Debate: Who will win the Rugby Championship?

Back in 2019, the Springboks impressively clinched the Rugby Championship title before going on to historically win the World Cup in the same year. Could history repeat itself? Only time will tell.

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This year’s Rugby Championship gets underway on Saturday, with the Springboks tackling the Wallabies (kick off at 5.05pm SA time), and the All Blacks facing up to Argentina (9.10pm SA time).

Looking ahead to the tournament, our writers have offered their predictions on who will emerge victorious.

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WHO IS WINNING THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP?

Garrin Lambley: SPRINGBOKS

The stars are aligned for the Springboks to win this year’s Rugby Championship. South Africa emerged victorious in the last Rugby Championship played in a Rugby World Cup year – 2019 – and will play two of their three matches on home soil this time around.

With the tournament shortened to a single round of action, the Springboks will be at a distinct advantage as they host Australia and Argentina in Mzansi and will only be on the road for their clash against New Zealand.

Craig Lewis: ALL BLACKS

In a shortened single round tournament, the eventual Rugby Championship winner will need to have won all three of their games. It’s with this in mind that I can’t help but feel the All Blacks will end up with the trophy.

My expectation is that the Springboks and New Zealand will win both their games against Australia and Argentina, but it’s the Kiwis who will have home ground advantage in Auckland when they face South Africa next weekend. That game will be a nail biter, but I think the All Blacks will pick up a narrow victory that will effectively secure the Rugby Championship title for them.

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James Richardson: SPRINGBOKS

The Springboks have a great shot at winning the abbreviated Rugby Championship in 2023, just as they did in 2019. Jacques Nienaber’s side will play two of their three Rugby Championship tests at home at the fortresses of Loftus and Ellis Park.

The critical match for the Springboks will be their raid on Eden Park in New Zealand, and that meeting with the All Blacks is the one likely to settle the fate of the Rugby Championship. Drawn matches in Test rugby are now such a rarity that predicting one is almost always seen as a wild stab in the dark but the Eden Park clash is ripe for another stalemate if these two sides effectively cancel one another out.

A draw is likely to favour the Springboks who otherwise play their two matches at home and such a result would mirror what happened the last time the Rugby Championship was abbreviated.

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Eliot Mahlase: SPRINGBOKS

The Springboks are winning the shortened Rugby Championship, just like they did in 2019. One of the reasons I’m backing the Boks is because they play two of their three Rugby Championship games at home and should win both games with the squad they assembled.

The All Blacks’ steady decline over the years makes a trip to Auckland less daunting, so one shouldn’t be surprised if Jacques Nienaber’s men scrape out an away win.

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