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All Blacks begin peculiar Rugby Championship in 'hardcore rugby territory'
By Ned Lester
It's a peculiar Rugby Championship for the All Blacks in 2023, playing in Mendoza for the first time in 32 years before hosting the Springboks at Mt Smart in Auckland because Eden Park is reserved for Fifa World Cup duties. Most bizarre of all, losing the Championship in World Cup years has historically been a good omen for the team.
New Zealand's dominance in the tournament has seen them win every year since 2010 - except the World Cup years. Victors in 2010, the All Blacks split their series with both the Wallabies and South Africa in 2011, leading to a second-place finish as the Wallabies lifted the Tri-Nations trophy.
Three more years of southern hemisphere dominance were again ended in 2015, also by Australia. The All Blacks went on to win the Rugby World Cup both times.
South Africa bucked the trend in 2019, lifting both The Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup.
"I think that's the key, the World Cup," Commentator Tony Johnson told Rugby Nation. "That puts it in a slightly different context.
"I always thought perhaps The Rugby Championship winner in a World Cup year should have an asterisk beside the name because it very rarely equates to World Cup success. It's only happened once - the last time, South Africa in 2019 won The Rugby Championship and went on to win the World Cup. That's the only time that's ever happened.
"I think what's more important for the All Blacks will be retaining the Bledisloe Cup, they would hate to lose that, particularly in a World Cup year.
"Eddie Jones knows as well as anybody, that if they win the Bledisloe Cup, it's a huge, huge boost for Australia, but it's also a massive, massive downer for the All Blacks."
Los Pumas' growth over the years has been immense and Michael Cheika's men have recorded historic victories over the All Blacks in two of the past three international seasons. The team will look to bring that taste of victory to home soil in what promises to be a hostile Estadio Malvinas crowd.
“Argentina in Mendoza, not Buenos Aires," Johnson added. "They're playing up country, that's new.
"It's tricky for sure because you're right up in the foothills of the Andes, you're a long way from the coast. It's really hardcore rugby territory up in Mendoza.
"Michael Cheika, they'll be lying in wait. There are always going to be some question marks over the Pumas, particularly their first game of the year, how they come together because they scatter far and wide."
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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