Lions Tale - June

Official Digital Magazine of the Lions

LIONS

TALE JUNE 2016 | ISSUE 2

LIONS MATCH PROGRAMMES

TALE

CLUB: Pirates • DEVELOPMENT • NEW LIONS SPRINGBOKS • LADIES BEHIND THE LIONS

PLEASE LOOSEN your seat belt

EMIRATES ECONOMY Enjoy a generous four-course meal with delicious desserts too good to turn down.

Or treat yourself to complimentary cocktails, wine and other beverages.

Hello Tomorrow

For more information, contact your local travel agent, call Emirates on 0860 123 155 or visit emirates.com/za

CONTENTS Elton Jantjies picture page A Lions fairy tale Developing the game Pirates: the turn-around By the way: a strange draw Success follows Jabulani dream Combrinck’s other love The Ladies behind the Lions Bok Legends guide Lions Craven Week’s changes SA’s 2016 test programme

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The High Performance Rugby College was established to provide a coaching, conditioning and education programs for individuals who wish to pursue a career in rugby.

The HPRC is underpinned by education in the form of: •An internationally recognised course in fitness

High Performance Rugby Rugby College College

•The only accredited Rugby Coaching course in the country

WANT A CAREER IN RUGBY?

•An analytical Course

The HPRC offers a balance of: • Practical Training • Theoretical Study • Work-Based Learning Experience

Choose from one of 4 courses offered: Rugby Career Programme High Performance Programme Professional Players Programme Coaching Programme

•World Rugby Coaching Courses •Refereeing Courses

To be part of this unique environment contact us on 082 889 6565 or info@hprc.co.za / www.hprc.co.za

Lions Tale Unit 85 PO Box 4215 Bromhof 2125 Editor Russel Modlin Consulting editor Wim van der Berg GLRU Media and PR Manager Annemie Bester 078 064 3695 email: annemie@glru.co.za

Graphic Design Reneé Naudé Digital Production epresense Advertising Eben Venter 082 780 6674 Contributors Annemie Bester, Wim van der Berg, Monique Naudé Photographer Deon van der Merwe

Photographs Deon van der Merwe, GB Jordaan 082 441 6884, email biggee@mweb.co.za, Publisher Rugbyvaria cc 083 604 0389 Email: wimvdb@iafrica.com Postal address: Lions Tale Unit 85 PO Box 4215 Bromhof 2125

Golden Lions Rugby Union Tel 011 4022960 Lions website lionsrugby.co.za Lions Facebook https://www. facebook.com/lionsrugbyunion Lions Twitter @lionsrugby Copyright GLRU and Rugbyvaria.

Opinions in this magazine are not necessarily those of the GLRU

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Elton Jantjies

This picture page of Elton Jantjies is a tribute to the way he inspired the Lions backline to play their adventurous rugby in the past three years. His preparedness to attack the advantage line, his quick distribution to both sides, often not even looking but trusting his senses about where the receiver is, and his work on defence make him special. Add his goal-kicking, and it is obvious why he is regarded as the country’s best flyhalf on 2016 form.

Photos by Deon van der Merwe

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EIGHT BOKS AND A LOG LEAD MAKE IT A LIONS FAIRY TALE

By Wim van der Berg Photos by GB Jordaan

IT HAS BEEN an outstanding season for the Emirates Lions so far.

South Africa.

Their selection on May 28 is an apt With the break of the Super Rugby recognition of the Lions standard of competition now in force, the Lions are rugby, a real rugby fairy tale. leading the combined Africa conference with 42 log points – and what’s more, While full credit must of course go they have nine victories to show in the to the seven whose names were read 12 matches played to date, thereby out as members of the new Springbok tying their record of last year. coach Allister Coetzee’s first Springbok squad, a thought and appreciation must The eight players selected for the also go out to some of the players who Springbok group is no mean feat and pulled the union and franchise back another feather in the Lions cap. This from obscurity into the leading team in is especially so if viewed against the South Africa.

Lions relegation as a South African representative in the 2013 Super Rugby And one must not overlook the competition. contribution of the others in the Lions’ broader squad over the recent seasons, There are also a further three players stalwarts like Ross Cronje, Derick who are in the SA ‘A’ team squad, Minnie, Robbie Coetzee, Warwick making a total of 11 players being Tecklenburg, Franco van der Merwe, recognised for their efforts with the Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der award of national call-ups.

Merwe, Doppies le Grange, Andries Coetzee, Marnitz Boshoff, Stokkies This is easily the best national Hanekom, Anthony Volmink and Jaco representation by a Lions side since van der Walt… the names just go on 1995 when 14 players from the former and on in a squad were youthful players Transvaal were selected for the World are brought in and ‘nursed’ in the Cup tournament held in and won by approach and discipline of the more

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senior guys.

PLAYING FOR THE SPRINGBOKS It was gratifying to see that becoming a Springbok still means as much to a player as 40 years ago. The Lions wing Ruan Combrinck, 26, is a case in point.

And ergo, the depth is there, the understanding is inbred and the results keep on coming.

The leadership at Emirates Airline Park obviously deserves much of the praise.

From a difficult period with their coaches, with both Dick Muir and John Mitchell leaving under a measure of unpleasantness, they made the decision to elevate Johan Ackermann, the assistant to these two former coaches.

(See the article in this issue of LionsTale: A love for tries and cattle loves more than just rugby and the glory tries on page 37.)

Combrinck had tears in his eyes when he was interviewed after the team announcement.

With his assistant Swys de Bruin, a man with a shrewd rugby brain and vast experience of coaching skills, a winning relationship was forged. De Bruin formerly coached at the Sharks and Griquas, and was also in charge of the SA Under-21 side in 2001. To De Bruin must go a large portion of the credit for the scintillating rugby played by the Lions.

