The Rugby Championship is just a week away and this year’s edition looks pretty open with the all conquering All Blacks struggling under Ian Foster’s rule.
Darry Worthington takes a look at how the four sides are shaping headed into the southern hemisphere’s biggest rugby event of the year.
Fixtures
Saturday 6 August
South Africa New Zealand, Mbombela Stadium, 17:05
Argentina v Australia, Estadio Malvinas, 21:10
Saturday 13 August
South Africa New Zealand, Ellis Park, 17:05
Argentina v Australia, Estadio Bicentenario, 21:10
Saturday 27 August
Australia v South Africa, Adelaide Oval, 07:30
New Zealand v Argentina, OrangeTheory Stadium, 09:45
Saturday 3 September
New Zealand v Argentina, FMG Stadium, 09:05
Australia v South Africa, Allianz Stadium, 11:35
Thursday 15 September
Australia v New Zealand, Marvel Stadium, 11:45
Saturday 17 September
Argentina v South Africa, Estadio José Amalfitani, 21:10
Saturday 24 September
New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, 09:05
South Africa v Argentina, Kings Park, 17:05
To Win Tournament Outright
New Zealand 9/10
South Africa 7/4
Australia 9/2
Argentina 28/1
New Zealand
2021 Finish
The daggers have been sharpened and the pitchforks are squarely aimed at Ian Foster after New Zealand’s 1-2 series defeat to Ireland in July.
While credit must go for the Irish who played a dynamic brand of rugby, the Kiwis looked off the boil especially during the final two fixtures. More worrying for All Blacks fans will be the balance of the side.
Their loose trio, with Scott Barrett on the side of the scrum, was dominated at the breakdown by their Irish foes while their search for a reliable inside centre has come up fruitless with David Havilli and Quinn Tupaea not really offering much.
The All Blacks have been given an exceedingly tough draw in the Rugby Championship starting their campaign with two games in South Africa. Should they lose these two then they will be on the back foot from the get-go.
Player to Watch: Roger Tuivasa-Scheck
With Havilli and Tupaea failing to impress, Tuivasa-Scheck may well be given a start in South Africa. The Rugby League convert showed some dynaism during a brief cameo in the third and final Test against the Irish. He’s a physical ball carrier, which is what the All Blacks will need against a hard hitting and solid South African midfield.
South Africa
2021 Finish: Third
The Springboks fared the best of the southern hemisphere sides during the July internationals as they beat a solid and experienced Welsh outfit 2-1 on South African shores.
While the ‘Boks got the job done against the Welsh there was some cause for concern during the series with incumbent fly halves Handre Pollard and Elton Janjties rather out of sorts. Both players had been out for extended periods, however, so the game time will have done them a world of good.
There were also some bright spots from the series against Wales with young Jaden Hendrikse showing some promise at scrum-half while Bulls utility back Kurt-Lee Arendse looked the part on debut for the South Africans.
Player to Watch: Elton Janjties
The veteran was arguably South Africa’s player of the 2021 Rugby Championship. His stock has taken a massive dive since then, however, and with Johann Goosen in and around the Springbok set up the pressure is well and truly on Jantjies to rediscover some form.
Australia
2021 Finish: Second
Dave Rennie’s men may have gone down 1-2 to England during July but the Wallaby mentor will probably not be too concerned with the series defeat as his side showed a lot of courage with the odds stacked against them due to a number of injuries to key players.
With most of his big guns set to return for the Rugby Championship, including Quade Cooper, the Wallabies could well be a surprise contender for the title.
One area of concern for the Wallabies headed into the Championship is their lack of locking depth.Veteran Caderyn Neville and Nick Frost made their debuts in the English series but their will be hope that Izack Rodda is fit and ready to roll for the the start of the Championship as he adds another quality locking option.
Player to Watch: Samu Kerevi
The big man was by far and away the best back for Australia during the England series. He was also devastating during last year’s Rugby Championship as his combination play with Quade Cooper caused havoc for the Springboks especially. Expected the big centre to rack up some staggering metres once again.
Argentina
2021 Finish: Fourth
They may be under new management but Los Pumas looked just as devoid of ideas against an understrength Scottish side in the July series as they did during last season’s Rugby Championship.
I honestly can’t tell you where it’s going wrong for the Argentines. They have a very experienced side filled with quality players but they just have failed to put in a performance over the past year and a half.
They may have won the July series against Scotland but they struggled on both attack and defence and apart from a few 10 minute periods where they looked really good, they were far from the side that took the Championship by storm in 2020.
Player to Watch: Nicolas Sanchez
He may actually be Argentina’s biggest problem at the moment. The talented fly-half seems to be playing within himself at the moment.
He made some really sloppy errors during the three clashes with the ‘Scots. If he can get his confidence back then the Argentines may actually start to play some decent rugby.
Verdict: South Africa 7/4
New Zealand are out of sorts at the minute and I can’t see them making massive improvements with Ian Foster still at the helm. The Springboks will likely be the side to take full advantage of this, although they will need to put in stronger performances in Australia than they did last year.
The Wallabies could pose a real threat but I can see them coming unravelled against New Zealand and ultimately losing the Championship because of those Bledisloe fixtures.
Argentina will struggle here. There’s something wrong with the squad and I don’t think Michael Cheika is the man to fix it.
