2024 Rugby Championship Predictions: Round 1
The Rugby Championship kicks of this weekend, and the opening round of matches look relatively easy to predict - but will there be a surprise?
Here are my Rugby Championship predictions for Round 1:
How do your picks and margins compare? Will there be an upset?
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Here are my Rugby Championship predictions for Round 1:
Australia vs. South Africa
Iโm looking forward to seeing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half for the Springboks, with the rest of the team looking very familiar, which means we know what to expect from them. The familiar power game, a 6-2 bench split and dangerous back three ready to strike, and theyโll be too good for the Aussies I suspect. Prediction: South Africa by 13New Zealand vs. Argentina
The All Blacks should have too much firepower for Argentina. The Pumasโ win back in 2022 looks like a huge anomaly in the recent meetings between the teams, and youโll need a bit of luck in predicting the winning margin. Prediction: New Zealand by 21How do your picks and margins compare? Will there be an upset?
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Jacquesboonzaaier
6,151 caps
A good prediction.
7 Aug 15:02
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BC
95,898 caps
Maybe ๐๐ค 7 Aug 15:16
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Fleeto2024
1,812 cap
nice insight lol 12 Aug 09:54
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Hennessy
50,296 caps
Difficult to oppose those picks, Hutch
7 Aug 20:21
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wilkux
956 caps
Well, after making my picks, i read your article and both your picks is just by one point more than mine๐ฅ๐
8 Aug 05:03
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Larry
5,859 caps
Previous results between these 2 sides show that Australia have had the \"W\" next to their name. I\'m kind of wanting to go for a Australia win purely for log points for superbru. But I will forfeit the possible green arrows for red arrows and back the Boks
8 Aug 06:57
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WernerL
1,901 cap
Larry come on. We both know that comment was just a moment of weakness for you...the BOKS won't lose. I personally do not think previous results matter if the team are completely changed. 8 Aug 12:08
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Larry
5,859 caps
It wasn\'t a moment of weakness. You clearly didn\'t read the part where I said I\'m going to back the BOKS!!!! 8 Aug 13:22
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Larry I think you'll be right. The Aussies are playing in Australia and South Africa have lost momentum in the loss against Ireland and are between World Cups. Aussie to win it.
8 Aug 07:58
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Larry
5,859 caps
Exactly. The Boks don\'t have a good win record with the ref either. But will see what happens. I do hope we win. It just depends which Springbok team pitches up on Saturday morning. Discipline will be key and our kicking had to be pin point. A few missed kicks will come back to haunt them at the end if the difference between winning and losing is the missed kicks. 8 Aug 13:29
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Dylans actual topi
6 caps
๐ well done on your prediction 10 Aug 12:43
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Kameel - I'll suggest a player that many won't have in their Fantasy Rugby Team purely because he's hasn't played for a while and returning from injury. Ethan Blackadder is an excellent pick for the All Blacks against the Pumas!
8 Aug 08:02
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Seens
6,460 caps
Please stop making this game about Sacha Sacha everyone - wonder how that makes Elrigh Louw feel?
8 Aug 11:45
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Larry
5,859 caps
I agree. It\'s a team effort. Not a single player in the team. What about the other players in the squad. Just because one player is good doesn\'t mean that the team will win! What if he has an off day ? What will everyone say then ? Let\'s not bring individual players into this. 8 Aug 13:24
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Prowler
25,051 caps
Seens, I'm going to take stab in the dark and say you support the Bulls, right? Good luck to the whole team. But it is going to be interesting to see how Sasha does in arguably the most important position on the field and a potential chink in the Bok's armour. 8 Aug 22:33
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Look, if this was SA playing in Cape Town then itโs different. But this is SA playing at a sold out Suncorp Stadium in Australia. History is against them and they have a FH making a starting debut. The odds are against an overwhelming victory, any win would be an amazing achievement ( currently 1 out of the the last 8 in Aus!) 9 Aug 07:48
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Larry
5,859 caps
@Greatest Schoeman, I agree. I guess every player had to make his debut at some stage but maybe not in an important championship where the Boks haven\'t won the trophy for the said championship. It\'s a tough call. Even Hollywood Bets have the Boks as favourites. Like in my previous comment, it will all come down to discipline (yellow and red cards) accuracy when kicking for posts and not giving away penalties in a kick able position for the opposition. 9 Aug 14:14
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Dylans actual topi
6 caps
Suncorp meant nothing 10 Aug 12:44
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
I'm not seeing this. If the Springboks have won 1 of the last 8 in Australia and 2 of the last 10 since 2012 it counts for something. Also, yes the side is changed but Sacha starts for the very first time in a test match and it's not like he has 40 caps and experience. It's his debut in a pivotal position. His very first game. Australia on the other hand have settled very well under their new coach. When he ( Schmidt ) coached Ireland they beat the All Blacks and when he was on staff with the All Blacks they beat Ireland ( in the World Cup). We have no basis to think South Africa will win this game! SA have not won the Rugby Championship since 2019 by the way - no idea why they are favourites with the bookies at 8/11and NZ 5/4 and Aussie 28/1! That is crazy odds for Aussie. On what basis is a side the favourites if they haven't won the thing in the last 5 years ? Because they're world champs? That's different - SA mentality loves world cups. They are now in a re-building process!