“It is something that I dreamed of as a six-year-old. For it to come true 20 years later is simply unbelievable,” said the third player from Michaelhouse to be selected for a Springbok side in their 120 years.

The first, Pat Lambie, is also in the present squad and the second, Pat Cilliers, played prop for the Lions before furthering his career abroad.

He joined the Lions in 2013 and with head coach Ackermann pulling the strings they were back in Super Rugby in 2014 following with the most competition wins since competing as the Cats in the tournament with the Free State as partners.

• Combrinck made his senior debut for Western Province before he moved to Johannesburg in 2010, when he turned 20. He also played Varsity Cup rugby for the Maties.

Shunned by their unions like so many of his Lions team mates before they came In 2015 the Lions improved even to Johannesburg, he said in an article further, with a record nine victories in the November 2015 issue of the SA during the tournament. They finished in Rugby magazine: “We all remember the top half of the log for the first time where we came from and what we’ve since 2001 and also secured a Currie been through. It’s made us tighter.”

Cup final in 2014 and the title in 2015.

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Combrinck weighs 97kg and is 1,83m tall.

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, 24, echoed what Combrinck had said. “Every schoolboy wants to be a Springbok.

I’m very proud and excited.”

He had a wonderful outing against the Bulls on May 28, scoring a try and being instrumental in others. His greatest asset is his quick passing from the base and speed across the ground to get to breakdowns.

has made him the perfect foil for his skipper, Warren Whiteley and the hard-working Warwick Tecklenburg.

The trio have seldom come off second best in the battle for breakdown possession over the past two seasons.

With the Lions approach of running whenever they can, even from positions that critics describe as risky, Kriel has been given the ball so often to breach the defence or take it up and outrun opposition.

Kriel first turned out for the Golden Lions in 2010. He has since represented them in 70 matches, scoring 27 tries, and has more than 50 Super Rugby caps and 11 tries for the Lions to his credit.

De Klerk has not played Currie Cup rugby for the Golden Lions but did represented them at junior level. He then then moved to Nelspruit and has 56 matches for the Pumas to his credit. He was contracted by the Lions for the Super Rugby competition when Kriel is 1,84 m tall and weighs 97kg. they were readmitted in 2014 and has played Super Rugby in the two ensuing Franco Mostert, 25, was called up seasons. after the Boks first training day when a hamstring tear disqualified PieterDe Klerk has played in 33 Super Rugby Steph du Toit for the Ireland test matches to date and scored nine tries. series.

Very short, even for a scrumhalf, at 1,72 m. Faf weighs a solid 80km.

Mostert’s challenge, with the number of good young locks around, will be Jaco Kriel, 26, one of the supporters’ to impress in the tests to the extent favourites and a man that every Lions that he will in future be called up fan feels should have been at last year’s for national duty although playing World Cup tournament, has been overseas. impressive over the last three seasons.

A robust, mobile lock with good His speed and power on the run, forward and also handling skills, added to his overall contribution in Mostert has been among the top locks winning breakdowns and his defence, in the country for the past three years

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since joining the Lions in 2013 from the Blue Bulls where he represented UP-Tuks in the Varsity Cup series from 2010-’12. He has to date played 37 Super Rugby matches for the Lions and also 30 for the Golden Lions.

SA ‘A’ TEAM Although perhaps the unluckiest player not to be picked in the Bok squad, Lions hooker Malcolm Marx can and undoubtedly will use his chance in the SA “A” side to play England’s second best, the Saxons, in two matches in South Africa.

Mostert weighs 103 kg and is 1,98m tall.

Howard Mnisi, who has alternated with Rohan Janse van Rensburg at inside centre, could also use the opportunity to impress with his strong running against international competition.

•The other three players selected for the Bok squad, Lions captain Warren Whiteley, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys and Lionel The same challenge exists for speedy Mapoe have all had (only a small) taste winger Courtnall Skosan, whose pace is of test rugby. increasingly being utilised as a major Lions None of them has been in a run-on side for the Springboks.

try-scoring weapon. One does hope that he gets opportunities at this higher level to show his heels to the opposition.

Jantjies, who made his debut in 2012, has two test caps. After him followed Whiteley in 2014 and 2015 (three caps), Julian Redelinghuys (2014, two caps) and Lionel Mapoe 2015 (one cap).

Mostert’s challenge, with the number of good young locks around, will be to impress to the extent that he will in future be called up for national duty although playing overseas, as he is going to do.

Photo by GB Jordaan

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Photos by GB Jordaan

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DEVELOPING THE GAME

Much progress against all odds

By Annemie Bester and Wim van der Berg With the focus of transformation in rugby in the news recently the question can rightly be asked what a union like the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) is doing to ensure that their transformation statistics are in place.

actively in areas like Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, Protea Glen, Jabulani, Kagiso and Alexandra – all areas where no rugby exists at schools.

Some of the main challenges that these areas and its surrounding communities The GLRU is working very hard at are grappling with are the issues of developing home grown players of colour inequality, access to resources and to come through the ranks and eventually opportunities. perform at the highest level. Schools are where rugby talent is developed.

“We’re getting there, but there is still some way to go,” says Goodwin.

Timmy Goodwin runs the Development Goodwin says that good progress is being office at the GLRU where over 2700 made in developing youngsters from pupils are currently playing rugby previously non-rugby schools, but that

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the challenges of available playing facilities, transport finances and nutrition remain.

Facilities are a problem and simply having access to the sport is a massive stumbling block to getting young black children on the rugby field.

“We realise that there is still a vast area to cover, but we are already active in these areas as well as Bosmont, Westbury and Jo’burg Inner City,” says Goodwin.

It is a step-by-step approach, but their success can already be measured by the breakthrough of youngsters from the GLRU’s Township leagues to the U13 and

U18 Craven Week and the U15 Iqhawe Week Tournament sides.

