Bloem gets Bok warm-up
22 Jan 2006
The Springboks will take on an international English Premiership XV in Bloemfontein on 3 June in preparation for the Test series against Scotland.
According to Rapport newspaper, the Premiership team would contain several South Africans including Thinus Delport, Cobus Visagie and Andre Snyman.
Former Wallaby fullback Matt Burke, All Black No 8 Taine Randell and Jonah Lomu, who is currently with the Cardiff Blues, are other players who could make the trip to SA.
With the Springboks playing Scotland in two Tests on 10 and 17 June, and France on 24 June, Bok coach Jake White wants his side to have a decent warm-up against quality opposition. The Springboks’ 134-point thrashing of Uruguay in their first fixture of 2005 did little to prepare the side for their match against France in Durban (which they drew 30-all) and White does not want to make the same mistake in 2006.
With Bloemfontein not hosting a Test in 2006, the Premiership warm-up is seen as the perfect fixture for both the Boks and the Free State Rugby Union.
Meanwhile, the Boks are set to play four matches on their end-of-year tour – two against England and one against Italy and France. This means the Boks could play as many as 13 Test matches in 2006.
18 Comments
22 Jan 2006, 22:46 pm
Will the be some dragons in the side?
23 Jan 2006, 02:57 am
This could be a really fun team to pick. I just wish that they could expand it to all European international stars.
23 Jan 2006, 04:56 am
“With the Springboks playing Scotland in two Tests on 10 and 17 June, and France on 24 June, Bok coach Jake White wants his side to have a decent warm-up against quality opposition. The Springboks’ 134-point thrashing of Uruguay in their first fixture of 2005 did little to prepare the side for their match against France in Durban (which they drew 30-all) and White does not want to make the same mistake in 2006.”
Jake White thinks Scotland is quality opposition??? ROFL!!!!!!
23 Jan 2006, 05:33 am
2 vs England, now there’s a change. We must really be feeling confident after evading them this year.
23 Jan 2006, 10:35 am
Even if one hitch to Bloem this one will be worth it
23 Jan 2006, 10:48 am
I thought we were playing England 3 times at Twickenham this year, and 3 times in SA next June. I guess they’ve cut it to 2 away 2 at home. After those 4 matches we should hear nothing from StM for some time, and have sufficient confidence heading into the world cup group phase.
I imagine the international premiership team would be quite strong opposition, given most of the premierships stars are foreign.
23 Jan 2006, 11:38 am
Well as a bloem resident I still think of the game as a handout- but seeing that the competition will be good, it will be fun to watch.
How about making Piter Muller the coach of the Premiership team?
23 Jan 2006, 12:02 pm
Lomu will have to be a guess as he plays in the Celtic League.
23 Jan 2006, 12:14 pm
guest
23 Jan 2006, 12:49 pm
My money is the Opkapi’s…
23 Jan 2006, 12:59 pm
Who’s paying for all these so called stars to come and play against the Springboks? Why not let the Boks play againsta B team, that will include past and possible new Springboks? This way guys like Schalk Brits, Jonghi Nokwe, Willem de Waal. etc. can give Jake White some added options. He needs two seperate quality sides at the next world cup. what will he do when a Bryan Habbane, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha all get injured during the world cup?
23 Jan 2006, 13:11 pm
E.Diddy
You have got the right idea there, get a Sa A team to play the Boks, Ill bet there will be one or two players who would want to prove a point or two on why they should be in the Bok setup!
Ex S. Brits, Roets.
23 Jan 2006, 13:18 pm
I can see this back firing a little, these guys may have a few points to prove & a few grudges to settle. Could be an injury fest.
Plus, I really don’t want to see Habana being trampled by Jonah!
23 Jan 2006, 14:36 pm
Having watched Jonah play recently, I doubt he will doing much trampling or casing that much concern. Also, doubt they would come here to settle old scores – the guys playing in the UK realise the financial cost of getting injured. That said, you could settle a pretty decent team if selecting anybody not a current international. Burke, Spencer, Robinson, Xavier Rush, Gibson, Bruce Reihana, Selbourne Boome, Halstead, etc.
23 Jan 2006, 15:29 pm
Oranje Orakel,
Pieter Muller is not a Premiership Coach and probably never will be. He coachs a team in the 1st division who are being spanked by everybody and and locked u in a relegation battle. Not somebody you want looking after real professionals.
Unless of course that was part of your plan to help the boks win.
25 Jan 2006, 09:44 am
PPPPPP
: – )
25 Jan 2006, 09:45 am
wHATS UP?: – )
25 Jan 2006, 10:11 am
gggrrrrr…..
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