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The Rugby Championship: Round 1 Predictions

Hutch | Commercial Director

Thu 18 Jul 2019

It’s a truncated version of the Rugby Championship this year, with just three rounds of action, and the main interest lies in seeing how each team is shaping up ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Can anyone beat the All Blacks to give the rest of the world some confidence ahead of September?

Will Argentina kick on from the Jaguares’ performances in Super Rugby, or will their poor international form continue?

How will Australia fare without star man Israel Folau? And will the Springboks continue to improve and build more confidence before the big one?

Here are my predictions for Round 1 this weekend.

South Africa v Australia

The Wallabies have a poor record on South African soil, but they have named a near full-strength team for the opening clash at Ellis Park, with Folau and David Pocock the notable absences. The Boks, meanwhile, are sending their first-choice team to New Zealand for next week’s clash, with several understudies stepping into the breach for this fixture.

Much will depend on Elton Jantjies at 10, so proficient for the Lions but previously unable to translate that form onto the international stage. Perhaps a below-par club season will be the difference this time and he’ll fulfil his potential for the Boks?

It’s a monstrous pack, as usual, and I suspect they’ll win the battle up front, and combined with home advantage at altitude, I’m backing the Boks to win a tight one.

South Africa by 4

Argentina v New Zealand

This match should feature several players from the Super Rugby final a few weeks ago, and with home advantage for Argentina, they might just fancy their chances of a huge upset and confidence boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

There has been the odd match between these two teams recently where the Pumas have looked threatening, but then the All Blacks come through relatively comfortably in the end. The last 6 matches have been won by an average of nearly 23 points, and that’s probably not a bad pick with several of the Kiwi players pushing for RWC selection.

New Zealand by 23

Let me know how your picks compare in the comments!

652 caps

Hmmmm........I really can't see an international team beating another team by 23 except for a real mismatch in the big competition. I've gone for the rather more cautious 15.
I think Australia will cause an upset away from home but not too big an upset.

18 Jul 15:03

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Because of that Jantjes combination, I agree with you. 19 Jul 09:26

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Wish he could be removed from playing for SA, any under 21 nr 10 will play better than jantjes. Why are the selectors trying over and over to persuade rugby loving fans that he can even perform anywhere but the couch on a friday afternoon.. 19 Jul 11:53

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Maybe SA should start playing with more flair and leave the stamp karretjie.Thats when Elton will show his true value.Its all about the game the coach wants you to play. 19 Jul 13:48

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Does anybody have a recipe for Humble pie? Preferably without nuts. 22 Jul 05:10

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Ha ha, there you have it..........both the Jantjies had a great game!! 25 Jul 04:18

bulletjie17 brand

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same pics /NZ with 13

18 Jul 15:23

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South Africa (The Springboks) to beat Australia (Qantas Wallabies) by 8 Points
New Zealand (The Kiwis) to beat Argentina (The Pumas) by 19 Points
What do you think Hutch?

18 Jul 17:29

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How come you went to all the trouble of typing out "Qantas Wallabies", "THE Springboks" and "THE Pumas" yet couldn't type "All Blacks"? Did your fingers get tired? 22 Jul 07:09

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SA winning?

18 Jul 19:10

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They did, you people are skeptic , if it is in South Africa vs AUssies, we always have a chance, Australia is very weak with travelling. 21 Jul 07:36

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Remember that there are no Crusaders players in the All Black team so it is not a full strength All Black team

18 Jul 20:33

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I dont see an SA "B" team beating a strong Wallaby team.. But its gonna be a good match with SA bench looking strong.. Think the flyhalfs will play the biggest role in this game and Jantjies is not on form and Foley is. NZ an obvious choice.

18 Jul 21:12

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I agree, Aus backs look awesome. Only decent Boks back is Krief if he is fit. My go to was Kolbe but he aint there. 19 Jul 01:07

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End of day though, Australia are like France, crap when platying away. 19 Jul 01:14

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DID MY PICS WAY TOO EARLY IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE B SIDE PLAYING I WOULD OF GONE WITH AUS BY 10 IF SA WINS WOULD BE VERY LOW AT A SCORE OF 5 MAYBE 8 IF THET ARE LUCKY AND NZ BY 15 MAX 19 Jul 07:33

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Interesting....In my heart I back the Boks...my head?? Let's be patriotic...Boks by 6...Kiwis by 25.

19 Jul 04:35

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Boks are hardcore in Joburg but the team they are starting with is far from special. Elton certainly didn't have a good super rugby and Eben straight to captain without much playtime (also hoping he doesn't get a yellow) so I think that game is 50/50 with Aus winning by 5 or less!

