Boks v All Blacks 100th Test ... in Townsville
WHEN the All Blacks and the Springboks first did battle in Dunedin in 1921, nobody could have predicted in their wildest dreams that the centenary clash between the old foes would one day be played in Townsville, at the home ground of the North Queensland Cowboys, the local rugby league team.
Given the famous stadiums of South Africa and New Zealand, the venue is an exotic one indeed, and reflective of the very strange times we inhabit in 2021.
Just last week, this big match on September 25 looked headed for Twickenham or even Stade de France, while South Africa was also back in the picture.
But in the end, Sanzaar calmed the warring parties of Australia and New Zealand and settled on Queensland to host all of the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures, with the Wallabies, Pumas, Boks and All Blacks all located in one bubble and matches to be shared by Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville.
The Championship was in serious jeopardy last week when New Zealand unilaterally called of their match scheduled for this Saturday against the Wallabies in Perth, and also canned their two home games against the Boks because of a clampdown on their borders following a Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland.
The incensed Rugby Australia governing body threatened to send their Kiwi counterparts a bill for the costs of the Perth game, but now all has been calmed down – if not forgiven.
The Boks’ first game is on Sunday, September 12 against Australia at the CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, and they depart for Australia tomorrow.
They play the Wallabies again a week later, and then have two matches against the All Blacks.
“We are pleased that the Rugby Championship match schedule has been finalised, and we are looking forward to continuing our campaign in Australia,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
“We can now continue our planning to ensure that the players are ready for the next four matches from a physical and mental point of view, and we are excited about facing our old foes Australia and New Zealand again after kicking off the tournament well against Argentina.”
The Springboks and Pumas will travel to Australia together tomorrow afternoon, and both teams will be placed in quarantine for two weeks before taking the field, after which they will then operate normally in Australia, with no restrictions being placed on their movements.
Despite being in quarantine, the Boks will be allowed to train as they have done in South Africa since the start of the series against the British & Irish Lions.
“The two-week quarantine period means we will be on tour for just under six weeks, but we are looking forward to experiencing normal life after a year-and-a-half of living under several forms of adjusted Covid-19 restrictions in South Africa,” said Nienaber.
“This will certainly assist in ensuring that the players are fresh mentally when they take the field, which is essential for them to peak in form.”
The Springboks had Monday and yesterday off to rest and recover from the physically and mentally taxing schedule in the last two months, which saw them take on Georgia, the British & Irish Lions and play two matches against Argentina.