Can the Springboks still win the Rugby Championship?

The Springboks’ hopes of winning the Rugby Championship seem to have been dashed after their latest defeat to the All Blacks, but there is still a glimmer of hope.

New Zealand look likely to claim the southern hemisphere title once again, a feat that will be achieved if they beat Australia on 29 July (11:45am kick off SA time), although this result cannot be guaranteed.

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While Australia have made a poor start to the competition, there is a feeling that something is brewing under coach Eddie Jones, and a home game against the All Blacks could prove to be the perfect occasion for an ambush.

“In the first two games we scored two super tries early in the game and we move the ball with fluency and quickly, which is how we want to play,” Jones told reporters after last weekend’s narrow loss to Argentina.

“But we’re not able to sustain that at the moment. I could give you a fantastic, plausible reason, but you’re not going to believe it so I’m not going to give it to you. Whilst it seems like it’s doom and gloom at the moment, it’s not. (There’s) a fair bit of optimism that we’ll be able to change fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. If I was the All Blacks I’d look out.”

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SPRINGBOKS NEED A FAVOUR

Currently, New Zealand have a four point lead at the top of the log, and so the Springboks really need Australia to do them a favour by beating the All Blacks without allowing the Kiwis to claim a losing bonus point.

If this were to happen, the Springboks would then need to target a bonus-point victory against Argentina at Ellis Park, which is something they would surely be expected to achieve.

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Unfortunately South Africa no longer have control over their own destiny in pursuit of the Rugby Championship title, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that there could be a surprise or two in the final round of competition.

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HOW THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP LOG LOOKS