the knock-out stages.
“For both sides, it will be quite important,” Nienaber said of Saturday’s Dublin showdown.
(Article continues below …)
“For them and us, it will be important to have a proper performance.
“It is what you need a year out from World Cup – to play the No.1 team in the world away from home and test yourself against them.”
He added that the pressure will continue to build throughout the November campaign.
“This year-end tour we are playing against some quality teams,” Nienaber said, adding: “Ireland in Week One, then the Six Nations champions France, also ranked No.2 in the world.
“After that, we play at Italy and we all saw what they did against Wales in the last round of the Six Nations,.
“We then move on to England.
“This is exactly what you need.
“We are happy that we have a tour like this ahead of the World Cup.”
The Bok coach said November would be vital for all the teams.
“Not just for and for Ireland, but also for England, New Zealand and Australia.
“Everyone wants to build some momentum going into the World Cup.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Picture credit: @Springboks
#⃣WATCH what happened the last time @IrishRugby and the @Springboks met in a Test#Rugby 🏉#rugbyunion 🌍#IREvRSA 🇮🇪V🇿🇦
🔗https://t.co/5KlkmLDkPG pic.twitter.com/p1Q1aBTKXv— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) November 1, 2022
