South Africa bail on Rugby Championship
What it means for the All Blacks
South Africa have withdrawn from the Rugby Championship, cutting the number of matches by half. Tournament organiser Sanzaar yesterday confirmed the withdrawal of the world champion Springboks, which will reduce the competition from a 12 to six- test event and necessitate bye weekends.
Sanzaar on Wednesday gave South Africa Rugby an additional 48 hours to reach a final verdict on the Springboks’ participation after lastditch attempts were made for the Boks to arrive in Australia three weeks later than originally planned.
In the end, despite having three to five matches before their tests in Australia, South Africa did not believe the Springboks had time to physically prepare for the tournament.
South Africa’s decision to withdraw has been attributed to player welfare concerns and uncertainty surrounding government travel regulations amid the global Covid- 19 pandemic.
The Springboks will now not travel to Australia to join the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas for the scheduled four nations event to be hosted in Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle from October 31 to December 5.
“It is extremely disappointing the Springboks, due to the continued complexities of operating in and around this Covid environment, cannot fully compete in the previously planned six- round Rugby Championship,” Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos said in a statement.
“That said, this now presents us with a unique opportunity, in this our 25th year, to close off 2020 with a fully- fledged Tri Nations competition. Sanzaar recognises the challenges and adversity that the national unions have had to face this year due to the pandemic.
“It is a tribute to the unions in how they have been able to adapt and, dependent on Covid restrictions, run domestic competitions, with the exception of Argentina, who has been impacted the hardest through their lockdown.”
Without the Springboks, the All Blacks are scheduled to meet the Wallabies in Sydney and Brisbane on October 31 and November 7 after tomorrow’s Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park in Auckland.
After their November 7 test against the Wallabies, the All Blacks will meet the Pumas twice, which is split with a bye week. The All Blacks’ final match against the Pumas is on November 28 and they then return home to quarantine.
Player welfare is a concern for South Africa with their domestic competition, Super Rugby Unlocked, restarting only on October 10.
The Springboks, therefore, always felt significantly disadvantaged compared with New Zealand and Australia’s competitive domestic seasons and Bledisloe tests preparation.
The Pumas are, however, expected to front for tests after playing t wo Australian state sides in warm- up fixtures following quarantine.
South Africa are also thought to have found complications getting leading players out of Europe with the coronavirus re- emergence and the cost of underwriting club insurance.
Ultimately, with the British and Irish Lions tour looming next year, the Springboks were wary of damaging their world champion lure by travelling to Australia undercooked.
The Springboks could now go 20 months, from their World Cup triumph in Tokyo last November to next July, without playing an international fixture.
From a financial perspective, South Africa is thought to be in a reasonable position, well backed by sponsors and broadcaster SuperSport, with the Lions windfall a safeguard.
It’s not yet known how the Boks’ exit will affect the Rugby Championship’s bottom line but the significant reduction in matches is likely to see all four nations take financial hits.
SA Rugby boss Jurie Roux thanked Sanzaar and Rugby Australia for “bending over backwards” to make the Rugby Championship happen.
“It would have been unfair on them and their partners and state government to delay a decision any longer.
“This is a hugely disappointing outcome for supporters and commercial partners but the ongoing impacts of the pandemic in multiple dispensations mean we are unable to deliver a Springbok team without seriously compromising player welfare, apart from other logistical challenges,” Roux said.
The first two Rugby Championship matches involving the All Blacks and Wallabies will double as the final two Bledisloe Cup series clashes.