Nienaber wants Bok momentum ahead of Rugby World Cup

The Springboks have six Tests before their Rugby World Cup opening fixture against Scotland in Marseille on 10 September. A shortened Rugby Championship features three Tests, while three other warm-up Tests are planned for August.

Speaking to rugby365.com, Nienaber indicated that while winning the Rugby Championship is the initial goal, logistically, the Springbok management will have to be smart.

"We want to win every Test, but there might be some rotational changes throughout the six Tests leading up to the World Cup," said Nienaber.

"We have a plan set out in how we want to tackle the six Tests. But we will be forced to re-evaluate.

"You want to go into the World Cup with momentum. We have a plan for the first three Tests - the Rugby Championship. However, depending on injuries and how much squad depth there is in each position, we might rejig the team."

The Rugby Championship opens against Australia at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria and a week later Springboks face the All Blacks in Auckland. Nienaber hinted at the possibility of sending some players to New Zealand to acclimatise beforehand, something the Springbok management has done in the past.

"Depending on how many players we have available, we could send 15 guys to New Zealand earlier," added the Bok coach.

"That will depend on injuries. However, it is something we have done in the past and may do again."

Rugby ChampionshipSaturday, 8 July - v Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)Saturday, 15 July - v New Zealand (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland)Saturday, 29 July - v Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

World Cup warm-up fixturesSaturday, 5 August - v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)Saturday, 19 August - v Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)Friday, 25 August - v New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

World Cup pool fixturesSunday, 10 September - v Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)Sunday, 17 September - v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)Saturday, 23 September - v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)Sunday, 1 October - v Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October - quarterfinalsWeekend of 21/22 October - semifinalsSaturday, 28 October - Final