Former All Blacks playmaker Stephen Donald believes the Springboks will go five from five on their end-of-year tour, backing the world champions to dominate in the northern hemisphere.

The Boks face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in November, and Donald – a 2011 World Cup winner – says the schedule has set them up perfectly to maintain their No. 1 ranking.

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“That’s a nice tour [for the Springboks] because for every big game there’s probably a weaker game the following week,” Donald said.

“You would imagine they go unbeaten. France is going to be a blockbuster at the Stade de France, it’s going to be fever pitch there.”

Donald highlighted the highly anticipated clash against France in Paris as the standout fixture, calling it a chance for the Boks to reaffirm their supremacy after the controversial World Cup quarter-final between the sides in 2023.

“Of course that’s the quarter-final rematch, a controversial one that one was too,” he said.

“But it’s a nice schedule because you get to play some shots – to use a cricket analogy – against the Japan, Italy and Wales of this world.

“It’s a nice tour and it’s one that I don’t think will trouble them a whole lot – I think they will go five from five. But my view is week two, South Africa–France, that will be something special.”

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Donald’s comments come as the All Blacks head into their own end-of-year tour ranked second in the world, having been knocked off top spot following their record home defeat to South Africa in Wellington.

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