Owen Kock

Bloemfontein. - The countdown to the Springboks’ defence of the Rugby World Cup begins in earnest today – precisely one year out from the tournament kick-off. The South African Rugby Union unveiled its Unite 2011 campaign, appealing to all South Africans to get behind the team as the clock begins to tick away.

The 2011 tournament opens on September 9, 2011 when hosts New Zealand take on Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland. Two days later the Springboks begin their campaign against Wales in Wellington. The tournament concludes six weeks later back at Eden Park for the final (October 23).

It will be the Springboks’ fifth tilt at the title and, having won the title twice already, they will be chasing the added distinction of becoming the first nation to successfully defend the Webb Ellis Cup.

“It may seem a long way away of after such disappointing results in the Vodacom Tri-Nations, but the lesson of history is that the Springboks have every chance of retaining the Rugby World Cup,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

“Four years ago results were probably even more concerning but a year later John Smit lifted the trophy and l’m sure South Africans will unite behind the team as they did four years ago.

“The soccer World Cup saw the country unite behind Bafana Bafana and we want them to keep the flag flying for the Springboks over the next 12 months and then all the way to the final.”

The Unite campaign will gather momentum nearer kick off but, for now, Springbok supporters can unite the behind the team by going to www.unite2011.co.za, registering their support and earning the chance to win some special prizes.

The first winner drawn from those registering will win a trip for two to Dublin to watch the Springboks’ Test against Ireland at the new Aviva Stadium on November 6.

Rugby World Cup Factfile:

· The Springboks have eight remaining Tests (and a match against the Barbarians) between now and kick off in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

· South Africa have been drawn in Pool D together with Wales, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia.

· It is the fourth time in five tournaments that South Africa have been pooled with Samoa.

· South Africa have never met Wales at a Rugby World Cup tournament.

· As well as winning the 1995 and 2007 tournaments, South Africa finished 3rd at the 1999 event.

· The Springboks have won 21 out of 24 RWC finals matches for a winning percentage of 87.5%.

· Should South Africa top Pool D then they will play the runner up in Pool C – most likely to be one of Italy, Australia or Ireland in the quarter final.

· Should the seedings go to expectation the Springboks will meet New Zealand in the semi finals.

Pools and match schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2011 which kicks off in a year's time in New Zealand:

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan

Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Georgia, winner of two-leg play-off between Romania and Uruguay

Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, USA

Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia

Match Schedule:

Fri Sept 9: New Zealand v Tonga, Auckland (Eden Park)
Sat Sept 10: Scotland v Play-off winner, Invercargill (Rugby Park Stadium); Fiji v Namibia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); France v Japan, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium); Argentina v England, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)
Sun Sept 11: Australia v Italy, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); Ireland v USA, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki); South Africa v Wales, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium)
Wed Sept 14: Samoa v Namibia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); Tonga v Canada, Whangarei (Northland Events Centre), Scotland v Georgia, Dunedin (Carisbrook)
Thu Sept 15: Russia v USA, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki)
Fri Sept 16: New Zealand v Japan, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium)
Sat Sept 17: Argentina v Play-off winner, Invercargill (Rugby Park Stadium); South Africa v Fiji, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); Australia v Ireland, Auckland (Eden Park)
Sun Sept 18: Wales v Samoa, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium); England v Georgia, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); France v Canada, Napier (McLean Park)
Tue Sept 20: Italy v Russia, Nelson (Trafalgar Park)
Wed Sept 21: Tonga v Japan, Whangarei (Northland Events Centre)
Thu Sept 22: South Africa v Namibia, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium)
Fri Sept 23: Australia v USA, Wellington (Wellington Regional
Stadium)
Sat Sept 24: England v Play-off winner, Dunedin (Carisbrook); New Zealand v France, Auckland (Eden Park)
Sun Sept 25: Fiji v Samoa, Auckland (Eden Park); Ireland v Russia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); Argentina v Scotland, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)
Mon Sept 26: Wales v Namibia, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki)
Tue Sept 27: Canada v Japan, Napier (McLean Park); Italy v USA, Nelson (Trafalgar Park)
Wed Sept 28: Georgia v Play-off winner, Palmerston (North Arena Manawatu)
Fri Sept 30: South Africa v Samoa, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium)
Sat Oct 1: Australia v Russia, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); France v Tonga, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); England v Scotland, Auckland (Eden Park)
Sun Oct 2: Argentina v Georgia, Palmerston (North Arena Manawatu); New Zealand v Canada, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); Wales v Fiji, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium); Ireland v Italy, Dunedin (Carisbrook)

Play-off stage
Quarter-finals
Sat Oct 8: QF1, winner Pool C v runner-up Pool D, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); QF2, winner Pool B v runner-up Pool A, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)
Sun Oct 9: QF3, winner Pool D v runner-up Pool C, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); QF4, winner Pool A v runner-up Pool B, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)

Semi-finals
Sat Oct 15: SF1, winner QF1 v winner QF2, Auckland (Eden Park)
Sun Oct 16: SF2, winner QF3 v winner QF4, Auckland (Eden Park)
Fri Oct 21: Third-place match, Auckland (Eden Park)

Final
Sun Oct 23: Final, Auckland (Eden Park).