Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber said he was satisfied that the group of players who attended the sessions had reached their objectives.
FILE: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber. Picture: Twitter/@leinsterrugby
JOHANNESBURG – The Springboks have wrapped up the first of two camps in Durban this month in preparation for the 2023 international season where they’ll defend their Rugby World Cup title in France.
Coach Jacques Nienaber said he was satisfied that the group of players who attended the sessions had reached their objectives. Nienaber and his coaching staff’s aim is to get players into the right frame of mind ahead of the Test season, which begins with a Rugby Championship match against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 8 July.
“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.
Players from the Stormers were not included this time around, as they continue to prepare for the United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Munster on 27 May. Japan and Europe-based players also not involved. It is hoped that they, along with the Cape contingent, will link up with the squad for the second training camp, which is also in Durban, and will run from 29 to 31 May.
Apart from schooling the players on what is expected from them on and off the field in the next few months, the Bok staff also had the opportunity to assess the injured players and monitor their progress and rehabilitation in anticipation of the World Cup squad announcement in August.
Nienaber added that they were delighted with the quality of the training sessions and how receptive the players were in the off-field sessions.
“All in all, we are in a good frame of mind as our first Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test against Australia approaches,” Nienaber said
Nienaber’s team will then depart for New Zealand for their second Test of the condensed version of the Rugby Championship against the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland (15 July), before returning to South Africa for their closing match against Argentina in Johannesburg (29 July).
The Springboks will play three Rugby World Cup warm-up matches – Argentina in Buenos Aires (Saturday, 5 August), Wales in Cardiff (Saturday, 19 August) and New Zealand in London (Friday, 25 August) respectively.
They will then make their way to France for the international extravaganza where they face Scotland in Marseille (Sunday, 10 September), Romania in Bordeaux (Sunday, 17 September), Ireland in Paris (Saturday, 23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (Sunday, 1 October) during the pool stages.
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