At present nearly 1200 pupils from 38 primary schools play rugby at U11 and U13 level with mixed tag teams of boys and girls also active in the sport.

Like the 800 boys in high school, where the players are divided into Under-15 and Under-17 age groups, each Township has its own league, usually played over a double round. The number of schools from each Township varies between four and seven.

After completion of these league

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competitions, composite merit sides are selected for each Township in what is called the Inter-Community League to compete against one another at a central venue in order to keep transport costs down.

Bursaries are offered regularly to players with outstanding talent and Queens, Jeppe, Alan Glen, Parktown and Krugersdorp High are some of the schools where these bursary students further their academic and rugby careers.

The primary schools teams only compete in an U12 league in order to identify youngsters for the following years provincial U13 sides, while the U15s and U17s high school matches present the opportunity to identify the gifted players for the Grant Khomo and Craven Week sides for the following year, with the best U12s and U17s also earmarked to take part in the following year’s schools festivals at KES and St John’s.

The general progress of this system can be gauged by the growing number of clubs in previously disadvantaged communities. Kagiso, Alexandra, Southern Knights, Jabulani, Soweto, Eldoronians, Raiders and Tshuma Stringers (Midrand) now play in the GLRU leagues.

Kliptown Secondary will also play in the Beeld Trophy league for small schools.

THE STATISTICS FOR PLAYERS IN DEVELOPMENT SCHOOLS ARE: GET INTO RUGBY 9623 players (Grade R – Grade 3 early exposure of rugby) PRIMARY SCHOOLS PLAYING TAG: 38 girls teams, 304 players (8-a-side) 38 boys teams, 456 players (12-a-side) PRIMARY SCHOOLS, 10-A-SIDE: 38 schools, 1140 players Total primary schools players: 1900 HIGH SCHOOLS PLAYING RUGBY Alexandra: 6 schools, 2 teams each,216 players Ennerdale: 4 schools, 2 teams each, 120 Players Jabulani: 5 schools, 2 teams each, 150 players Kagiso: 4 schools, 2 teams each, 160 players Kliptown: 1 school, 2 teams, 45 players Protea: 3 schools, 2 teams each, 90 Total high school players: 781

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Victor Sekekete.

Kids from the Ponte Building’s Dlala Nje social enterprise, learn the rugby basics.

There is also some progress being made in obtaining adequate facilities for the various competitions. The Jabulani rugby fields are virtually ready and will be the home of the Jabulani club side, as well as for the Jabulani primary and high school.

the the Xerox Lions XV (Currie Cup qualifiers) and has represented his province at the Craven Week, as well as at U19 and U21 level and in the Vodacom Cup competition.

If one looks at clubs that became part of the GLRU after unification in 1992, Coaching of the school sides in many Raiders must hold pride of place. They instances are done by unemployed have already represented the union at club players. There is a strict adherence the national club championships and to the Boksmart programme and all aim for a third successive spot in this the coaches are therefore also fully years’ Gold Cup competition. qualified.

Tshuma Stingers won two of the three A particular success story at individual competition in which they competed levels is that of Victor Sekekete. for the first time last year and have been promoted to the Senior Grand He is a Junior Springbok who Challenge competition for this year. represented the SA U20 side at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championships, Rugby has no colour – at the Lions it is played Varsity Cup rugby for UJ, is in red and nothing else.

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•Refereeing Courses

To be part of this unique environment contact us on 082 889 6565 or info@hprc.co.za / www.hprc.co.za

Choose from one of 4 courses offered: Rugby Career Programme High Performance Programme Professional Players Programme Coaching Programme

WANT A CAREER IN RUGBY?

The HPRC offers a balance of: • Practical Training • Theoretical Study • Work-Based Learning Experience

•An analytical Course

High Performance Rugby Rugby College College

•World Rugby Coaching Courses

•The only accredited Rugby Coaching course in the country

•An internationally recognised course in fitness

The HPRC is underpinned by education in the form of:

The High Performance Rugby College was established to provide a coaching, conditioning and education programs for individuals who wish to pursue a career in rugby.

PIRATES RUGBY CLUB TURN-AROUND Taking on and winning the challenge

By Wim van der Berg

PIRATES RUGBY CLUB, established 128 years ago, have made a turnaround from a struggling club to one that can be regarded as a lesson in resolve and dedication for every club in whatever league.

was necessary,” says Brad Guymer, now the club’s chairman in his third year.

Within a mere three years since making the decision to rebuild the grand old club, the new wave of determination culminated in reaching their set five-year goal. This was to reach the semi-final of the Pirates Grand Challenge competition and to qualify for the Gold Cup series at the end of this year, where the country’s top clubs will do battle to be crowned the best open club in South Africa.

“When we decided on the way to resurrect the club, our first task was to put structures in place. We just tweaked here and there and modernised where it

It really is a team effort. Guymer says that, when the committee photo was taken last year, he counted more than 20 people who were involved in working and improving the club.

“The coaches at all levels are also helping to drive the process, and having a complete open-door club helped us to iron out the problems.”

The legendary Springbok wing James Small is now working with Bradley Wilken in coaching the first XV. Ivan Deacon is the experienced team manager, Scott Schreider takes care of the conditioning and Eloise Mallet is the physio.

The second team is coached by Brad Hall

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Brad Guymer

and Mark Ford, and the depth at the club has certainly improved over the past two years,” according to Guymer.

Pirates now has in excess of 100 senior players playing for their five senior teams.

They field their three league sides in the GLRU competitions, have a fourth team for which they arrange as many matches as possible, as well as the Madalas, die Golden Oldies side.

“We played Wanderers with seven teams, five seniors and three juniors, recently. The numbers fluctuate with the juniors, so we try to find as many fixtures as possible to keep them interested, against sides with rugby programmes such as Varsity College, Monash and the koshuise.”

