The very best Springboks in the professional era have arrived in Brisbane as rugby royalty and left buried and tagged on a rugby tombstone, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The Boks will kick off the 2024 Rugby Championship against the Wallabies at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, 10 August, before making the trip to Perth for their second clash against the Wallabies on Saturday, 17 August at the Optus Stadium.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane discusses the Boks’ dismal record in Brisbane, having lost 11 out of 12 Tests since 1996. Suncorp Stadium, in particular, has been a “graveyard” for South African rugby legends. He highlights the significance of this history as Rassie Erasmus’ charges prepare for another Test at this venue.
The only exception was a 38-12 victory in 2013, where Jean de Villiers and Duane Vermeulen excelled. However, this triumph stands alone among a series of heavy losses, including a 49-0 defeat in 2006.
Keohane underscores the challenge facing the world champions, noting that no Bok team has won in Brisbane following a World Cup victory.
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“The Springboks have lost 11 in 12 Tests in Brisbane since the game went professional in 1996. Of those defeats, one has been at the Gabba and 10 at Suncorp Stadium. The latter stadium really is the international graveyard of Springbok greats,” he writes.
“Who knows what they sprinkle in the air conditioner in the visitors’ change room at Suncorp, but hell it works for the Aussies.
“The very best, when it comes to the Springboks in the professional era, have arrived in Brisbane as rugby royalty and left as court jesters.
“To state that there are 10 Bok defeats in the last 11 Tests against Australia in Brisbane since 1996 is a power sentence, but the most powerful illustration is to showcase how many super Springboks have left Suncorp’s fast track buried and tagged on a rugby tombstone.”
Photo: Jono Searle/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
