An Australian venue for Boks vs ABs sets up a genuine World Championship

All the pretenders are gone.. ..Oz vanquished by the ABs….the whole NH in the form of the Lions defeated, no individual country can now reasonably claim to be in the mix. Except for France, also narrowly defeated by Oz. The Bargies defeated comfortably by the Boks in the first test.

That leaves two teams standing….the old rivals. The ABs irresistible attack vs the Boks impregnable defence for  a legitimate World Champion confrontation. About as good as it gets in rugby.

The only negative as currently planned is the Boks playing both games in NZ. Shift it to a neutral venue in Oz and this objection is  resolved. Obviously nobody wants any more of these Covid disruptions. But there is a lot to be said for a neutral venue to resolve questions still lingering after the WC. It could be epic!

Apparently, both games may be in Australia, and not New Zealand as the prime minister has banned foreign arrivals.

Somehow New Zealand rigged it - so that they could get to play the world champs in New Zealand for both tests- the first time ever in this annual tournament.
Although, Jacina has other ideas, and the games may both be in Perth. 

Well, this is the greatest Bok side and coach in history, so what's to worry about? As Coach Unteromlett said, we are man-for-man better than the All Blacks. With Josè at the helm, we can't possibly lose. 

World Championship has nothing to do with the Rugby Championship - there is zero World Championship  in existence.   .   

Mike, he made the case for it being a mini, unofficial world championship...

Still a meaningless endeavour basing a world championship  on a competition involving 4 nations.   If he want to make a realistic claim he should deal with the ranking points in the world  at end of the Rugby Championship  - nothing else.   At this stage the points are as follows:-

1   South Africa         -     94,20

2   New Zealand        -     89,29

6   Argentina             -     83,75

7   Australia              -     83,14

Sout h Africa and New Zealand  are so far ahead of the pack that  the competition who is to be ranked as the top team in the world is between them and nobody else.    Which of the two teams ends up as top ranked is still the highest ranked team in the world - there is no such thing as world champions outside of the official World Cup series  - the next one to be played in 2023.    .      .         

"...that  the competition who is to be ranked as the top team in the world is between them and nobody else."

That was kinda the point...and the Australian venue makes it on neutral ground...well almost anyway. 

Australia neutral. Bwahahahahahaha.

The biggest fear  be biased down under refs. The Bryce Lawrence/Dickinson types. You know the get the Jarpies kind.

What à pity the world's best 7 is out.

Hope that Snyman and  Vermuelen come back strong quickly.

What is the news about Faf?

The Org is desperately hoping for the Boks to fail. Moz quietly would take much comfort in this as well.

Disgraceful oaks disgraceful.

Depth is building in the squad. Keep going Rassie and the Mighty Boks. 

Draad

The point Mozart makes is that it represents a world championship - which is not the case.at all.   South Africa may lose the two AB tests and still be in the top rank and the point Mozart makes is ridiculous at best.   It mirrors his conduct ever since the 2019 WC  stating that the Springboks was not worthy winners of the  WC  in 2019 and is trying to create something out of nothing.            

Of you want to be the best, you must be able to beat everyone...especially the Allblacks...if we want to be 1st, we should start beating them more consistently. 

I agree with the above  - but would not use a wrong statement in dealing with the issue.

It’s two years since the WC. But we remain WC Champions regardless till 2003. Technically the ranking algorithm may also leave us in top position even if we lose both tests to NZ.

But these two tests will be for World Champion  in the eyes of fans around the world. Split the tests and we have the stronger case, lose both and NZ are world champions.

I know there are some on the Board who want to rely on dry technicalities…..but this is a passion index. It comes down to this, we have to win.

The world championship is not determined by anything other than the factual situation and not imagined by anybody others around the world.    Even though they played no rugby before the recent tests against the Lions they still won that series,  whether you like it or not.   Stick to the recognized norms and not start an imagined one - end of story.    

You were not so enthusioastic about running down when Meyer and Coetzee were the coaches - so why now?     

Lose twice to the ABs at a neutral venue and they are world  champions. 

"Given the latest Covid outbreak in Oz and NZ there is some question about the third Bledisloe cup game. Same may apply to games against the Boks."

Would be a tragic overreaction...but we've seen worse of late...lets hope for sanity.

Agreed…it would be a massive anti climax if these matches aren’t played.

But Bok would remain "World Champions" lol 

I hope they don't suddenly decide on some ridiculous programme like last year.

Some of the comments are absolute rubbish.

I doubt that the Rugby Championship is going to go ahead.

I think the AB's are going to have a holiday.

The time will come when the AB's will get their chance. 