Part of the new-look club is a modern and exceptionally well-equipped gym, with a physio and biokineticist in attendance to assist with injuries and fitness.

At junior level they field the U20 and U21 sides required by the GLRU, and have more Pirates do not pay their players. “We than enough players to field a third junior believe that they should play for the jersey side for which they also organise as many that is now 128 years old.” matches as possible.

The fact that players come from Pretoria,

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Sasolburg and the West Rand is proof that the jersey still has that magic power!

There are of course many remaining challenges ahead, but the most important is probably securing a main sponsor.

YOUTH RUGBY At youth level Pirates have implemented a unique league. Four years ago they started up with five teams in the Pirates Schools Challenge.

It has now expanded to 11 schools in surrounding areas that have played one another in friendlies over the years.

“All we’ve done is to formalise it,” says Guymer.

sides. The success can be gauged by the number of players from the Pirates structures that have gone on to the IPT. Guymer says the aim is to expand the invitational teams to U14, U15 and U16 levels in order to give the younger groups the same opportunity to qualify for higher honours.

Some leading schools have put out feelers for Pirates to establish a premier schools league.

“As with everything else, we are very conscious that we must not be hasty in anything we do and must ensure that the product and intentions are right,” says Guymer regarding this approach from the schools.

In June the schools play the finals of the The youth sections has 300 players, A and B sections in this competition. with many more on the waiting list.

They come from as far afield as From the schools teams composite Pretoria, the West Rand and even invitational sides are selected to Sasolburg. “We are fortunate that represent Pirates against other clubs, we never had to look for or canvass with a view to give the players a chance players of colour. We get them from of qualifying for the Golden Lions side Soweto, Alexandra and other areas. for the Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT).

“Some of these guys have been awarded their gold and silver colours The composite teams also have for being with the club for ten and five matches against the Pirates junior years respectively.”

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Boy Morkel

PIRATES HISTORY ONE TO BE PROUD OF

By Wim van der Berg

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IN THE 1880S, after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, or The Reef as it was called, men began converging on what had become Johannesburg, and with them came the game of rugby from places like Kimberley, Cape Town and even the other coastal cities.

In 1885 Potchefstroom Dorp was the first club to be formed. Then followed Rand Wanderers (1887), Pirates and Pretoria (1888), West Rand (1892) and Diggers (1893).

Wanderers grounds at Kruger Park in 1889.

Pirates then won the competition’s silver ware, the Imroth Trophy, for the next five years, from 1890 to 1894. The trophy became theirs after their first hat-trick of wins, and they returned it to the TRFU for purposes of the club competition that has since been known as the Pirates Grand Challenge Competition.

As it was in the south, the formation of a union to control the clubs and their competitions became necessary.

In 1889 the Transvaal Rugby Football Union (TRFU) was formed, with Bill Taylor as the first president of what became the ‘Rooibontes’ because of their red and white colours.

Interestingly, the story is told that Pirates as a club name comes from Kimberley, where one of their leading clubs in the mid-1880s was named Pirates. It was derived from the famous amateur play Pirates of Penzance produced in Kimberley, and a number ‘Pirates’ and ‘Policemen’ who are characters in the play, formed themselves into a club when they migrated to Johannesburg .

Pretoria Rugby Club became defunct in 2012, but they became the first Transvaal champions when they beat Pirates 1–0 in the final of the inaugural provincial club competition at the

Pirates produced many of the early Springboks, including MC van Buuren and Japie Louw who played against the first international team to South Africa in 1891.

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The Greenside club also counted the Boer general Christian Beyers as one of their members. Tank van Rooyen, who played in all three tests for the first Springboks to visit New Zealand in 1921, also started his Transvaal career at Pirates.

Boy Morkel, who first played for the Springboks in 1910, was at Pirates in 1920 when he first played for the province and led the Springboks in those first three tests in New Zealand.

Harold Sanderson, president of the TRFU who headed the union for a record 31 years from 1934-’64 also played for Pirates; as did flyhalf Tony Harris, South Africa’s last rugby and cricket double international.

In later years, Springboks of the 1930s such as Freddie Turner, Frank Waring, Jack Gage and Morris Zimerman were the glamour players at Pirates. Kaya Malotana, the first Black Springbok to play in a World Cup (in 1999) and who later received a second Springbok blazer when he was assistant coach of the women’ Springbok side, is another feather in the Pirates cap, as is Owen Nkumane, the first ethnic black to don the Springbok jersey.

Kaya has since moved into coaching and is a regular Xhosa rugby commentator, and Owen’s voice is heard weekly on SuperSport1 when he commentates on Super Rugby and Currie Cup rugby.

Pieter Visser, for many years club manager at Pirates, went one better than Malotana and has four national rugby blazers in his wardrobe. He was first appointed manager of the Emerging Springboks for two tours to the prestigious Safari Sevens tournament in Nairobi and then as Springbok Sevens manager for the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series.

He was also appointed as manager for the Emerging SA which successfully defended their title in Bucharest in the IRB Nations Cup tournament in 2008 and was the manager of the Springboks to the UK on Jake White’s last tour as coach in 2007.

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Jonathan Mokuena

Kaya Malotana

Kobus Wiese

Riaan Viljoen

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The hero of the 1949 white-wash of the All Blacks, Okey Geffin, was a member of Pirates when he became a Springbok, but later transferred to Wanderers.

In recent years, Bok centre Grant Esterhuizen played for Pirates and Gavin Johnson was a member of the 1995 World Cup winning squad. Other Springboks who played for Pirates include Deon Lotter, Delarey du Preez, Dean Hall and Riaan Viljoen.

while at the Johannesburg club and also coached UCT in the Varsity Cup. Interestingly, Lions centre and also sevens player Ryan de Klerk, son of incumbent GLRU president Kevin de Klerk who captained Transvaal and is a Diggers Springbok, played for Pirates in 1998 when he made his provincial debut. He is also a former Golden Lions sevens player.

