The All Blacks are in the pound seats to wrap up this year’s Rugby Championship title, but the Springboks still have an outside chance. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz

Springboks can still win the Rugby Championship: Here’s how

The All Blacks are in the pound seats to wrap up this year’s Rugby Championship title, but the Springboks still have an outside chance.

by Garrin Lambley

19-07-2023 12:51

in Rugby Championship

The All Blacks are in the pound seats to wrap up this year’s Rugby Championship title, but the Springboks still have an outside chance. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz

The All Blacks are in the pound seats to wrap up this year’s shortened Rugby Championship title, but the Springboks still have an outside chance of snatching the trophy.

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As is always the case a World Cup year, the usual round-robin format has been changed, with teams facing each other only once.

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Did you know: The only two years in which the All Blacks didn’t win the Rugby Championship as we know it today, was in the only two previous years that a World Cup was played – 2015 and 2019?

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Having defeated Argentina 41-12 in their opening game and South Africa 35-20 in the second clash, New Zealand need just one more win – or draw – against Australia in Melbourne on 29 July, to make mathematically sure of securing the title.

Currently leading the standings with nine log points and a +44 points difference, the All Blacks missed out on a bonus point against the Springboks despite scoring four tries.

According to tournament regulations, bonus points for try-scoring can only be earned if a team scores three or more tries than their opponents.

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Lying second in the standings with 5 log points and a +16 points difference, the Springboks earned their bonus point through a convincing 43-12 win over the Wallabies in Pretoria during Round 1.

In third place with 4 log points, Argentina secured a dramatic 34-31 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend, giving them a chance to challenge for a higher position.

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For the Springboks to snatch the Rugby Championship title from New Zealand, they have to hope the All Blacks lose to the Wallabies without picking up a bonus point.

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In addition, the Springboks would need to secure a bonus-point win over Argentina.

A win or a draw for New Zealand in their final match would seal the championship for the Kiwis.

Even if the All Blacks were to suffer a shock loss to Eddie Jones’s Wallabies, a losing bonus point would still suffice to crown them champions given their head-to-head win over South Africa.

This would bring New Zealand’s total points to 10.

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The Springboks can also reach 10 points with a bonus point victory against Argentina in Johannesburg. However, due to their defeat in Auckland, they would settle for the second spot.

As for the Wallabies and Argentina, their chances of securing the top spot are now out of reach and they are merely battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

Argentina could reach 9 log points with a bonus point win over the Springboks. However, since they lost to New Zealand, they would remain in second place at best in the event of a tie on points.

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