Rassie Erasmus has admitted he does not know how the southern hemisphere schedule will look next year, when the All Blacks’ tour to South Africa will marginalise the Rugby Championship.
This year’s Rugby Championship has been one of the most exciting and volatile since Argentina joined in 2012. The Springboks are top of the table and will face the Pumas at Twickenham on Saturday in the final round.
However, from 2026 the tournament is set to be watered down. The expected launch of the “Greatest Rugby Rivalry” between the All Blacks and Springboks, the first traditional tour between the countries for 30 years, will lead to a truncated series of southern hemisphere fixtures. New Zealand would travel to South Africa for midweek fixtures and potentially four Tests, one of which could be in London, before a reciprocal visit four years later. There is expected to be no official Rugby Championship in 2026 — when the new Nations Cup begins — 2028 or 2030, but there could be smaller series of matches such as the Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand.
Erasmus says he is in the dark over how the Championship fits in around the new international competitions
PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP
“I know next year is the Greatest Rivalry and the touring of New Zealand,” Erasmus, the South Africa head coach, said. “I’m not in a board room so I don’t know exactly how it will work. We love playing against Argentina and against Australia and I’m not quite sure how that’s going to work out.”
The Springboks threw away a 22-0 lead to lose 38-22 against Australia at Ellis Park in August, setting in motion a thrilling Rugby Championship. Argentina beat the All Blacks in Buenos Aires and the Wallabies in Sydney, and South Africa consigned New Zealand to a 43-10 defeat in Wellington. Australia will host New Zealand in Perth on Saturday morning before the final match at Twickenham in the afternoon.
It is a “home” fixture for Argentina, although South Africa have turned England into familiar neutral territory, proving popular among a significant expatriate community. The Springboks beat New Zealand at Twickenham before the 2023 World Cup and played Wales there last year. They will face Japan at Wembley on November 1.
“I’m not on the financial side of things but I think obviously this is Argentina’s game to take and host it here,” Erasmus said. “I think there are some commercial reasons behind that, I’m not 100 per cent sure, but it’s also, I think, both of our teams travelling just an overnight flight and you’re back into [training]. If we travelled back to Argentina, I think both teams would have been a little bit time-zoned.
“I must say the Argentina team are sacrificing a hell of a lot. Their players are playing all over the world. They’ve played against New Zealand at home but then Australia away, then straight from Australia to South Africa, straight from South Africa to London and then they go all over to their clubs.”
Erasmus has made one change to the XV that beat Argentina 67-30 in Durban. Ox Nché returns at loose-head prop after being a late withdrawal at the weekend. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at fly half after racking up a national-record 37 points on Saturday. Bongi Mbonambi, Jesse Kriel and Grant Williams have come on to the bench.
Argentina v South Africa
The Rugby Championship, Twickenham
Kick-off Saturday October 4, 2pm
TV Sky Sports