2005 Tri-Nations schedule announced

Tri-Nations champions South Africa will begin their defence of the title at one of the strongholds of South African rugby, Securicor Loftus in Pretoria, against Australia on July 30, 2005.

It will come as a welcome relief for the Boks, who in 2004 began their campaign in the far more hostile climes of Christchurch - facing the All Blacks - in a match that ultimately set the pace for last year's tournament.

The South Africans entered the tournament as rank outsiders and came up trumps in the most closely contested Tri-Nations tournament ever. In the end it came down to bonus points, with the Boks squeaking to their second title.

All indications are that 2005 will be just as close.

While the Boks have endured a torrid November tour across the British Isles it is fair to say that their style of play is more suited to southern hemisphere conditions.

The South Africans will enter the '05 Tri-Nations on a even keel, and will be optimistic of starting with back-to-back victories - first over the Wallabies in Pretoria - followed by a win over the ABs in Cape Town the following week.

But the Boks must start to win on the away leg of the tournament next year if they hope to continue making progress under White, who has performed miracles since taking up the coaching reins.

Indeed, the All Blacks and Wallabies - currently placed first and second on the IRB World Ranking - also failed to record an away win last time out, but will be confident they can reverse that trend after their European tours.

The ABs under coach Graham Henry had not convinced earlier this year, but their 45-6 thrashing of France in Paris over the weekend signalled that they are indeed moving forward, rather than backwards as some may have suggested, with Henry at the helm.

The Wallabies will also feel that they can lay claim to the crown in 2005 after an inspired win over England at Twickenham, but they did experience a rather large hiccup against Les Bleus in Paris when they produced arguably one of their poorest performances of the season.

Henry has already dubbed next season as one of the most important years in New Zealand rugby history and they will start their international season with a Test against Fiji on June 10 before taking on the British and Irish Lions in three Tests.

Before the Tri-Nations South Africa and Australia will play each other in home and away matches. The Springboks will also take on France and Uruguay while Australia also play Les Bleus and Samoa and Italy.

Tri-Nations schedule for 2005:

July 30: South Africa v Australia, Securicor Loftus, Pretoria, kick-off 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
August 6: South Africa v New Zealand, Newlands, Cape Town, kick-off 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
August 13: Australia v New Zealand, Telstra Stadium, Sydney, kick-off 17.00 (04.00 GMT)
August 20: Australia v South Africa, Subiaco Oval, Perth, TBC
August 27: New Zealand v South Africa, Dunedin, Carisbrook, TBC
September 3: New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, TBC