We just hosted the Lions tour and are halfway at hosting the Argies...If push comes to shove, NZ and Aus can come to South Africa and play us and the Argies here. 

LOL

News just in manne, it looks like they are scrambling to find a venue and Europe is being touted. That is what some of the rugby websites are reporting. 

But wouldn't it be great if we could watch the games in England  with a pack stadium. 

We have enough expats like myself living in the UK and wouldn't mind watching the boks vs the all blacks. Maybe even Wembley, except for bloody Twickenham. I hate that stadium. Worse than Newlands. 

But I think it will be an even tournament. Folks arriving from Anzac won't need to isolate, however the boks have to go back into isolation for 2 weeks, but maybe they can set up a training base for the players. However, the UK has better Covid regulations for sports players and may not need to isolate as they could be exempt. 

Good news...I think ...

‘Worse than Newlands’….man did I miss  Newlands watching in the Lions in the toilet bowl with it’s horrible turf. Newlands was hallowed ground….so much more atmosphere than any of our grounds or any of the European grounds I visited.

It’s assassination a political travesty and an attack on the essence of Cape Town. We had the perfect set up with the cricket ground nearby and Kelvin available for lunch or even a nice cup of tea.

An update on possibility of test matches (Planet Rugby)

There are major doubts whether the Wallabies and All Blacks third Bledisloe Cup Test will take place in Perth later this month after the Western Australian government introduced fresh quarantine rules for arriving New Zealanders following that country’s Level Four lockdown.

Western Australia’s Premier, Mark McGowan, said he could not say if the Test, which is scheduled for August 28, would go ahead.

McGowan’s government introduced a “low risk” measure, effective from Wednesday, which means New Zealanders arriving in Perth will have to quarantine for 14 days.

Whether the All Blacks get an exemption from that requirement – as the Wallabies did when they played the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests in Auckland earlier this month – remains to be seen.

“We are not sure,” McGowan told Stuff about the status of the game.

“Maybe we have to work out some arrangement, or there may be a bubble, or they just have comply with the rules that exist for everybody else.

Game could be cancelled

“It’s a moving situation and it would be disappointing for rugby fans if we are forced to cancel the game, but that is the nature of the world we live in.”

McGowan also feels there is little hope that Perth would host other Rugby Championship Tests involving Argentina and South Africa.

“I think it would be unlikely, it’s not our No 1 priority.”

The All Blacks are set to travel to Perth on Sunday, but the Level Four lockdown has New Zealand Rugby involved in negotiations to see if that will still take place.

“We will be guided by government travel guidelines and any potential border restrictions in Australia while working closely with Sanzaar and Rugby Australia in coming days to understand what the impact is on our plans,’’ NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said on Monday after the Level Four lockdown was announced.

The plan is for the All Blacks to play the Pumas in Western Australia on September 11 and 18 and the Springboks there on September 25 and October 2, before setting off on their northern hemisphere tour, potentially not returning to New Zealand for three and a half months.

The suspect the AB's will be staying home.

The suspect ABs will be staying at home?

Correction - I suspect the All Blacks will be staying home and will not travel to Australia.

Mozartg 

Your "genuine  World Championship will not take place  - do you blame Rassie for it again?   

No I only blame Harrassmus’  for last year’s chicken run and this year’s dishonest video which poisoned the Lions series.

Two years of rugby spoiled by one selfish prick.

There was nothing like that - the problem was the SA Government instituted particularly harsh measures pertaining the the Coronavirus  and rugby training could only commence during the first week in September  2020.    There were no travelling allowed between provinces in SA until three weeks later and very little competitive rugby played.   Besides that a lot of SA players were playing in the NH country and on entering SA they had to isolate themselves.   It was SARU in liaison with the Government that decided on he issue.    I was not part of Erasmus functions to deide on that situation .  .  Fact is there were no  huge difference beween the nz situation now and he SA situation in 2020.  

What poisoned the Lions seriies  - are you really  nuts and besides that stupid as well?

Argentina solved the problem. And no I’m not stupid, just not an emotional thinker….I’m critical of bad sportsmanship whether it’s us or England.

Sounds like NZ will announce a solution in the next 48 hours.

"These include the possibility of staging the tournament in South Africa or Europe - with an announcement from Sanzaar expected within 48 hours." As reported in the NZ Herald.

In South Africa, wouldn't that be fortunate for José and Krutch.

Ah but the dastardly foreign refs could be a problem. Perhaps Hun Harrassmus could do another video?

Moz, you are singing Beeno's tune

I agree with HasBeen on a number of things….not on the Harrassmus video though.

Game on!