Boks to play France and Ireland, as well as Italy and Wales in November

The Springboks will play fierce northern hemisphere rivals France and Ireland, as well as Italy and Wales, on their end-of- year tour in November.

The matches, especially the two mouthwatering Tests against France and Ireland, are part of the Autumn Nations Series. The matchups against France and Ireland present the opportunity for scores to be settled.

The Boks met France and Ireland on their 2022 end-of-year tour and both matches were tense, bone-rattling affairs with the result hanging in the balance at the death.

The Boks lost to Ireland 19-16 in Dublin before going down 30-26 in a match of mesmerising intensity in Marseille. Curiously, the talismanic Pieter-Steph du Toit and Antoine Dupont were both shown red cards.

The November 8 match against France, which is likely to be in Paris, will be a rematch of the epic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in 2023 which the Springboks dramatically won 29-28. It was a brutally physical, nerve-jangling match that was decided by the thinnest of margins.

Cheslin Kolbe’s charge-down of Thomas Ramos’ conversion attempt is often held up as the defining moment that ensured the defending champions would advance at the expense of the home team in front of expectant fans.

The Springboks’ clash against Italy a week later will be their third against the Azzurri this year. SA host Italy in a two-Test series in July. The Springboks have met the Azzurri twice in a calendar year three times but this will be the first time they meet three times in 12 months.

The Springboks’ clash against Ireland will be as eagerly anticipated as the one against France. It is likely pit the Rugby World Cup holders against the Six Nations champions.

The Springboks and Ireland have established a bitter rivalry over the past decade.

The teams fought tooth and nail in the squared two-Test series in SA in 2024. Two late drop goals by replacement Ciaran Frawley in Durban ensured Ireland shared the spoils, while leaving the sense that both teams have unfinished business.

Their clash in Dublin on November 22 will be marked in red by Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus and Co. The Boks’ most recent win over Ireland in Dublin was in 2012, well predating the Erasmus era in charge of the Springboks.

The Boks have won just two of their past eight Tests against Ireland in Dublin.

The Springboks’ clash with Wales in Cardiff on November 29 falls outside the Test window. It will present Erasmus another opportunity to field players in need of Test caps, while introducing others to the rigours of Test rugby.

Fifteen countries will be involved in the Autumn Nations Series, which run from November 1 to November 29. It will present teams the opportunity to improve their ranking and boost their chances of a more favourable Rugby World Cup 2027 draw.

“The Autumn Nations Series continues to deliver an incredible spectacle for fans,” Tom Harrison, Six Nations Rugby CEO, said.

“Host cities will be the perfect backdrop for an incredible atmosphere for rugby fans across the continent. On the pitch, the matches will showcase the very best of international rugby, with the best teams in the world delivering box office entertainment throughout November.”

Springboks match schedule

Nov 8: France v SA — 10.10pm

Nov 15: Italy v SA — 2.40pm

Nov 22: Ireland v SA — 7.40pm

Nov 29: Wales v SA — 5.10pm