Other recent luminaries on the rugby scene who played in the blue jersey Peter Winterbottom, who played 58 with the red stripe are Anton van tests for England and also seven for the Zyl, who played for the Lions, later British and Irish Lions ten years apart, captained Western Province and played was a valuable and popular member of for the British Barbarians against the the club Springboks in 2010.

Jonathon Mokuena, former captain of the Blitzboks who also coached NWU-Pukke to the 2016 Varsity Cup title is another big name on the list of international players who played at Pirates. Centre Kevin Foote, now on the coaching staff of the Western Force, was a Springbok sevens captain

True to tradition, each player wore the socks of his club/province – and Worms, as Van Zyl is known, played against the Boks with his Pirates socks!

He, too, is a former Golden Lions sevens player.

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Winston Churchill

Freddie Brookes

Strange equaliser against his ‘own team’ IN THE CAROLIN papers, a rare and authentic piece of South African recorded rugby history, the vice-captain of Paul Roos’ first Springbok side Paddy Carolin tells the following story in his diary of the 1906/07 tour:

This Under Secretary of State for the Colonies was none other than Winston Churchill, who had fought in the AngloBoer War and later became the British Prime Minister, and was Britain’s leader during the Second World War.

‘When we played England on the first Springbok tour in 1906/7 the match was played in atrocious conditions and the match ended in a draw.The media were upset with the result and led a campaign to have the Test replayed, even in calling the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time to say his peace.’

The try scorer for England in their 3-all draw before 40 000 spectators at Crystal Palace was Freddie Brookes.

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Born in India and schooled in England, Brookes had only been in Rhodesia for a little more than four years. (Rhodesia was affiliated to the SA Rugby Football Board and their players were eligible for

the South African side).

trial for the national team. He scored four tries – and despite going to He had played in the Springbok trials England with the hope of playing for and was considered the third best wing the Springboks, Brooks was named in in South Africa after Anton Stegmann the England team for the test against and Bob Loubser. He most probably the touring Springboks! would have been included in the Springbok touring side, but even in This was his only appearance for those days there was the small matter England of residential qualification (five years) which he missed by mere months.

• A Rhodesian Civil Servant by Springbok vice-captain Paddy Carolin profession, Brookes was an wanted Brooks in the team and told outstanding all-round sportsman him to come with them to England, at and played provincial rugby, cricket which time he would send a telegram and soccer for Rhodesia. He held to the Rugby Board seeking permission the 100-yard title in athletics and to call up Brooks as a Springboks also the national long jump record. replacement player.

He was also the national tennis singles Brooks did go to England where he champion for four consecutive years played rugby for Bedford. He did well and also held the men’s and mixed enough and was selected in the South doubles title. vs North fixture, which was used as a

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SUCCESS FOLLOWS THE JABULANI DREAM

By Wim van der Berg

The future is looking bright – and hard work and especially good management and planning will ensure that it is all that is hoped for.

(IRL) which is contested between faculties, residences and societies. They also played against the second sides of established rugby schools – and then often had the IRL fixture to fulfil that evening!

It all started as far back as 1988 when Jabulani Technical High in Soweto took their first tiny rugby steps.

Six years later the schoolboys were playing in the then Under-20C club league of the GLRU and in the Wits internal rugby league

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After the interest in rugby waned at the school, along came an old boy. Thando Mhlongo had learned to play and love rugby at Jabulani Technical High. After studying he played rugby at Soweto Rugby Club where he coached the Under-19 league winners.

He was also the President for a few months, and then parted ways and decided to start a new club in Jabulani.

schools – plus of course the senior club sides demanded by the GLRU to play in their leagues.

A number of his young protégés moved with Mhlongo and he entered the new Jabulani Rugby Club in the GLRU Under 19 league. The club consisted of only this one team.

“We have deployed coaches to the schools and from our internal league we select the best, with about 40 boys per age group to work with at the club.

We then challenge established rugby schools for matches.”

Mhlongo has a great vision for the club which facilitates the Jabulani schools league.

“We now, as a club, have 10 high schools teams and about 20 primary

Over and above financial constraints, the major obstacle in really developing the many kids is playing facilities. “We couldn’t invite other schools to visit us as we didn’t have a field, and we

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didn’t have the finances to visit them regularly.”

Often the schools had to train on a public park, only to make way for the soccer teams/clubs that had the first call on the playing area.

teammates around them, they motivate our young club players to play at that same level.

“We must try and get some of them back to Jabulani if we want to progress to the PGC, which is obviously our goal.”

This, says Mhlongo, will now change.

Within the next week or so they will have their own playing fields at the school from where rugby at the school and the club will grow. “At least we now have a home. We can host the schools, club teams, club matches.

“We are already training there and it’s amazing. The mind-set of the players and the community has changed completely. Even the school is now prepared to put more effort into their rugby.”

It is conceivable that the senior numbers of the club will grow, he feels.

“At every club you care to go to, you will find players from Jabulani. In some instances I took promising players to clubs and convinced them of the players’ quality.

“When they now come to play against us, with the more experienced

The school itself, as he said, will now become more interested in the game.

Currently they field only a few teams, but next year ´as we try and builds suoper rugby schools, they may well develop with the others, say Mhlongo.

He makes no secret of it: Jabulani, for the sake of those with rugby talent, will influence junior players to study at Jabulani High so that they can become part of the club. And the school’s view is: bring them on!

It will make control easier – especially with the vision of helping the children not only with their rugby through the coaches deployed by the club, but also with their homework. ‘We want to introduce the mentorship programme whereby the players will be helped with their homework. They will not be allowed to set foot on the training field before they have not done their schoolwork.”

