History beckons again for the Springboks, who are one win away from defending the Rugby Championship title for the first time, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane argues that Rassie Erasmus’ Boks have moved beyond the heroic underdog story that once defined them. Instead, they are now a side judged by consistency – a point Erasmus himself made after lifting the 2019 World Cup.
“Legacy and greatness are measured in consistency and not one-off titles,” he said.
That consistency is undeniable. Since 2021, the Boks have won 73% of their Tests, a figure that climbs to 84% when looking at their last 37 matches. They have beaten the All Blacks in five of their last six clashes, claimed series against the British & Irish Lions and England, retained the Freedom Cup and Nelson Mandela Plate, and gone back-to-back as World Cup champions in 2019 and 2023.
Victory against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday will make them the first Boks to defend the Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship crown since the tournament began in 1996. Importantly, they don’t need a bonus point – a win will be enough.
PREVIEW: Boks eye back-to-back southern crowns
Expectation, Keohane notes, no longer weighs heavy on this team. It fuels them.
“These champions of the world have never been underdogs since their 32-12 World Cup win against England in 2019,” he writes.
For Siya Kolisi’s Rainbow Warriors, history beckons again.
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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