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CAPE TOWN. – A new era dawns for the South African Springboks today when they tackle weakened Ireland in Cape Town in the first of three rugby Tests. The country that won the World Cup twice will have a new coach, a new captain, a new scrum-half, a new racial outlook and probably a new playing style. Allister Coetzee, the second black coach after Peter de Villiers to coach the green and gold, was chosen two months ago to succeed Heyneke Meyer.

A disastrous final season of his four-year contract sealed the fate of Meyer with five losses including a sensational 2015 World Cup beating by minnows Japan. He stubbornly refused to accept racial transformation either after decades of white-dominated teams, consistently starting with no more than three black players. – AFP.