Springboks will prepare for British and Irish Lions with Tests against Georgia
SA Rugby has managed to re-organize last year's postponed Test series against Georgia so that the Springboks can get much-needed match practice before they face the British and Irish Lions later in in the same month in a series of three tests.
The Springboks will make their much-anticipated return to international action early in July when the world champions host Georgia in a historic two test match series, which is part of a bumper World Rugby midyear Test schedule.
The series mark the first time Georgia will tour South Africa, while the two Tests are also the first time the two countries will meet again since their only previous clash, at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The men from Georgia would have toured South Africa last year, but it was postponed after the outbreak of the Corona virus.
It means Jacques Nienaber will make his debut as Springbok head coach on the weekend of 2/3 July, with the second clash set for one week later on the weekend of 9/10 July. SA Rugby will confirm the exact dates, venues and kick-off times in due course.
Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby, welcomed the World Rugby July Test schedule and said the two-Test series against Georgia offered the Springboks a very good opportunity to prepare for the much-anticipated Castle Lager Lions Series.
“Nothing beats a full-blooded international to test your skill set, readiness and ability under pressure, and we are delighted to have this opportunity before the Lions series,” said Erasmus.
Erasmus said that Nienaber, his coaching staff and management have been working around the clock to get the team as well prepared as possible, and the Georgia series is a much-needed opportunity after such a long and unforeseen interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, Nienaber was named as Springbok head coach, but the worldwide pandemic has prevented the Rugby World Cup champions from playing any Test matches since 2 November 2019, when they defeated England in the final in Japan.
“The confirmation of the Georgian Tests, and the announcement of the British & Irish Lions squad last week have caused a lot of excitement and I am sure it will lift the spirit of the players – we can now accelerate our preparations for our return to Test rugby,” Nienaber remarked.
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