Boks and All Blacks Could Face Off In A Three Test Series - Report
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South Africa and New Zealand could play in a three-Test series if the Rugby Championship does not go ahead as planned according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.
According to the report, New Zealand Rugby is currently working on contingencies if the Rugby Championship is called off amid logistical difficulties with Sazaar officials meeting on Thursday and decide as to whether the Championship will proceed.
World Rugby has allocated the Rugby Championship a Test window between 7 November and 12 December, with New Zealand indicated as Sanzaar’s favoured host nation as the country has kept their Covid-19 infection rate low over the past few months, allowing rugby to return in the form of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
However, there has been rumours suggesting that Australia could now be favourites to host the tournament as there has been another spike in Covid-19 cases in New Zealand.
There is a prospect of a three-Test series between the Springboks and New Zealand if Sanzaar decides to call time on the 2020 Rugby Championship with the series potentially taking place at a later date than the 7 November starting date of the Rugby Championship, allowing South Africa enough time to get their players properly prepared, with the Currie Cup only likely to start in October.
There is also a possibility that the All Blacks could front up against Japan, who turned down the opportunity to take part in the Autumn Nations Cup tournament with the Six Nations and Fiji in November and have been replaced Georgia.
The biggest concern for new Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is the fitness of the Springboks with Nienaber stating that the players would need at least five weeks of regular games if they are to be competitive against the All Blacks, with the New Zealanders having already completed Super Rugby Aotearoa.
With Super Rugby Aotearoa now completed, Australia are heading into the final rounds of their domestic Super Rugby season while a number of All Blacks will be turning out for their provincial sides in the Mitre 10 Cup this weekend.
