What Did We Learn from the Rugby Championship?

The southern hemisphere sides have wrapped up another competition of the annual tournament.

The Springboks overcame the Pumas at the London venue on Saturday to earn consecutive championships for the initial occasion.

It was a gripping competition where all four sides had two wins from the initial four matches.

What have we learned about each squad before they head to the northern hemisphere in November?

Pumas Show Promise but Struggle to Progress

Two wins from six games will be viewed as a letdown for an Pumas team who beat each of their three rivals for the initial occasion in the previous year's competition.

This campaign, the Pumas, who joined the championship in the year 2012, finished last place for the very first instance since 2022.

A historic win at home over New Zealand in match two was the peak for the Argentine team.

However, letting slip a significant margin against the Wallabies in the third round – which they corrected the subsequent match – will come as the biggest frustration as an additional success would have helped them avoid ending up last.

Deciding to stage their last home fixture at Allianz Stadium will bring monetary gains, but the significant overseas Springbok supporters gave the South African team an edge.

Falling short in a two-match series against the English side in the summer had already put pressure on securing wins this tournament.

And following up a significant victory to have a creditable trophy pursuit still persists as the following stage for Argentina, who demonstrate an thrilling and speedy brand of rugby union.

With a schedule of Wales, Scotland and the English in late fall this could still prove to be a successful year.

Coach Departs with Australia Improving

Could the Lions tour Australian tour be competitive? That question has aged nicely for the improving Australia side.

The coach took over the Wallabies at their lowest ebb after their failure to qualify for the knockout stages of a World Cup for the very first instance in the previous year.

They had a significantly improved showing at this campaign's competition with successes over the Springboks and the Pumas allowing them to end in third position – an progress on two final positions in a row.

Their tournament progressed toward a significant push to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup for the very first instance since the year 2002, with the All Blacks coming into the final two fixtures against the Australian team after a record defeat by the Springboks.

However, Schmidt's tenure ended with back-to-back losses and he was unable to prise the cup from the All Blacks.

Even so, he transfers an promising team to Les Kiss who is beginning leadership as head coach.

"I believe there's growth in the side and I cannot promise that's going to be steady but I can almost promise the effort's going to be there," he commented.

Dynamic attacker the young talent, twenty-one, and centre the promising player, twenty-two, are difference makers and deadly attackers with room.

The participation of pack players the experienced lock and the dynamic flanker could be decisive in difficult November games that comprise the English, the Irish and France.

Coach Relies On Seasoned Number Ten Barrett

Before Scott Robertson accepted the New Zealand managerial position, the New Zealand team had won half a dozen of the previous seven tournaments.

For the another season in a row, the All Blacks fell short to South Africa.

A encouraging is that the coach has used numerous squad members this season and still has fixtures to come against the British and Irish teams in late fall.

Leroy Carter found the try line in his initial three appearances on the outside, with back rower the young forward, 22, also getting a debut start in the black jersey.

Robertson has initiated creating important depth for the global tournament in 2027, while still defeating the Pumas, South Africa and the Wallabies.

However, a historic defeat in the South American nation and a shock record defeat by the Springboks had negative consequences for the New Zealand's trophy ambitions and leave grounds for apprehension.

The veteran fly-half, 34, started five of the six games at number ten as the coach moved away from last year's regular number 10 the previous incumbent.

The talented playmaker began the World Cup final at fly-half previously and his reappearance to New Zealand will present an additional choice.

Few would have expected Barrett, who has 142 caps, in pole position to begin at the upcoming global tournament, but he is displaying no indications of declining just yet.

And he will have an electric half-back partner – if half-back the emerging star, twenty-four, who seems set to nail down a first-team place, can avoid injury.

Coach Nurtures Players and Keeps Winning

The Springboks were chosen the men's team of the year at the World Rugby awards the previous year.

Having picked up back-to-back competition victories, the leading international squad could be winning the honor a second time.

But what renders the success more notable is the quantity of squad members mentor the Springbok leader has used.

"I feel we utilized nearly 47 players and I'd wish I could have provided additional opportunities," he said.

Setbacks by Australia and the All Blacks over the initial three matches put pressure on Erasmus – but later results made clear the "calculated chance" to nurture players was rewarding.

A trio of successes from three games followed to earn the title, with young Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu featuring in all of them.

A national team best {37 points|

Michael Smith
Michael Smith

A passionate writer and life coach dedicated to helping others unlock their potential through actionable insights and motivational content.