The Rugby Championship is set to kick off on the 20th of July and as teams prepare for the Rugby World Cup this years competition will be a shorter format.
New Zealand
Yet again the Kiwi Super Rugby franchises were imperious in 2019 and, yet again, Steve Hansen and his coaching staff will have a number of tough selection decisions to make. With the World Cup but a few months away, the wily 60-year-old would know roughly 90% of the makeup of his final squad, with the shortened Rugby Championship set to allow him to test out several combinations of which he may still be unsure. In particular, the midfield and loose forward departments are as of yet unconfirmed and the immediate unavailability of Ryan Crotty and Liam Squire will only add to the sense of uncertainty surrounding the squad.
Hansen has already prioritized retaining the Bledisloe Cup ahead of the Rugby Championship title itself, so one would expect their final game against the Wallabies in Perth to show a truer reflection of their strongest XV than what is likely to come in their earlier clashes against Argentina (away) and South Africa (home). Still though, they should remain favorites to go unbeaten and claim yet another Southern Hemisphere showpiece.
Australia
Aside from the Brumbies, there wasn’t much for Aussie Super Rugby fans to shout about this season. The Rebels started well before fading, while the likes of the Reds and Waratahs again flattered to deceive. Still, there is hope in the fact that the Wallabies claimed the Tri Nations/ Rugby Championship titles in the last two World Cup years in 2011 and 2015. Whether by design or otherwise, Michael Cheika and his men will hope that lucky streak continues; especially considering they’re coming off their worst season since 1958.
With a number of key positions still unclear, and flyhalf perhaps chief among them, Cheika will be anxious for individuals to stick their hand up and take ownership of the gold jersey. David Pocock’s expected return from injury should boost the side, while the likes of experienced heads skipper Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu and Adam Ashley-Cooper are sure to lead the way in camp. Despite having the luxury of hosting two of their three Tests, though, they could struggle again against their southern rivals.
South Africa
In spite of another underwhelming campaign from South Africa’s franchises in 2019, Rassie Erasmus would have been encouraged by the performances of several key men that will add huge value in the buildup to the World Cup. While the form of the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lukhanyo Am will certainly lift the team, it is the inclusion of a number of overseas-based men that remains most inspiring. Among them, Marcell Coetzee and Cobus Reinach were standouts for Ulster and Northampton respectively this season, and solid performances in the Rugby Championship over the coming weeks should nail down their spots in the final Bok World Cup squad.
The Boks should negotiate the threat of Australia in Pretoria first up, but trips to New Zealand and Argentina thereafter will require some pretty special performances. The rematch in Wellington will be a particularly absorbing encounter considering what transpired roughly 12-months ago. South Africa need to build up some steam ahead of their voyage to Japan, and with so many sides set to experiment with untried combinations, they may be in with a shout this campaign.
Read the Argentina team preview here
