Rugby Championship: New Zealand-South Africa preview

This will probably be the tastiest appetizer ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup in September, this New Zealand-South Africa on stage from 9:05pm on Saturday 15 July at the Sky Sport Arena and valid for the 2023 Rugby Championship.

Both teams, the clear winners of the first round of the competition, despite presenting reconstructed formations, presented themselves in the appointment to their full potential, barring a few injuries (for example, no Sam Whitlock on one side and Sia Kolisi on the other). will not happen).

It’s a new version of the sport’s biggest rivalry with oval ball. This time the scene will be Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, home of the New Zealand national team. Rugby League and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific. This will indeed be an opportunity for both teams to test their respective state of the art: after some experimentation in the first round, this time around both crews have largely taken off their masks.

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The All Blacks are rightly favorites due to home court issues, but this is what the race really looks like too close to call forecasting point of view. South Africa, in fact, showcased their full depth, keeping out some of last week’s best (Arendse and Esterhuizen) and fielding a sensational quality bench.

New Zealand’s players showed against Argentina that they can move very quickly, as evidenced by their excellent start to the match, but given the collapse in the second half of the match, one has to wonder whether they are capable of battleship influence. be able to cope with Bokeh Full 80 minutes.

The winner of the match would go on to win the final of the Rugby Championship. It is also worth remembering that in the World Cup, there is a possibility that both the teams will already meet in the quarter-finals. Placed in two tough groups, they will face off if one comes first and the other second in their respective groups. So winning a rugby championship race is the equivalent of planting a psychological flag on the opposition field as well as sending a clear message to the rest of the oval planet.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rico Ione, 12 Jordy Barrett, 11 Mark Telia, 10 Richie Mounga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardi Savia, 7 Sam Kane (C), 6 Shannon Frizzell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick , 3 Tyrell Lomax, 2 Cody Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Available: 16 Samisoni Tauqi’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Napo Laulala, 19 Taupo Wai, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Braden Ennor, 23 Caleb Clarke

South Africa: 15 Willy Le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo M, 12 Damien de Allende, 11 Makazol Mapimpi, 10 Damien Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Quagga Smith, 5 Ludwig de Jagger, 4 Eben Etzebeth (Captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mobonambi, 1 Steven Kitzhoff
Available: 16 Malcolm Marks, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Peter-Steph du Toit, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manny Liebok

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