The Springboks have three dates pencilled into their November 2020 schedule with Italy, France and Ireland lined up as opponents.

The Boks look likely to open their tour with a meeting against Italy, whom they conquered in the group stage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

At this stage it seems likely that the Springboks will face Italy on 7 November at a venue still to be determined.

The Rugby World Champions then repair to the Emerald Isle where they will face Ireland in Dublin.

There is a possibility that the Springboks might add another date to their tour after their 21 November meeting with France in Paris. Les Bleus will get a taste of what might have been had they held on to see off Wales in an unexpectedly tight RWC quarterfinal, and it is the Welsh who might become South Africa’s fourth opponent.

Only Wales have a gap in their schedule that the Springboks would be able to fill, with England all but confirming there will be no RWC final rematch in 2020.

England will open their November programme with a match against an All Blacks team that will be under a new coach, likely Scott Robertson who has achieved so much success with the Crusaders. The Rugby World Cup runners-up will face all three of the Springboks fellow Rugby Championship sides, welcoming Argentina to Twickenham on 14 November and hosting the Wallabies on 28 November. The Roses have confirmed that they will face a tier 2 nation in their 21 November commitment. The match will most probably see a Pacific Island side or Georgia make their way to the famous home of English rugby.

Japan are unavailable to meet England on that day having committed to a rematch of their Pool A match against Ireland in Dublin. Japan also face the team they eliminated at the group stage, Scotland, and will tackle the Barbarians in December.

Springboks to name their new coach before Christmas

Reports over the weekend have suggested that former Defence coach Jacques Nienaber will be appointed the full-time Springbok coach before SA Rugby close their offices for Christmas.

The challenges facing Nienaber will be manifold but he will have the complete backing of Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.

The short-term goals for Nienaber will be to retain the Rugby Championship and to try to achieve a clean sweep in their November tour matches for the first time since 2013.

2020 end-of-year rugby union internationals

All dates and fixtures to be confirmed

6 November 2020 Scotland vs Argentina Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

7 November 2020 England vs New Zealand Twickenham Stadium, London

7 November 2020 Ireland vs Australia Aviva Stadium, Dublin

7 November 2020 Italy vs South Africa TBD

7 November 2020 France vs Georgia Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne

14 November 2020 England vs Argentina Twickenham Stadium, London

14 November 2020 Scotland vs Japan Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

14 November 2020 Ireland vs South Africa Aviva Stadium, Dublin

14 November 2020 France vs Australia Stade de France, Saint-Denis

20 November 2020 Scotland vs New Zealand Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

21 November 2020 Ireland vs Japan Aviva Stadium, Dublin

21/22 November 2020 England vs Tier 2 Twickenham Stadium, London

21 November 2020 France vs South Africa Stade de France, Saint-Denis

28 November 2020 England vs Australia Twickenham Stadium, London

5 December 2020 Barbarians vs Japan Twickenham Stadium, London