It’s that time of the year when South meets North, as the Northern Hemisphere welcomes their Southern Hemisphere rivals for their Autumn Internationals.
Springbok coach, Heyeneke Meyer has opted for a rather large touring party as this will serve as a perfect dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup in Europe, as the Springboks will face Ireland in their first test, followed by England, Italy and Wales.
Looking at the upcoming Ireland test this weekend, the Springboks have won 9 out of their 14 tests against these foes abroad with 1 ending in a draw, scoring 231 points and conceding 168. The Irish have had the upper hand recently, winning 3 out of their last 5 home games, the last one ending 15 – 10 in 2009 at Croke Park in Dublin.
Saturday’s test will be played at Aviva Stadium, which replaced the old Lansdowne Road, where the Irish beat the Springboks on 3 occasions and 1 ending in a draw.
In 2006, which was also the centenary year between the two countries, the Springboks lost 32 – 15. In 2004 the Springboks went down 12 – 17 and 9 – 6 in 1965. The one in 1970 ended in an 8 all draw.
The Springboks, however, won the last two tests at Aviva Stadium. In 2010 and 2012 ending 23 – 21 and 16 – 12 respectively.
Over all the Springboks have won 8 out of 12 tests played at Lansdowne Road or the Aviva Stadium (which is, of course, also located on Landsdowne Road in Dublin!)
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Not to cause confusion, the Aviva Stadium was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road Stadium, which was demolished in 2007
I’m looking forward to some rugby this afternoon. Good luck Boks! Should be a good game…
Some good rugby in the first two test matches…a try apiece in both games, the northern hemisphere side scoring first in both games and the southern hemisphere side answering with a great try!
England v New Zealand 5-5
Wales v Australia 7-7
England lead 8-5…
Aussies score with an intercept with Wales hot on the attack…7-14…
England with another penalty make it 11-5…
Now Wales with a good try…14-14…
Good stuff this…channel hopping and all…
Try Aussies…poor defence by Wales there…14-21…
All Blacks penalty…11-8…
Wales kick for the corner…and another Aus interception almost leads to another try!
Wales have kicked two kickable penalties to the corner…
And tapped a third…and this time they score…21-21 at halftime…
Penalty All Blacks…11-11…
Looks like both games will be level at halftime…
Or not…penalty England…14-11…
Aussies convert the first penalty to make it 21-24…
Wales spurn ANOTHER kick at posts…
Cruden hits the upright…still 14-11…
Try New Zealand score…really good try…14-16…
Another penalty by Foley makes it 21-27 to the Wallabies…
Nigel owens is a truly pathetic referee….
Controversial moment there…should have been a try to the All Blacks…
Red card! Not pink Nigel
He kicked him its a red
Yellow card against Coles…just a dumb move by him…
A yellow and the tv ref thinks it’s harsh!!!!
@KILLER SHARK (Comment 27) : I can’t quite believe the TMO…that was clearly at least yellow!
Wales scored somewhere between all the action in the other game…28-27…
England throwing this away with bad kicking? ?
Foley drop goal…28-30…great entertainment!
Penalty All Blacks…Barrett misses a sitter!!!
Jeepers…how did the All Blacks not score there?!
Very dicey penalty to the All Blacks!! 14-19…
Aussie penalty should wrap it up…28-33…just over a minute left…
Owens is letting McCaw get away with murder…although that one was probably ok…
Wales break out after the hooter…on half way still attacking…
Finally they knock it on on the 22…game over…Wallabies win 28-33…
Try All Black…they are playing brilliantly in pouring rain!!
It is pouring!! 14-24…
England kick for the corner…
Some poor decisions by England…
England score…21-24z
England knock on and it is all over…21-24…
Sad that England lost by the try NZ scored short…
SA has a player manager. Ireland has a coach who plans a game and executes it. HM got schooled! !