John Smit's World Cup-winning Springbok team will bid to win their 'Grand Slam' when they undertake the year-end tour in November.

The South African Rugby Union announced on Friday that the Boks will play all four of the 'Home Unions' in November.

They start the tour against Ireland in Dublin on November 6, having accepted an invitation to provide the opposition for hosts Ireland when they officially open the new stadium - the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

The Springboks then play Wales, Scotland and England on the following Saturdays.

The tour is planned to end with a fixture against the Barbarians at a venue to be confirmed.

Under Smit the Boks have won almost every conceivable title at their disposal - a World Cup, beating the British and Irish Lions, as well as the Tri-Nations.

A 'Grand Slam' over the Home Unions would be the final frontier for the all-conquering South Africans.

The Boks have won the 'Grand Slam', victory over all four Home Unions, four times - on the 1912–13 tour, 1931–32, 1951–52 and 1960–61.

New Zealand also have four Slams - 1905–06, 1978, 2005 and 2008 - while Australia's only Grand Slam triumph was in 1984.

Meanwhile, the venue of the Springboks’ season-opening Test against France on June 12 remains undecided.

Saru are hoping to meet the local organising committee of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup to arrive at a final decision on the availability of the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.

Springbok end-of-year tour fixtures:
Saturday, November 6: v Ireland, Dublin
Saturday, November 13: v Wales, Cardiff
Saturday, November 20: v Scotland, Edinburgh
Saturday, November 27: v England, London
Saturday, December 4: v Barbarians, TBC

365

Lance's Cape Odyssey Lance Armstrong has already made a positive impact since arriving in Cape Town, writes Dan Nicholl.

SA must improve or else Bafana Bafana need to improve - or they will be in line for an early 2010 World Cup exit.

Try, try, try again We take a closer look at some of the contentious refereeing decisions of the Super 14...