Reminder: Springboks vs All Blacks kick-off time on FRIDAY

This past weekend, the Springboks claimed a resounding 52-16 (halftime 24-9) win over Wales in Cardiff. It was South Africa’s biggest win over Wales in Cardiff (eclipsing a 34-12 victory in 2007) and featured their most points in the Welsh capital (previous best 38) as the team delivered everything that could be expected of them.

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The Springboks’ superiority in every department – other than in kicking at poles – exposed Wales across the park as they leaked four tries in the first half and were spared only greater scoreboard pain by the fact that three missed kicks by Manie Libbok left seven points unclaimed.

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The only sour note was a yellow card for Damian Willemse in the final 10 minutes after a nasty head collision, which is likely to result in his unavailability this week.

Prior to the start of the World Cup, the Springboks will now turn their attention to one final warm-up game against the All Blacks at Twickenham in front of what should be close to a capacity crowd.

It’s important to remember that this game will be on Friday night, and will kick off at 8.30pm SA time.

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“We have to get better going into France,” coach Jacques Nienaber said. “We’re on the side of the draw that’s knockout from game one and just to get out of our pool will be a challenge.

“Everyone would know that it’s our aim to go back-to-back and retain the World Cup and we can’t hide from it. We want to be the second team to successfully defend it and the bonus would be that we’d the best first team to win four world cups.

“It’s a massive thing that we’re playing for, and you can talk around it but that’s our goal – and to achieve it we’ll have to get better.”

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

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

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