The Rugby Championship has retained the same schedule for this year as it did for previous versions, and the results on the opening day of the weekend weren’t too difficult to predict- New Zealand beating Australia in Sydney and South Africa downing Argentina in Durban. Kings Park however saw only 27 000 in attendance– a far cry from the days one would’ve seen 40 or 50 000 at the venue comfortably.
New Zealand had a tough first half and so did South Africa- both teams trailed at the break to their opponents, but found their mojo in the second half to race to a comfortable win.
New Zealand will be without Ryan Crotty and Rieko Ioane this weekend, with Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett coming into the XV as replacements.
South Africa have effectively kept a similar squad, with the introduction of Franco Mostert for Pieter-Steph du Toit the only change in their XV. The likes of Ross Cronje, Lwazi Mvovo and Jean-luc du Preez, the last of whom was named in the Super Rugby Team of the Year for 2018, have not travelled to Argentina.
Odds for New Zealand v Australia
All Blacks: 1/14
Wallabies: 16/1
Odds for Argentina v South Africa
Los Pumas: 23/10
South Africa: 1/2