Bok season starts with a one-off against Wales in Washington in June

JOHANNESBURG: The new-look Springboks, under new coach Rassie Erasmus, will kick off their 2018 season with a oneoff Test against Wales in Washington DC, on June 2.

The historic occasion – which will see the Boks face Tier One opposition on neutral ground for the first time outside the Rugby World Cup – was confirmed by SA Rugby and USA Rugby yesterday.

The match will take plac e at the Robert F Kennedy Stadium, with kickoff at 5pm (11pm SA time).

It will be the first visit to the USA by the Boks since they faced the USA Eagles in a Test in Houston in December 2001.

Harry Viljoen’s team won 43-20 after battling to a 22-15 lead at half-time. The Bok try-scorers that Saturday were Conrad Jantjies, who grabbed a brace, Dean Hall, Andre Vos, Lucas van Biljon, and Pieter Rossouw.

Louis Koen kicked five conversions and a penalty. The Stormers say coach Robbie Fleck “remains under contract until the end of the 2019 season”, despite overseas media reports yesterday linking him to Welsh Pro 14 team Ospreys. Reports on various websites suggested yesterday that Fleck had been interviewed and is on the shortlist to replace former coach Steve Tandy. But the Stormers said in a media statement: “Fleck has been approached by various clubs in the United Kingdom, but remains under contract with the Stormers.”

This June’s Test will be the 34th between the Boks and Wales, with the Boks having won 28, lost four, while one encounter ended in a draw.

The stadium in Washington is located near the well-known US Capitol building and has a seating capacity of 45 000.