19 Jul 06:35

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Also hoping he doesn't get a yellow.... It almost sound as if Eben is a dirty player player who gets yellowed often... 24 Jul 14:10

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Aussies and Jaquares both to sneak wins , upset weekend coming

19 Jul 06:49

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I Like! 20 Jul 07:12

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DID MY PICS FAR TOO EARLY KNOWING SOUTH AFRICA HAS A B SIDE NOW WILL BE A TOUGH ONE POSSIBLY WIN FOR SOUTH AFRICA BY 5 POINTS AT THE MOST AND THE KIWIS TO WIN BY 15

19 Jul 07:29

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Looking at this All Black team, there is no way they will put 23 points past the Pumas. If ever Argentina had a golden opportunity of creating an upset, it is against this weakened Kiwi team. New Zealand will be hard pressed to win by 10 points against the Pumas.

19 Jul 11:41

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Astute comment 22 Jul 07:10

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Bokke by 9, Got to have faith, and, fancy a close one in the next, going with a 2 point win for Argentina. Would not be betting the house on this one though.

19 Jul 12:12

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I said earlier the 2 Jantjies??????????????? The scrummie needs a year of Super Rugby behind him. I like what he does, I'm not sure if the link with Elton is going to work. The 'Bok pack is good. I hope that EE will last an hour. Our back 3 can do a lot of damage.If our centre pairing defends well, I back the 'Boks to win by 12. The Kiwis will beat the Argies 95 out of a 100 times away. This time to win by 17.

19 Jul 12:34

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The SA / AUS game will be tight . We still playing the old way we need to hold onto the ball not kick it away. We will be punished by at least 7 by AUS . The Kiwis will win by 25 or more

19 Jul 14:44

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Agree, Elton not fit for test team - start rather with Steyn...Andre Esterhuizen is to predictable..Sa by 3 - And All Blacks by 7

19 Jul 15:21

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Surely we have better fly halves and scrumhalves than the Janjies. But still going for a Bok win and NZ by a smaller marching than most predictions.

19 Jul 15:53

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Sprinboks by 15/ NZ by 12

19 Jul 18:27

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Australia to win by 12

20 Jul 04:00

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RSA to win with 7points. STONEY

20 Jul 05:27

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Where is the all.blacks

20 Jul 05:29

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Need to see the teams

20 Jul 05:49

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We Al know the springboks is gonna win. Aus lost aigaints argentenia . RSA wil win with 14 points or more

20 Jul 12:52

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All forgetting that SA B squad, is not completely B, and all of them want to be in the World Cup Squad starting line up, thats any Boks dream. So sit back and watch the SA B team bring their A game today!

20 Jul 13:33

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Finally, a common sense prediction! 21 Jul 23:32

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Sa gaan net moet agter lyn toe speel maar vir Jantjies skip paas en reguit vir Esterhuizen gee.

20 Jul 14:39

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I'm shocked the ref hasn't look at a forward pass on jantjies try... Hey Nick Mallet

20 Jul 16:07

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Baker676 You are an idiot & obviously a very sore loser. I think Nick Mallet knows way more than you do. Sour Grapes much??? 22 Jul 08:00

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Didn't know the B team was playing, made my pics to soon... Hope the books push through.... Reacon by 12..

20 Jul 16:09

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Same pick nz by 14

20 Jul 16:15

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Elton 100% kicking, when he's on he's on - and I have faith in Rassie.... great result

20 Jul 17:46

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#Springboks#Blitz#power

20 Jul 18:32

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Some choking on their comments...

20 Jul 18:56

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I had the Springboks by 18.

20 Jul 19:10

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me too
23 Jul 10:07

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B taem...a bok team is a bok team... Doesnt matter if its a B team... Some guys talking to muck about how the boks is going to loose the game... Surprise surprise... Well done Bokke...to bad for the people who think they know rugby... You dont know anything... BOKKE BO

20 Jul 20:17

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Well done to the coach with his combination of the 2 Jantjies boys they work well together, we need these young players to perform and show we are a growing team and force to be recond with in the world cup... Go Bokke..

21 Jul 04:57

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That was a really tough match for the all black young ones but very good experience for them and it show how fiscally international rugby is well done to those boys who made their daybuse

21 Jul 06:17

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Australia won’t beat anyone. NZ way too good again

21 Jul 10:19

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Well done Bokke 35-17

21 Jul 12:33

Edition: North America change

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