The Rugby Championship – Round One Preview

It may be shorter but it will certainly be sweeter, as the international season smashes into action for the Southern Hemisphere.

The South African Springboks, Australian Wallabies, Argentinian Pumas and New Zealand All Blacks will contest for the silverware in a World Cup shortened competition that will see the teams only meet once. Although the chances of an undefeated team seems highly unlikely. You can catch the video here each week!

SPRINGBOKS (South Africa) vs Wallabies (Australia)

The opening match of the competition will take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, a home advantage for the Springboks. Which quite often is enough for most part time pickers trying to select a winner, but more recently more countries are fighting their way into the winners circle in South Africa. Is this Wallabies side of enough quality to do the same?

We already know a number of first choice Springboks are making their way to New Zealand for round two, much to the displeasure of the Australians. If anything however, this has just given the media master Eddie Jones fuel for his dumpster fire to deflect the attention away from his Wallabies. I feel like Jones’ focus is all facing towards one golden William Webb Ellis.

There is a number of selections and match ups to watch out for in this one. The addition and selection of Irish developed Jean Kleyn has raised a few eyebrows and bolsters an already strong pack. Manie Libbok gets a starting chance at fly-half and goes up against the veteran Quade Cooper who somehow keeps being given that shirt. Tom Hooper (debut) and Michael Hooper playing side by side will have a number of people confused and the outside backs look good for a fireworks display on both sides – if they get any ball, that is.

The Wallabies will need to play their own game, their own strengths and their own plan to stand any chance. If they are sucked into Springbok play, it may get messy. Power, experience and home advantage should be enough for the Springboks to get the first points of the competition.

PICK – Springboks by 10

PUMAS (Argentina) vs ALL BLACKS (New Zealand)

Some may feel this is the curtain raiser after the main event but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Mendoza will be the venue where the Pumas will believe they can add another big scalp to their growing piles of tier one bones in their home stadia.

The depth of rugby quality in Argentina grows year after year and we are far past the point now that they boast a plethora of renown players fully capable at this level. A few years ago, a Pumas side without Nicolas Sanchez starting left a hole throughout the whole squad. A line up with inspiring leader Agustin Creevy left many scratching their head who his replacement was. Powerful forwards who bare resemblance of a Springbok and backs with the typical South American flair bring this side to a position where not only will they challenge the best nations now and then, but consistently, is where they should be standing.

Ian Foster has gone as predictable with his starting line up as he did with his whole squad. Subtract the selections of Josh Lord in the second row and Emoni Narawa on the wing and the sleeping man on the bench outside the park could almost name the side. Damien McKenzie is back in the fold and in the thick at fly-half to provide and intriguing battle with Santiago Carreras. How Caleb Clarke has made it into this squad, let alone the starting side, is a mystery to me. Never before has an All Black side has such a commitment to especially wingers not performing. Emiliano Boffelli against Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett and Lord battling Matias Alemanno and Tomas Lavanini and Pablo Matera clashing with Ardie Savea should have most rugby fan salivating.

In conclusion, if you don’t focus all your attention on the Pumas, they will beat you. So many sides in the world have the scary ability now, there is no rest. The Pumas bench has the better quality so the All Blacks will need to click quickly and get the game and the crowd under control. No easy task. The last time we saw McKenzie behind an All Blacks pack going backwards, still haunts my sleeping hours. It will be close.

PICK – All Blacks by 4

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