Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi during camp in Durban 2023 Photo SA Rugby website

Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi during a training camp. Photo: SA Rugby website.

Springboks get thumbs up from coach as Durban camp wraps up

Springbok boss Jacques Nienaber unpacks what transpired at the first preparation camp in Durban this week.

Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi during camp in Durban 2023 Photo SA Rugby website

Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi during a training camp. Photo: SA Rugby website.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says he’s satisfied that the small group of players present at the first of two preparation camps in Durban this month had reached their objectives.

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The main aims of the camp, which wrapped up on Friday, were to get the players to switch into Test mode following their club and franchise commitments, and put the groundwork in place for the season, which will culminate in the Rugby World Cup in France.

The squad had five field training sessions and several off-field sessions since assembling in Durban on Tuesday night. The second training camp, which is also in Durban, will run from Monday 29 to Wednesday 31 May.

“This camp was invaluable in getting the coaches and players on the same page in terms of our structures and systems as we prepare for this important season,” said Nienaber.

“The message from the coaches from day one was that the players had to leave the camp knowing what we expect from them on and off the field in the next few months as we look to select our Rugby World Cup squad in August.

“We have another training camp in Durban in two weeks, which will feature a bigger squad as we welcome the Stormers after the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final, and perhaps a few more Japanese players who have completed their club commitments.

“That camp will give us another opportunity to get the players into the swing of things before our Pretoria training camp in June.”

COACH IMPRESSED BY PLAYERS’ WORK ETHIC

Nienaber added that they were delighted with the quality of the training sessions and how receptive the players were in the off-field sessions.

“We believe we have a fantastic base to work from,” he said.

“We also had the opportunity to assess the injured players and we’ll monitor their progress and rehabilitation closely in the next few months. All in all, we are in a good frame of mind as our first Rugby Championship Test against Australia approaches.”

NIENABER REVEALS KEY WORLD CUP DETAIL: A CAMP IN CORSICA

Looking further ahead, Nienaber revealed that the Springboks will have a Rugby World Cup training camp in Bastia, Corsica after their last warm-up fixture against New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday 25 August.

The Boks will be based on the mountainous island in the Mediterranean Sea south of France until Sunday 1 September, when they will travel to their base in Toulon for the RWC opener against Scotland on Saturday 10 September.

“The Corsica camp will be ideal for the players to adapt to the conditions in France while finetuning our preparations for our first World Cup game,” said Nienaber.

“We reaped the rewards of spending time in Japan before the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and hopefully this camp will be equally beneficial in getting the players used to the climate and culture in France.

“I’d like to thank the Executive Council of Corsica and the Corsica Rugby League for welcoming us for this important camp.”

The Springboks will begin their preparations for the Rugby Championship at a training camp in Pretoria from Monday 12 to Friday 30 June.

Springboks
Springboks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse. Photo: SA Rugby website

SPRINGBOKS’ 2023 FIXTURES

Rugby Championship

8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: South Africa vs New Zealand (Mount Smart, Auckland)

29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

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World Cup warm-ups

✈ 5 August: South Africa vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: South Africa vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: Springbok vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille) 

✈ 17 September: Springbok vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux) 

✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris) 

✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

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