11 October 2004

The depth of South African rugby will be given a comprehensive examination after SA Rugby accepted an invitation from the Argentina Rugby Union for a tour by South Africa A. This means that both the A-side and the Springboks will be travelling overseas at the end of the domestic season.

The question of depth is further amplified by the fact that the two tours come at the end of a ridiculously long, incredibly tough season. It began way back on 20 February with the Super 12, and for the Boks it will end on 4 December, high summer in South Africa, with a Test against the Pumas.

Crazy demands
Considering that rugby is a winter sport in South Africa, it says something about the demands made on the country's top professional players nowadays.

Injuries will undoubtedly play a role in selections, because the extremely physical nature of the sport makes it difficult for players to go through so many months without picking up a knock or a niggle or two at the least.

The other hurdle the two touring sides will face is that of form. It is not possible to hold one's level of play at its peak over a sustained period of time. Coming off a very tough Currie Cup season, the dangers of a let-down in performance are real.

'Our players will have to get a breather'
Speaking after the 36-all draw between the Blue Bulls and Western Province in the final round of Currie Cup games, Springbok coach Jake White commented: "Somewhere some of our players will have to get a breather.

"You can't expect them to play four very physical Tests in the coming seven weeks and, on top of that, be at the top of their game for the Test against the world champions at Twickenham."

Nonetheless, competition for the two touring teams will be as intense as ever, because South African rugby is on an upward spiral and the country's top players want to be part of a winning team. As many players have admitted in the past, playing for a winning Springbok team is a magical experience.

White will announce the squad to tour the United Kingdom and Argentina on 23 October, after the Currie Cup final. No details have yet been released about when the SA A squad will be named, but one would assume it won't happen before the Springbok line-up is announced.

Two especially significant matches
For White and his charges, two of the matches on the tour of the United Kingdom will be especially significant. The first of those, against Ireland, is sure to be fiercely contested, with traditional Irish passion firing the home side after they lost two Tests to South Africa earlier this year in South Africa.

Those two victories enabled the Springboks to move above the Triple Crown winners in the world rankings, and also laid the foundation for the South African side's successful onslaught on the Tri-Nations title.

The week after the Ireland game the Springboks face England, and that encounter will be of huge importance to the Boks. They last beat England in June 2000 - an 18-13 win in Pretoria - but since that time have lost five on the trot to the English, including a 25-6 drubbing at the 2003 World Cup and a 53-3 thrashing at Twickenham on the last occasion the two teams met there, in November 2002.

A cathartic experience
That day produced the lowest of lows that South Africa's national side has ever experienced, and it would surely be some sort of cathartic experience for the Springboks should they record a victory at the home of English rugby.

Also, despite the English experiencing a below-par season in 2004, they still remain the world champions, and they will be a very tough proposition on their home turf.

The Boks leave for the United Kingdom on 2 November, while the SA A side departs for Buenos Aires on 3 November.

Springbok fixtures

13 November: vs Argentinian Provinces, Rosario or Santa Fe

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