Rugby Championship looks like being another All Black road show

HOLDERS New Zealand face a fresh assault on their Rugby Championship title, but for the four sides involved, next year’s World Cup in Japan will be front of mind.

The world champions have been the dominant force in the competition with 15 titles, including five in the last six years.

That most recent run was only broken by an Australian victory in a shortened competition in 2015 ahead of the World Cup that year.

The All Blacks have won all 12 of their matches in the competition since and will again be heavy favourites as their polished squad includes returning captain Kieran Read.

There were few other surprises named by veteran coach Steve Hansen, with continuity a key.

The return of hooker Dane Coles is another positive, even if he may only be available towards the end of the championship.

Just claiming an All Blacks scalp would provide a massive boost for the other contenders, with Australia coming off a poor Super Rugby season, South Africa rebuilding under new coach Rassie Erasmus and Argentina hoping to end a horror run under new tactician Mario Ledesma.

The Springboks have endured great disappointment in the last two Championships, but a morale-boosting 2-1 home series victory over England in June was a promising start for Erasmus.

Winning away will be the key to the Boks’ chances of lifting the trophy for the first time since 2009, but those successes have been rare in the recent past.

Hansen suggested last week that Australia would start the competition as favourites, a notion scoffed at by even Wallaby coach Michael Cheika despite their victory in the dead rubber Bledisloe Cup clash the last time the teams met. — Reuters