Saru not doing Springboks much favours with trip to USA

Whoever is set to take the Springboks’ coaching reins in 2018 will have very little time to prepare for the three-match incoming Test series against England in June.

SA Rugby announced an historic once-off Test against Wales in Washington on June 2 this week, which means the Boks will have a very tight schedule before facing Eddie Jones’ charges at Ellis Park on June 9.

All four South African Super Rugby franchises will in action on the weekend of May 25/26, with the Sharks still having to fly back from Argentina after a match against the Jaguares on the Friday.

On the Saturday, the Bulls host the Brumbies and the Stormers and Lions face off in Cape Town, after which the Bok squad will have to assemble, fly out to the United States and take on Wales before making the arduous trip back across the Atlantic Ocean for the tough challenge against England.

The match against the Welsh at the Robert F Kennedy Stadium is the first time the Boks will face top tier opposition at a neutral venue in a non-World Cup match.

The vacancy of Bok coach is still vacant after Allister Coetzee’s resignation earlier this month.

For more sport your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.