Springboks switch to Test mode at Durban camp

The Springboks made the big switch to Test mode on Wednesday as they returned to the training field in Durban at the first of two preparation camps this month to kick into gear for the international season.

This camp, which includes 15 players, will conclude on Friday, while the second preparation camp – which will feature players from the DHL Stormers who are preparing to face Munster in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Cape Town next weekend – will run from Monday 29 to Wednesday 31 May.

The group of players – which includes centre Lukhanyo Am, wing Makazole Mapimpi, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, utility forward Kwagga Smith and fullback Willie le Roux – assembled in Durban on Tuesday evening and got straight into the swing of things on Wednesday morning with field training sessions, gym, and team meetings.

They will have a further two field training sessions on Thursday and one on Friday before returning home.

“It was fantastic to see how excited the players and members of team management were to return to the national set-up when we arrived in Durban,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.

“This is a massive season for us and judging by the players’ enthusiasm to get back to the training field, we are excited about the journey ahead as we prepare for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, our Rugby World Cup warm-up matches and the international showpiece in France.

“With these players having completed their franchise and club commitments, they can now turn their attention fully to the international season.”

Nienaber added: “We have a small group of players at this camp, but this affords us the luxury of giving them special attention. As we said at our first training camp in February, every minute with the players is crucial for us to get our structures and systems in place to ensure that we peak at the right time during the World Cup.

“We’ll have a bigger group of players at the next camp and at our Castle Lager Rugby Championship training camp in June, but this week will assist us greatly in putting the groundwork in place.

“Having a few injured players here such as Siya (Kolisi) and Eben (Etzebeth) is also a bonus, as they’ll participate in all our team meetings, while our medical team have already started working with them.”

Pieter-Steph du Toit at a training session on Wednesday morning in Durban.

The Springboks will begin their official preparations for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at a training camp in Pretoria from Monday 12 to Friday 30 June. They will kick off their 2023 international season against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 8 July.

The second Test of the condensed version of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship is against the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland (15 July), before the Boks will return to South Africa for the closing match of the competition against Argentina in Johannesburg (29 July).

The Springboks will play three Rugby World Cup warm-up matches: against Argentina in Buenos Aires (Saturday, 5 August), Wales in Cardiff (Saturday, 19 August) and New Zealand in London (Friday, 25 August) respectively.

They will then make their way to France for the international extravaganza where they face Scotland in Marseille (Sunday, 10 September), Romania in Bordeaux (Sunday, 17 September), Ireland in Paris (Saturday, 23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (Sunday, 1 October) during the pool stages.

Players invited to Springbok camps (in alphabetical order): Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Kolisi (all Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi (both Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).

Springbok 2023 fixtures:

Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)

RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

RWC fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

Springboks Jacques Nienaber Siya Kolisi Eben Etzebeth Castle Lager Rugby Championship Durban Training camp

Relentless Boks complete perfect tour in Cardiff...

The Springboks finished their 2024 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour with a commanding 45-12 win (half-time 26-5) over Wales at...

Erasmus praises Boks for unbeaten UK Tour...

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus gave all the credit to the players as the team finished the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour wi...

Boks determined to finish 2024 on a strong note...

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi said on Friday the Boks are determined to deliver a co...

Etzebeth to start as Kleyn withdraws from Wales Te...

Eben Etzebeth will start at lock alongside Franco Mostert in the Springboks’ final Castle Lager Outgoing Tour clash agai...

Fassi wants to stay after fighting his way back...

Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi was adamant that he would continue giving everything he can on the field to maintain h...

Match officials confirmed for mid-year Tests

Five referees who have been included on the Rugby World Cup 2023 match official panel have been appointed to take charge of the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship and RWC warm-up Tests in the build-up to the international extravaganza in France in September and October.

Chumisa Qawe to lead Bok Women to Madagascar

Chumisa Qawe will lead the Springbok Women to the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar this month where they will play Cameroon, Kenya and Madagascar over the next two weeks.

Lions' Quan Horn is the 2022/23 Ironman

Emirates Lions fullback Quan Horn and Benetton centre Joaquin Riera have added their names to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Awards list picking up the Ironman and Try of the Season Awards respectively.

DHL Stormers keep playing for their people

A week before the DHL Stormers qualified for their second successive Vodacom United Rugby Championship final, head coach John Dobson played down his coaching stature compared with other coaches in the competition.

Blitzbok fixtures for HSBC London Sevens confirmed

South Africa have been grouped with HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leaders New Zealand, as well as hosts Great Britain and USA in a tough Pool A at this weekend's HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham.

Blitzboks want to show what they are capable of

As the curtain comes down on the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the iconic Twickenham Stadium in London this weekend, the Springbok Sevens team will be keen to show what they can do as they still hope to gain automatic qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The 2023 Currie Cup Bulletin #21

Four titanic battles that will shape the final Currie Cup Premier Division standings will be staged this weekend, while the scramble for play-off spots in the First Division and Mzansi Challenge continues at a rapid pace with two crucial encounters in Kempton Park and Porterville, while there is also action in Nairobi and Mdantsane.

Kolbe stands in the way of Franco Smith’s dream

Glasgow Warriors have their first chance to create history and win a European Cup title for Scotland on Friday, but only if they can tame the chaos that is normally created by Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe.

Academy squad conclude successful northern tour

The SA Rugby Academy squad’s tour of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal ended on Thursday as the bulk of the players returned to their respective homes for a short break before they will shift gear as the World Rugby Under-20 Championship moves into view.

SA Rugby appoints new administrator to WPRFU

SA Rugby on Thursday announced the appointment of experienced sport and government executive, Mr Max Fuzani, as the new administrator of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU). He succeeds Rian Oberholzer, who was appointed interim CEO of SA Rugby in March, having held the position of administrator at WPRFU since October 2021.