Durban, and not Johannesburg, will host back-to-back Rugby World Cup winners, the New Zealand All Blacks next year.
The South African Rugby Union revealed that the 3-times Rugby World Cup champion All Blacks will play the Springboks in Durban on 8 October in The Rugby Championship encounter between the 2 sides on SA soil.
The Springboks and All Blacks have played each other in Johannesburg 5 times in the last 6 years – with 2011 the exception, when they met in Port Elizabeth.
Durban last hosted a Springboks versus All Blacks Test in 2009, with Newlands completely off the map (for the biggest face-off in the game) since 2008.
The exceptionally large All Black following in Cape Town, which have become increasingly vengeful towards the Springboks (even spitting at players), is the main reason why Newlands will not host the All Blacks in the near future.
Bloemfontein (2009) and Pretoria (2006) have also not seen an All Black Test in years.
At least Australia have been regular visitors to Loftus Versfeld, while the Free State Stadium have not hosted any Test since 2010.
The Rugby World Cup finalists, the Wallabies, return to Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
Argentina will venture into new territory for the Pumas, in Nelspruit, when they take on the Springboks in the opening Round of The Rugby Championship on 20 August.
Meanwhile current Six Nations champions Ireland will play a 3-Test series against the Springboks in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth in June 2016.
Springboks Home Fixtures in 2016:
Series against Ireland:
- 11 June: South Africa vs Ireland, Newlands, Cape Town
- 18 June: South Africa vs Ireland, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
- 25 June: South Africa vs Ireland, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
The Rugby Championship (home fixtures):
- 20 August: South Africa vs Argentina, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
- 1 October: South Africa vs Australia, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- 8 October: South Africa vs New Zealand, Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban