By Lucky Vince Pienaar
The Rugby Championship is the exact opposite of the World Cup.
While the World Cup involves many teams—both good and weaker—in the Championship, four of the toughest teams in the world go head to head in a round-robin contest played over seven weeks in August and September.
It also sets up the first contest between two coaches who will one day be remembered as the greatest coaches of their time.
➤ In a documentary about Scott “Razor” Robinson by Sky Sport, rugby journalist Jim Kayes asked: “What kind of rugby do you intend to play?”
Razor thought about it for a while, then he said: “Winning rugby.” He didn’t say they will play running rugby, or that vague thing called “All Blacks” rugby. He said winning rugby.
We will never know what the outcome of the World Cup would have been if New Zealand Rugby had dared to bite the bullet and found the money to pay Ian Foster to step aside and to get Robertson out of his contract with the Crusaders.
We remember, of course, that it was a one-point victory for the Springboks. It could very well have been a one-point win the other way.
Razor is a fun guy who does breakdancing tricks and clowns around, but make no mistake, when it comes to winning, he is deadly serious.
➤ And halfway around the world, who does he come up against? He faces Rassie Erasmus, the man who redefined Springbok rugby.
Erasmus has an unmistakable bond with the players. Perhaps his sporting umbilical cord to the players is even a little too strong.
It’s no surprise that Siya Kolisi is heading home.
It took a fortune to buy him out of his contract with the Sharks to go to Racing 92, and now, a mere ten months later, it’s going to take an even bigger fortune to buy him out of his current contract so that he can come back to South Africa.
Steven Kitshoff, too, came back after a short stay at Ulster because of the club’s “financial difficulties”. Or, so they said. Maybe he just wanted to come home.
Rassie is also clear on the objectives with the Springboks. Whether you agree with the “Tony Brown-change of direction” or not, Rassie is also in it to win.
➤ Joe Schmidt of Australia can already claim some unity among the Australian players and also among the Australian fans.
There are signs that Felipe Contepomi is bringing some structure back into Argentinian rugby—something they need and something difficult to manage with the passionate and fiery South Americans.
It is difficult to imagine that either of these teams can win the Championship, but they are going to be better competitors than they have been for a long time.
It’s going to be a fantastic seven weeks, and it starts this weekend. You shouldn’t miss a minute.
Australia v South Africa, Saturday 6.30am, Brisbane
New Zealand v Argentina, Saturday 9.05am, Wellington
Pictured above: The Springboks.
Source: Springboks/X
