Springboks chase history as Rugby Championship future hangs in the balance

The Springboks begin their defence of the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park on Saturday, aiming for back-to-back titles for the first time, with the tournament’s future far from certain.

Next year the All Blacks will tour South Africa for eight matches – including three Tests – in the August to October window traditionally reserved for the Rugby Championship. It’s a financial move for both unions and rules out a double-round format. Australia’s hosting of the 2027 Rugby World Cup will also see the competition reduced to a single round, as in previous World Cup years.

In 2030, the Boks will head to New Zealand for their own eight-match tour, adding to doubts about when – or if – a full six-round Championship will return.

This season, the Boks and Wallabies get what could be the last of them for the foreseeable future. Kick-off is in Johannesburg, with the All Blacks and Pumas meeting later in Cordoba.

For South African supporters, much of the pre-Championship chatter has been about 6 September and the chance to beat New Zealand in Auckland for the first time since 1937. The Wallabies fixtures – with a return clash in Cape Town on 23 August – have drawn less hype, given Australia’s struggles in recent years.

Back the Boks Big Five to roar

The Wallabies hit a low at the 2023 World Cup, failing to reach the knockouts for the first time. They suffered a 40-point loss in Argentina and won just once in six Rugby Championship matches last year.

But a three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions changed perceptions. After two defeats, they finished with a 22-12 win in a Sydney downpour, drawing praise from Lions coach Andy Farrell:

“I think special things are going to happen for this team [Australia] over the next 18 months. By the time the World Cup comes round, they will be a force to reckon with.”

Rassie Erasmus took note of their physicality and breakdown work, led by captain and No 8 Harry Wilson – an area the Boks weren’t fully dominant in when dispatching Italy twice and Georgia in warm-ups.

“They [Australia] really fight hard at the breakdowns and clean out well. We have to nullify that threat,” said Erasmus.

History favours the Boks – they’ve won 10 of 11 at Ellis Park against Australia – but there’s enough in the Wallabies’ recent rise to demand respect.

In Cordoba, New Zealand will be tipped to beat Argentina, but the days of automatic victories are gone. The Pumas have taken three of the last 10 against the All Blacks, with two wins coming in Christchurch and Wellington.

“We want to play fast and be really strong at the set pieces. Our team is really trying to find its identity this year,” said All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell.

The All Blacks warmed up with three wins over a France side missing several stars, while Argentina mixed brilliance and inconsistency – beating the Lions in Dublin before losing twice to a weakened England.

“The key is to give our backs a plentiful supply of ball. They have the ability to cause problems for any opponents,” said Pumas loose forward Marcos Kremer.

Rassie’s match-day squads are more player science than rotation