Can The Springboks Win The Rugby Championship?
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An improved Springbok side has been the talk of the town with regards to the Rugby Championship this year and with them already beating Australia and drawing to New Zealand they now find themselves in the pound seat to win their first title since 2009.
A year and a half ago, one would not have imagined that the Springboks being a position to win the Rugby Championship as the South African’s were ranked outside the top 5 in the world and things were looking awfully glum under the guidance of Alistair Coetzee.
Fast-forwarding to 2019, The Boks under Rassie Erasmus seems to be a whole new team and are constantly improving week in and week out which some suggest is great for world rugby. The Boks beat Aussies 45-17 in week one and followed that performance up with a 16 all draw with the All Blacks.
New Zealand v South Africa | TRC Rd 2 Highlights
— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) July 27, 2019
The @AllBlacks and @springboks played out a dramatic 16-16 draw in Wellington, with the result only the fourth time the sides have been locked at full-time. pic.twitter.com/2kebJ0ekFs
The South African’s biggest test will come next weekend as they face the Argentine's in Salta. The men in green and gold have struggled in recent times in Argentina and although they have won in Salta before they will be facing an opposition determined to get at least one win in this year’s competition.
The Log:
TRC STANDINGS@Springboks lead the way with one round left but @AllBlacks breathing down their necks ...and @qantaswallabies not out of it eitherhttps://t.co/1clbgDwp03 pic.twitter.com/DRmaUJInMA
— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) July 29, 2019
Log Permutations:
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If the Springboks win with a bonus point, they will outright win the Rugby Championship trophy.
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If the Springboks win without a bonus point and the All Blacks beat Australia in their first game without a bonus point the Boks will still be champions.
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If the All Blacks do get a bonus-point win against Australia and the Springboks don't against Argentina, it will simply go down to points difference.
It has been well documented that the team that wins the Rugby Championship or the nation that wins Super Rugby in a World Cup year is unlikely to win the Wiliam Web Ellis trophy, but could there be a twist in the tail this year?
