Siya Kolisi Springbok captain

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has signed thousands – if not more – of autographs in his life. ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Springboks v All Blacks Rugby Championship Tests look set for Australian soil

The Springboks’ two Rugby Championship Tests against the All Blacks look set to be shifted to Australia following confirmation that New Zealand’s borders will remain closed for international travel until 2022 at the earliest.

Siya Kolisi Springbok captain

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has signed thousands – if not more – of autographs in his life. ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

The Springboks’ two Rugby Championship Tests against the All Blacks look set to be shifted to Australia following confirmation that New Zealand’s borders will remain closed for international travel until 2022 at the earliest.

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On Thursday New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed her government will only reopen the country to the rest of the world in January next year.

The Springboks were scheduled to play both their ‘home’ and away Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand this year.

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Provisional dates for the matches were 25 September at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin and 2 October at Eden Park in Auckland.

That now appears to be unlikely unless there’s a last-minute change of decision.

The next Springboks v All Blacks clash will be the 100th all-time between the two fierce rugby rivals.

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The most logical solution would be to hold the matches in Australia.

As it currently stands, the All Blacks will head for Australia after Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup Test (which doubles as the opening match in the 2021 Rugby Championship) where they are play the Wallabies in the third and final Bledisloe Cup match as well as two Tests against Argentina.

They may well now find themselves staying on for another fortnight to play the world champion Springboks.

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It goes without saying that the Springboks would prefer to play the All Blacks on neutral ground!

Meanwhile, the Springboks will kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back Tests against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday, with the second Test scheduled for Saturday, 21 August.