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Thando Mhlongo Photo Soweto.co.za

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ePressenese ad2

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It’s going well, but they are still far from out of the woods. “Now phase one is to get ourselves organised administratively. The GLRU is recognising the element of excellence and we need to let the players understand there is a bigger picture – and also that, unfortunately, it starts from the bottom.

“We want to affiliate to the Golden

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Lions High School Association next year. We will take it step-by-step, with the primary schools following later.”

As the players graduate from the high school, they will be ready and trained to join the club and start in the junior league sides.

Others will play for junior clubs and one age group will feed the next.

Photo Deon van der Merwe

RUAN COMBRINCK

A LOVE FOR TRIES AND CATTLE

By Annemie Bester

for another two years with the Johannesburg based franchise.

Emirates Lions wing Ruan Combrinck has built on last year’s stellar season and by mid-May had made it clear that he will be playing international rugby sooner rather than later.

His future at international is destined to be a prolonged one.

The fullback-cum-wing who can also play centre, is a former Stellenbosch student who could only make it into the Western Province side on a single occasion.

Then he came to the Lions – and the rest is history with 35 appearances for the Golden Lions and 43 for the Lions indicative of his class. He is a strong runner, with the added advantage of speed, a good tactical sense and is a good goal kicker – especially at long range.

Some afternoons after training he will just linger out on the plot in Alberton he shares with friends, one of them his team mate Harold Vorster, with his dogs Tanic and Mila and his cattle milling around him, smelling the chocolate wrapper in his hand.

“I absolutely adore the smells of farm life, the smell of horses and cattle and the wet earth,” he says.

Combrinck grew up just around the corner from Nkandla, President Jacob Zuma’s homestead in KwaZulu-Natal, in Babanango where the fifth generation of Combrincks are still farming.

He started boarding school in grade 1 and later went on to finish his matric at Michaelhouse in the Natal But there is more to Commies, as midlands where he went to school he is known amongst his teammates. with the Cronjé brothers Guy and He might just love something else Ross. more than he loves to score tries.

He just loves seeing happy, healthy He not only excelled in sport but cattle grazing in green pastures and also in drama in which he quickly watch new calves enter the world. figured out that he can better his marks in theory with sterling But he also deeply loves the Lions, performances on stage, which he his home since 2012, and that is promptly managed to do. why he has just put pen to paper

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Harold Vorster and Ruan Combrinck on the plot where they farm together

Combrinck is one of the in-form wings in the country at the moment and clearly knows how to navigate his way to the goal-line, even against tough Kiwi opposition.

that I have done enough. But to me it felt like we were just starting. I just love working hard, putting in the extra hours.

“I always wait until everyone has left “I once saw a sport phycologist who for the day before I start with my gym told me I should run like I stole some- workout. I don’t train for anyone else, one’s handbag and it is not just the lady, I train for me. Then there is no-one to but also her husband and his buddies impress,” he explains. chasing me. I don’t think about that when I am at full-pace but it’s a damn Combrinck is used to working hard for good mindset to have,” he says with a recognition, first at Maties and Western grin.

Province, where he never really got a decent opportunity, and then at the Combrinck is one of those vibrant, Lions when John Mitchell coached energetic and positive people who them when he joined to Jozi outfit doesn’t need a reason to get up in the back in 2012. morning.

“I really enjoy my time here at the “I have played a full 80 minutes for Lions. When I first arrived Mitch was eleven games now. And when I asked the coach. He is a very smart coach our fitness trainer what I needed to with an All Black mindset. I played in do in our bye week, I was told to rest, three games for the Under-21s when

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he called me up to train with the Currie Cup side. I trained with them that whole season without playing one game.”

why I want to stay for another two years.”

His conversation is littered with clever sayings, but it comes naturally and is clearly part of his make-up as a professional player.

Then Johan Ackermann, coach Ackers, took over. Butch James was the flyhalf – “one of the most clever rugby players I have ever encountered. I have tremendous respect for him. When he talks, you listen.”

They said he is an obvious choice for the Green and Gold this year. They said he is one of the top wings at the moment.

Combrinck doesn’t care what they say.

He just motivates himself every week to be the best he can be. “Never aim to just be involved, aim to be the best,” he says.

He is a driven young man but refused to get too involved with talk about higher selection. “Hashtag love the Lions,” he said with a smile.

He is full of anecdotes, all relating mostly to farm-life but also the special bond the Lions players share. “We are a band of brothers who will do anything for each other. We stood by this union when we were kicked out of Super Rugby because we all wanted to be here. And that is

This Tweet by him a few weeks ago sums it up quite well: “When you play and have fun doing it, you feel really good. When you feel good, you perform well. It’s Basic & Simple. #GameTime #LionsPride”.

Ruan Combrinck in his happy place with cattle milling around him

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Warren and Felicity Whiteley and their daughter Ava

THE LADIES BEHIND THE LIONS “The ever-present family feel,” said JuanRi Mostert, wife of Emirates Lions Franco, when asked what she treasures most about being part of the Lions team.

This reply as a constant when Lions reporter, Monique Naudé had a sitdown with a few of the Lions ladies, and asked them about the ups and the downs of being a rugby wife; their highlights in the rugby world; and how they handle the pressure of being the women behind our Men in Red.

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Juan-Ri, Liza Odendaal, and Sumari Redelinghuys, wife of Julian Redelinghuys, have all been with the Lions family for a long time, and both of them agree with Juan-Ri’s statement.

“There is an feeling of being part of a big family,” says Liza, Jacques van Rooyen’s fiancée, “and this really helps when the boys go away on tour.”

Felicity Whiteley, wife of captain Warren Whiteley and mother of beautiful Ava,

says that her husband’s absence on tour or being away for a match can be quite a challenge, although the Lions ladies are very supportive.

“Ava is 16 months and starting to walk, so she will walk around the house calling out to Warren when he is away,” says Felicity.

“When we Skype with him, or he comes home, she is ecstatic.”

