STAR RUGBY PREVIEW: Rugby Championship 2023 | Week Two

The Southern Hemisphere’s best teams are preparing for the World Cup in the Rugby Championship, with three rounds of intense action before they jet off to France in September.

We have a blockbuster showdown between first week winners New Zealand and South Africa to begin with, whilst Australia and Argentina are on the rebound after two thrashings in Saturday’s second game.

We start with tomorrow’s big clash in Auckland…

🇳🇿 New Zealand v South Africa 🇿🇦 (8.05am)

This year’s Rugby World Cup is just around the corner and the eyes of the rugby world will be on Auckland as New Zealand host South Africa in what many are calling the tournament decider.

This comes after two deeply impressive performances on the opening weekend, with the All Blacks running riot over Argentina in Buneos Aires whilst South Africa pummelled the Wallabies 43-12 in Pretoria, a score line that flatted the visitors considering they scored a late consolation try.

The two sides – who are 3/1 and 9/2 for the World Cup in France with starsports.bet – laid down a serious marker there, and based on that form there wouldn’t be much between them. A key factor for backers to consider is the total changeover in South Africa’s side here – the Springboks have used a split squad strategy for the first two weeks, sending an advance party to get up to speed in New Zealand and using the rest of their squad against the Wallabies.

As a result, South Africa have made ten changes, with Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse and skipper Eben Etzebeth (all in the advance party) coming back into what is an incredibly powerful Springbok side.

Making ten changes between one week and the next normally wouldn’t help cohesion, but the combinations in this Springbok side are already well established – this is arguably the first choice back three, centre, lock, and front row here – and the sheer power on the bench should prove to be a big help for their chances of landing a major win.

The All Blacks have made fewer changes – five to the XV – although they are quite major ones, including Richie Mo’unga starting at fly-half, whilst Will Jordan, Mark Telea, Brodie Retallick and Codie Taylor replace Emoni Narawa, Caleb Clarke, Josh Lord and Dane Coles respectively.

Nevertheless, Ian Foster will be delighted with their opening performance against Argentina, especially with a dominant pack winning five penalties at the scrum, stealing two lineouts and providing a ton of quick ball for Damian McKenzie to cause havoc at fly-half.

Ian Foster – rightly anticipating a much more abrasive encounter this week – has switched to Richie Mo’unga at 10, presumably for his sharp kicking alongside his obvious playmaking abilities, with the Barrett brothers and Rieko Ioane likely to be the second playmakers.

On paper, there isn’t much between the two sides – especially with the strength South Africa have on their bench in the forwards – and this could be a very close contest. The Springboks, who have chosen a fresh team for this contest and have in form players in reserve, can be competitive with a 7.5 start on the handicap.

Teams:

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Braydon Ennor, 23 Caleb Clarke.

South Africa: 15 Willem le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mampimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Rudolf Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Daniel Johannes Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Immanuel Libbok

🇦🇺 Australia v Argentina 🇦🇷 (10.45am)

Both Australia and Argentina suffered a horror start to their campaigns with massive defeats, and there’s plenty of work for both to do as they clash in Sydney. Much was made of Eddie Jones’ return to the Wallabies but they were blown away by South Africa in Pretoria, with the Springbok pack just obliterating their counterparts in a one sided showing that could have been worse than 43-12.

Argentina couldn’t lay a glove on the All Blacks, going in 31-0 down at half time and not being able to make any impact bar two second half tries, a worrying start to their year considering the way they faded during the Autumn internationals (losses to Wales and Scotland), and Michael Chieka has just as much work to as his opposite number Eddie Jones.

Australia have many concerns based on last week’s showings, especially the penalty count (conceded 13 to South Africa’s 3) and their tactical kicking game (had only 64 carries to 156 for South Africa, kicked 32 times and had only 37% possession), but they at least have the benefit of home advantage here after playing at altitude, whilst Argentina must get back to their best on the road.

On paper, there’s little between the two packs – and neither impressed on the pitch last weekend. But if the Australians can front up and get decent ball, they have backline threats in Mark Nawaqanitawase, Samu Kerevi, and Marika Koroibete who may bring more threats than their Argentinean counterparts (for all that Emiliano Boffelli and Rodrigo Isgro can be real dangers with ball in hand.

However, there’s simply no interest in taking 2/7 on the hosts – or 11/4 on the visitors – and the best strategy could be to back the hosts for a low margin win. Australia are 9/4 to win by 1-10 points with starsports.bet and that could be the best way to play a trappy match.

Teams:

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (c)

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Josh Kemeny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Carter Gordon

Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

---

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK South Africa +7.5 2-way handicap 5 pts at 4/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Australia to win by 1-10 points inclusive 1 pt at 9/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

PROFIT/LOSS (JULY 2022): LOSS -19.88 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS