CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The Stormers believe they are playing for the future of traditional rugby tours when they give New Zealand the opening challenge of its South Africa trek on Friday.
The All Blacks are undertaking their first tour of tests and provincial games in South Africa in 30 years. The Springboks will repay the visit in New Zealand in 2030 and New Zealand will return in 2034.
But Stormers coach John Dobson said the provincial games will become insignificant if his team plus the Sharks, the Bulls or Lions do not knock off the All Blacks, or are at least competitive.
"When the British and Irish Lions were here in 2021 the situation was far from ideal and the results didn't do justice to the traditional tour concept," Dobson told SuperSport.
"Due to it being played during the time of the COVID pandemic, that Lions tour was an unsatisfactory product. The teams were in a bubble, we had players in quarantine, the games were played in front of empty stadiums. And all the local franchise teams took heavy hidings. The Lions won their games by 60 points or more.
#lions #south
The All Blacks are undertaking their first tour of tests and provincial games in South Africa in 30 years. The Springboks will repay the visit in New Zealand in 2030 and New Zealand will return in 2034.
But Stormers coach John Dobson said the provincial games will become insignificant if his team plus the Sharks, the Bulls or Lions do not knock off the All Blacks, or are at least competitive.
"When the British and Irish Lions were here in 2021 the situation was far from ideal and the results didn't do justice to the traditional tour concept," Dobson told SuperSport.
"Due to it being played during the time of the COVID pandemic, that Lions tour was an unsatisfactory product. The teams were in a bubble, we had players in quarantine, the games were played in front of empty stadiums. And all the local franchise teams took heavy hidings. The Lions won their games by 60 points or more.
#lions #south
2 months ago