Felicity and Warren met eight years ago while she was working in the marketing department of the Sharks and Warren played for the Academy. They married two and a half years ago.

After moving to Johannesburg, Warren has been the captain of the Lions side for the last three years.

Does she feel there is extra pressure on her as the wife of the captain?

Courtnall and Semone Skosan

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“I have not really experienced any added pressure, but I do know that sometimes Warren is under pressure. I work hard at being aware of this, and make sure that I support and help him when he experiences this. Warren is a naturally positive and motivated person, and usually moves on from disappointments quite easily.”

Felicity adds that spending time with his daughter is one of the best ways to lift Warren’s spirit. To just relax and recharge, Felicity and Warren usually visit family and friends, or spend the day at home with their little bundle of joy.

• Being a rugby wife is never an easy task, especially with the public life that accompanies this line of work. Semone Skosan, wife of Lions winger, Courtnall Skosan, is however no stranger to this way of life. She was recently voted into the Top 25 of the Mrs South Africa competition.

“I entered this competition because of the inspiration Courtnall has been,” Semone explains. “Courtnall has made such an impact in the lives of young men, and I am hoping that this platform will give me the opportunity to touch the lives of young women. This journey has been so educational, I have learnt so much about myself, and believe it has helped me become a better version of myself.”

slowly, because our focus for now is on the rugby, but we are hoping it takes place early November.”

Liza and Jacques met at a friend’s wedding in 2012, and Liza confesses that, for her, it was love at first sight!

“He took no notice of me until later the night when I stole a pumpkin fritter from my sister’s plate!”

Liza admits being a rugby-lady is not Semone says that together they are always the easiest job – especially each other’s biggest supporters, and when times are hard at the office for that communication plays a vital part in Jacques. their relationship.

“We have amazing mentors who gives us advice which we are able to apply to our daily lives. Courtnall and I always try and see the glass half full, and we have found a way to implement the word of God into our marriage and everyday life.”

• For Liza Odendaal, family is an important constant and she admits that some of her best childhood memories are of her spending time with her family.

“My mom loved watching rugby, and some of my favourite memories from my childhood is sitting in front of the television, supporting our favourite rugby team together,” says Liza, who is currently busy planning her wedding. “I am so excited for this big day, marrying my best friend! The planning is going Franco and Juan-Ri Mostert

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“Jacques is normally a very positive person, but I do give him my unconditional support and remind him that he should remember that all of this is just a temporary favour that not many people get the chance to experience.”

• Juan-Ri Mostert explains that the pressure Franco experiences comes with the territory.

be the best wife I can be for Franco, and be his biggest supporter.”

• Being the wife of a forward player, Sumari, a full time reverend at the Dutch Reformed Church in Muldersdrift, feels that the public recognises Julian a lot less, and therefore they lead a more private life than most. When it does happen that Julian gets recognised, they take it in their stride.

“Winning and losing are both part of “Julian and I always feel so humbled life. If he does go through a rough patch, when he does get recognised and I always try and make him focus on all people compliment his rugby.” the positive that is still left in his life.

We also value communication and will always talk about what is troubling us, and what we can work on,” explains this grade 7 teacher.

Moving to France at the end of the year was not an easy decision. Juan-Ri admits that their parents are taking the news extremely hard, but they are supporting this decision completely.

“It is hard for our parents to accept this, but not once have they stopped to give guidance, support or love. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but I could not be more excited about starting this new chapter in our lives.

“I have not yet decided what I am going to do once we are there, I have been too focused on all that is still to be done here at home. I will firstly work to Julian en Sumari Redelinghuys

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Having been a part of the Dutch Reformed Church her whole life, Sumari found her calling one day during a church service. “After my studies I started at the very church that helped me find my purpose, and today I am working with the very man who was my reverend growing up!

“My favourite part of this job is all the different people I get the opportunity to meet. I love getting the chance to see how I can assist in helping people’s lives change for the better with the help of God.”

Because her career requires Sumari to work on weekends, she and Julian value Wednesdays (the team’s day off) when they take the time to just relax and reconnect with one another.

“We enjoy going to the movies or even playing a round of golf. We also try and see as much of family and friends when the team is off” • Callie Thompson has always been a keen rugby supporter. Growing up in Durban, her parents would regularly go to Kings Park for rugby games, taking

Ross Cronje and his fiancée Callie Thompson

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Callie with them. The Lions have been always treasure. a strong support system over the years since she has moved to Johannesburg.

• Felicity agrees, “One of the many highlights for me was watching the “With Ross away from home so team win the Currie Cup last year, and often it is great being part of such being able to celebrate with Warren on an incredible union. We are a big and the field with our daughter. diverse group of ladies, each one bringing something special and positive “The strong bonds that exist between which really helps when Ross isn’t the guys are contagious. We as their around,” Callie explains. wives and girlfriends cannot help but also feel that sense of family and When they are not at the rugby, Callie togetherness,” says Sumari. and Ross love spending time with their friends and family. “We love being A more accurate description of the active, so we would be happy doing atmosphere here in the Lions-camp anything outdoors.” one will not find. Supporting their men weekend after weekend has forged a Her most special memory at the bond between them that will not be Lions is winning the Currie Cup in easily broken. To the union, family is 2015 and getting the opportunity to as important as the rugby that bonds celebrate with the players on the field. everyone that is involved with this Celebrating with Ross on the field franchise, and this is clear to see when after being awarded Man of the Match, you look at this special group of ladies. was one of the memories she will Jacques van Rooyen and his his fiancée Liza Odendaal

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Kevin de Klerk, hard, uncompromising and deceptively quick

FOUR BOKS GUIDING THE LIONS FORTUNES 46

By Wim van der Berg

Cup on three occasions; winning two World Cups; a SA Player of the Year award; and being the oldest test Springbok at The Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) have a rather unique team to guide them to retirement since 2007 until June 2014. success with four Springboks at the helm It is also a feature that all four played for of the union and its teams.

