A Springbok training squad for a Durban camp from 25 to 28 May will be named after Round 14 of Vodacom Super Rugby as the national team kicks off their preparations for the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
The Springboks will be in action for the first time in 2014 when they take on the Samsung-sponsored World XV at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 June.
This match, against a star-studded invitational side coached by former Springbok coach Nick Mallett, will provide Heyneke Meyer with a perfect opportunity to get his team ready for the rest of the Test season.
The Springboks are in action four times in June – after their match against the World XV follows Tests against Wales (on 14 June at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban and on 21 June at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit) and Scotland (on 28 June at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth).
The Springbok Management have been working very hard since the start of the season to ensure everything is in place when they get together for the first time this season with a training camp in Durban from 25 to 28 May.
Apart from a comprehensive planning camp held in February, the Springbok coaching team recently had a coaches camp, where they worked hard on all detail relating to training for the season.
Furthermore, breakdown consultant Richie Gray, who was very influential in the step-up the Springboks made in this area of play last year, had been re-appointed in the same position for this season and 2015.
“Everyone on the management have been very hard at work in ensuring things go as smoothly as possible, especially behind the scenes – both in South Africa and abroad,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“The assistant coaches and coaching consultants have also been around the country continuously where they worked with the franchises and provincial unions, who have been very accommodating to us – I think the synergy we have with the provinces is a massive positive in South African rugby at the moment.
“All of this puts us in a good position leading up to the season, but ultimately we all realise we have to accelerate and step up a gear when we get together as a group in June. We have set certain goals for 2014 after enjoying a relatively successful 2013.
“It’s our third year together as a team and those have generally been the most challenging seasons for any team looking back at the last decade or so. We all know need to make a further step-up from the get go.”
The Springbok training squad for the Durban camp will be named in the week of 19 May, while the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series will be announced on Saturday evening, 31 May.
The final squad of 36 players will get together in Cape Town on 1 June to start the serious preparations for the series.
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