Portugal captain Tomas Appleton stressed the significance of the upcoming clash with the Springboks in July for the growth of rugby in his country. This will be the first meeting between the two teams, with Portugal travelling to play the Springboks at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on July 20. Appleton, who led his team to a memorable victory against Fiji at the Rugby World Cup, is eager for this historic match. He believes that facing a top-tier opponent like South Africa is crucial for Portugal's development as a rugby nation.

By exposing Portuguese players to such high-level competition, they can continue to improve and showcase their skills on the international stage. The Portugal Test marks the end of the Springboks' mid-year window, following a match against Wales. Due to scheduling conflicts, the Test will be played without overseas-based players and could provide an opportunity for emerging talent to shine. Looking ahead, the Springboks will face off against Ireland in a challenging two-Test series to determine the best team in the world.