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Schalk Burger (Getty) Rugby World Cup 2003 will not be remembered as a highlight in the history of the Springboks, but it was during that tournament in Australia, that South Africa and Georgia clashed for the first and only time. This July, though, the Springboks will host Georgia in two Tests as they begin their preparations for the highly-anticipated series against the British & Irish Lions.  The match in 2003, which the Springboks won 46-19, does not seem like an overly important day on the surface.  SA Rugby's official website, however, took a closer look at the cont...

There is sure to never be another British & Irish Lions series like the 2021 tour to South Africa, thanks to the hurdles Covid-19 has placed in front of it.  The fact that the Springboks will play their first match in 19 months just weeks before they face the British & Lions in the first Test, underlines what a fraught time it has been for rugby, sport in general and the world at large. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who was appointed in early 2020, faced the very real prospect of taking charge of his first Test as head coach against the 2021 Lions. It was a challenge he was willing to ac...

Georgia offer Boks some needed preparation before Lions series © Copyright (c) Daily Maverick , All Rights Reserved There is sure to never be another British & Irish Lions series like the 2021 tour to South Africa, thanks to the hurdles Covid-19 has placed in front of it.  The fact that the Springboks will play their first match in 19 months just weeks before they face the British & Lions in the first Test, underlines what a fraught time it has been for rugby, sport in general and the world at large. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who was appointed in early 2020, faced the very real pro...

The day John Smit wanted to KO referee Paul Honiss ... By Mike Greenaway ENGLAND captain Owen Farrell’s furious remonstrations with referee Pascal Gauzere on Saturday, The Boks had been defending in their 22 for a long period when New Zealander Honiss, after awarding yet another penalty, called over Smit and warned him that his players were overstepping the mark and that the next penalty would be accompanied by a card. “Go and talk to your players,” Honiss is clearly heard saying on the TV commentary, and that is what Smit attempted to do, beckoning his players to come to him ...

First published in the Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper.  During some deep analysis on how to improve his already improving Springbok team after two successful years in 2004 and 2005, coach Jake White identified a weak area. “Imagine I had a wing the size and speed of (New Zealand’s) Joe Rokocoko,” White mused. “That would improve the team immediately.” Rokocoko was 1.88m tall, weighed 101kg and was blisteringly quick. JP Pietersen runs with the ball during the IRB World Cup match between South Africa and Samoa at Parc des Princes, 9 September 2007 in Paris. (Photo: Tertius Pick...