8 Aug 18:09
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Mr Rugby
1,914 cap
On the money with your thinking 9 Aug 11:31
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Yes will be watching tomorrow see which way it goes 9 Aug 13:08
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Aussie are an even money bet to lose by 10 or less. Planet Rugby suggests SA win comfortably by 20+. That ain't happening! Joe Schmidt simply doesn't coach sides that lose. 9 Aug 13:12
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
I can see NZ putting 30-40 on the Argies though! 9 Aug 13:14
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Mr Rugby
1,914 cap
Iv got Nz by 22 - had Boks by 15 10 Aug 08:13
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Larry
5,859 caps
Wonder if we will win by 1 point like in the last 3 RWC matches. It definitely won\'t be a high scoring game.
9 Aug 14:17
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Dylans actual topi
6 caps
These comments just showed how little you people know ๐ 10 Aug 12:45
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Larry
5,859 caps
@Dylans actual Topi it could have gone either way. So saying to those of us who said Australia will win know very little is very arrogant of yourself. If Australia had won, would you have liked us to say the same about you? Think twice before making comments about those who made a wrong pick. 11 Aug 04:39
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Australia were very good - for the first 5 minutes! ๐คฃ 11 Aug 19:36
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Re-building is going okay! ๐
10 Aug 06:20
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James
74,564 caps
LOL Cliff you off to a flyer! 10 Aug 08:55
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
Oh man 10 Aug 11:03
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Larry
5,859 caps
@Greatest Schoeman, I don\'t think either of us were expecting that result.... 11 Aug 04:40
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Larry
5,859 caps
@Greatest Schoeman, I don\'t think either of us were expecting that result from Argentina either...... 11 Aug 04:42
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The Gunslinger
22,408 caps
Australia to win? Hmm. I wished I had stayed with my first prediction of the Boks winning. Damn!๐
10 Aug 07:38
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Electr!cELL
126 caps
The greatest schoeman. 100% wrong ๐๐๐๐๐
10 Aug 09:27
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
I couldnโt have been more wrong if I tried hard!
10 Aug 11:01
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Theogod
86,648 caps
Anxious to see if Brus learned anything from this weekend's 2 matches. Will 99% still pick NZ next week? Or like Hutch said, was this even a bigger anomaly then last time? Will the SA doubters have a mind change? Only time will tell.
10 Aug 18:34
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dugardy
16,745 caps
To Put the Bok game into perspective it was the Double World champs and NO1 in the World playing No 9. RG was a big loss so late and the score could have been 50 if Willie had woken up earlier 12 Aug 08:11
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The Greatest Schoeman
445 caps
I have my solution Theo! Angus Bell starts the next test ( He is a future Australian captain), Nic White will control everything from under the auspices of his moustache. Koroibete is back to resume conflict with Mapimpi, (Eben is not there this time to be the big brother), and a young fullback Jorgensen will get his chance. SA have heavily rotated. This next one WILL BE CLOSE! Hope you're enjoying the rugby! 14 Aug 10:56
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Joey Tierney
315 caps
Luke Feehilys a wick
10 Aug 20:21
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LukeFeehily
23,579 caps
Amen ๐ 10 Aug 20:22
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