Soccer City to host Springboks-All Blacks game

South Africa's Tri-nations rugby test against New Zealand's All Blacks on August 21 is set to be played at Soccer City, the venue for the soccer World Cup final, reports said on Friday.

“SARU (South African Rugby Union) will make an exciting announcement next Wednesday about the Tri-nations test against the All Blacks, which seems to be the worst-kept secret in rugby at the moment,” SARU spokesman Andy Colquhoun said.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry had inadvertently confirmed that the test was being moved from Ellis Park to Soccer City earlier on Friday during an interview with New Zealand website www.stuff.co.nz.

“Yeah, that's official isn't it?” Henry said when asked about a change in venue, before turning to media manager Joe Locke and asking: “Am I allowed to say that, Joe? “I've just said it, haven't I? It's been speculated...no, I'm not allowed to say that. No, it's only speculated we're playing in a stadium that holds 90 000. Gee, that would be great, wouldn't it? I can't wait.” Soccer City, which hosts the World Cup final on July 11, is on the outskirts of the black township of Soweto, which was at the forefront of the struggle against apartheid, and is the biggest stadium in the country, with a capacity of 90,000.

Springbok vice-captain Victor Matfield said on his Twitter feed on Friday: “Will be awesome to play All Blacks at Soccer City. Will be John's 100th game as well.”

Springbok captain John Smit will become the second South African to play 100 tests after fellow World Cup-winner and current kicking coach Percy Montgomery 102

For more information go to: brescia@stadiummanagement.co.za or visit www.stadiummangement.co.za

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