No need for Springboks to play: World ranking improves!

Prior to this past weekend’s Six Nations round of action there was a healthy debate over whether Ireland should perhaps be regarded as the best team in the world rather than the Springboks.

In fairness, the top tier Test teams are unlikely to be fazed by what the rankings say, but it is something that fans love to keep an eye on.

As it turned out, though, Ireland suffered a shock defeat to England on Saturday, and as a result have seen their world ranking shrink to less than a point between them and third-placed New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the Springboks – without playing – now have 3.85 ranking points separating them and Ireland.

Springboks will soon be back in action

The back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions will return to the field for the first time since lifting Webb Ellis Cup in France last year on Saturday 22 June against Wales at Twickenham before hosting Ireland and Portugal in the Incoming Series in July.

The Boks will play Ireland in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria and Durban on 6 and 13 July, before lining up against Portugal in their historic first Test in Bloemfontein on Saturday 20 July.

Their next task will be the Rugby Championship in August and September where they will face the Wallabies on successive weekends in Australia before hosting arch-rivals New Zealand in South Africa in Johannesburg and Cape Town, which will be followed by a short trip to Argentina before they wrap up the competition in Nelspruit against the Pumas.

More team camps to come

The next two alignment camps will be hosted between 1 and 3 May, and 22 to 24 May respectively, with the venues set to be announced in due course.

CONFIRMED SA FIXTURES FOR 2024:

Saturday, 22 June: SA vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (venue TBC)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
16/17 November: England v SA (Twickenham, London – date TBC)