Loftus Test not a sell-out

It might be hard to believe, but tickets are still available for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld.

South African supporters are seemingly in no rush to watch their struggling team in action in the penultimate and one of only six home Tests on the Springboks’ 2012 calendar at the traditionally popular Pretoria venue this weekend.

Coming off a winless three-match tour of Argentina and Australasia, the Boks are back home for consecutive Tests against Australia and New Zealand before they embark on their end-of-year tour of Europe for matches against Ireland, Scotland and England in November.  

Not even Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s changes to the starting line-up, most notably the inclusion of 20-year-old Johan Goosen ahead of Morne Steyn, have boosted underwhelming ticket sales.

Ticket prices have long been a contentious issue in the country, with many supporters finding them too steep. Tickets for Saturday’s Test cost R550 for the Main and East Lower Stands, R450 for the East Stand, R350 for seating behind the poles and R350 (special offer) for certain East Stand tickets.