Transvaal/Golden Lions. Only De Klerk did The President Kevin de Klerk, CEO Rudolf not play Super Rugby.

Straeuli, head coach Johan Ackermann and executive board member Ashwin Willemse KEVIN DE KLERK played 105 matches for the Golden Lions and captained them between them boast winning the Currie

Rudolf Straeuli, World Cup winner in 1995

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12 times, scoring 26 tries in his 14 years as a provincial player. He also captained Natal once in his only game for the coastal province before he returned to his beloved Transvaal.

his retirement in 1996. He captained the side 14 times and has 61 caps.

Straeuli was a member of the World Cup winning squad in 1995 and was on the field when Joel Stransky slotted the winning drop late in extra time.

He played for the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup finals in 1993 and 1996 and was on the winning side in 1993.

De Klerk was first selected for the Springboks in 1974 against the unbeaten British and Irish Lions and played his last test in 1981, aged 31.

De Klerk played in three Currie Cup finals, 1971/’72/’74, and has two winners medals to show for it after Transvaal drew the 1971 encounter with Northern Transvaal and then beat Eastern Transvaal in 1972. Transvaal lost to Northern Transvaal in 1974.

RUDOLF STRAEULI crossed the Jukskei River from Pretoria and played for the Golden Lions from 1993 until

Straeuli played in 10 tests and also had the honour of leading the Springboks onto the field in four tour matches in 1994: against Taranaki in New Zealand, and on the year-end tour to the UK and Ireland against Cardiff, Newport and combined Irish provinces in Belfast.

Straeuli coached the Springboks in 2002/’03.

Ashwin Willemse, World Cup winner in 2007 and SA Player of the Year in 2003

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ASHWIN WILLEMSE first played senior rugby for the Cats in the 2003 Super Rugby series and became a Springbok in the same year. He was voted SA Rugby’s player of the Year and also scooped the awards Most Promising Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year in 2003.

Willemse played in 19 tests, and was a member of the 2007 World Cup winning squad. It was his second World Cup, and in the first in 2003 he was coached by Straeuli.

His rugby was curtailed by injury between 2004 and 2006 and he called it a day in South African rugby in 2007 after the World Cup. Willemse returned to the Lions as an Exco member in 2013.

JOHAN ACKERMANN first played for the Golden Lions in 1999 (31 matches) and played Super Rugby for the Cats (24 matches).

He held the record as the oldest South African test player (age 38 years 34 days) which after seven years of retirement was bettered by Victor Matfield. Ackermann is also the oldest SA player to participate in Super Rugby (38 years 272 days).

Johan Ackermann. He was SA’s oldest test forward and still is SA’s oldest Super Rugby player.

After a stint overseas Ackermann played for Griquas and the Sharks before returning to the Lions as assistant (forward) coach to Dick Muir in 2010 and was appointed head coach in 2012.

In the four years since he has taken the Lions to their highest number of wins in a Super Rugby season (nine) and won the Currie Cup with the Golden Lions last year.

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GOLDEN LIONS YOUTH TEAMS KNOWN ON JUNE 22 Dates and venues for the SA Rugby Youth Weeks: • June 27-30: LSEN Week – Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria • July 4-8: U-13 Craven Week / U-16 Grant Khomo Week – Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl • July11-16: Academy Week / U-18 Craven Week – Kearsney College, Durban

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THE GOLDEN LIONS will announce their sides for this year’s youth weeks at Emirates Airline Park on June 22.

The new structure to the 2016 Coca-Cola Youth Weeks will see the junior tournaments being hosted concurrently in Paarl and the Under-18 tournaments in Durban.

In the past all the tournaments were hosted at different venues.

The U-13 Craven Week and U-16 Grant Khomo Week will both be hosted at Paarl Gimnasium from July 4-8, and the Academy Week and U-18 Craven Week will be hosted between July 11-16 at Kearsney College outside Durban.

The Learners with Special Education

Needs (LSEN) Week will be hosted at Affies in Pretoria (June 27-30).

The more recent Iqhawe Rugby Week will take place at Raiders Rugby Club in Bosmont, from October 3-6.

The several benefits of the new structure of the Youth Weeks will include that Saru’s Mobi-Unit coaches, the national selectors, the High Performance staff and the SA Rugby Academy Coaches will be able to attend all the tournaments, according to Saru at the announcement of the league earlier this year.

Another advantage is that player education with regards to Saru’s rugby pathways, safety campaigns, referee recruitment programmes and contracting could be done simultaneously.

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REFERENCES 1.

2.

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IRELAND’S FIRST TEST AT EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK AFTER THREE CONSECUTIVE test matches in the Rugby Championship against the All Blacks at Emirates Airline Park since 2013, the home of Lions and Golden Lions rugby will this year instead host the second of the three–test series against the touring Ireland side.

Johannesburg has not yet played host to

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Ireland, who first toured the country in 1961 and have since played seven of their 22 matches against the Springboks in South Africa.

The test, on June 11, will be Ireland’s first at altitude since 1998 when South Africa won 33–0 at Loftus Versfeld – the biggest win since 1912 in their second meeting.

IRELAND’S FIRST TEST AT EAP

THE SPRINGBOKS’ TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2016 IS: INCOMING TOURS: June 11 17:00 – vs Ireland (Newlands) June 18 17:00 – vs Ireland (Emirates Airline Park) June 25 17:00 – vs Ireland (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: August 20 17:00 – vs Argentina (Mbombela Stadium) August 27 20:30 – vs Argentina (Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta) September 10 12:05 – vs Australia (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) September 17 09:35 – vs New Zealand (AMI Stadium, Christchurch) October 01 17:00 – vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld) October 08 17:00 – vs New Zealand (Kings Park)

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