springbok captains rugby world cup Kolisi

During the Springbok departure media conference with Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi at The Pivot, Montecasino Johannesburg on 29 August 2019.
©Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix

Springboks to play USA in British & Irish Lions warm-up Test

The Springboks will make their return to international rugby by taking on the USA in a warm-up Test ahead of their series against the British & Irish Lions.

springbok captains rugby world cup Kolisi

During the Springbok departure media conference with Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi at The Pivot, Montecasino Johannesburg on 29 August 2019.
©Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix

The 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks will make their return to international rugby by taking on the USA at home in a warm-up Test ahead of their series against the British & Irish Lions.

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That is if the much-anticipated series goes ahead in South Africa.

Should the Springboks v British & Irish Lions series be moved to the UK – as is the most likely scenario – the USA will also be the Springboks’ opposition.

Both the Springboks and USA haven’t played a single Test since the World Cup in Japan which finished 16 months ago.

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USA coach Gary Gold confirmed the plans to the Rugbypass website.

Gold said: “I approached the Springboks and they were in a similar position to us without fixtures and they said they could be looking for games. Hopefully, we will fulfil a need for the Springboks by getting some of the rustiness off and also get some game time ourselves.

“The plan is to play the Springboks either down there if the tour takes place in South Africa or if not, we could be coming to the UK. Pretty much we will play them anywhere and I’m very optimistic the tour will go ahead, but the pendulum is slightly going towards being in the UK because of the vaccination roll out in the UK. It makes sense to go to a country that is more Covid-19 compliant.”

The USA are ranked a lowly 16th in the latest World Rugby rankings and are unlikely to provide much in the way of opposition with their make-shift line-up.

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The Boks and USA have played four previous official Tests – winning every match. The two sides have never met on SA soil.

September 25, 1981 – Springboks 38-7 USA (Glenville)

December 1, 2001 – Springboks 43-20 USA (Houston)

September 30, 2007 – Springboks 64-15 USA (Montpellier)

October 7, 2015 – Springboks won 64-0 USA (London)