Cheika laughs off favourites tag against All Blacks
Michael Cheika has laughed off suggestions that in-form Argentina are favourites to notch another win over New Zealand in this weekend’s Rugby Championship Test at Hamilton.
Michael Cheika has laughed off suggestions that in-form Argentina are favourites to notch another win over New Zealand in this weekend’s Rugby Championship Test at Hamilton.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has taken a dig at critics who “want blood” as he defended naming an unchanged team for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Hamilton.
Dave Rennie has named his first unchanged starting side since taking over as Australia coach, as the Wallabies attempt to clinch back-to-back wins for the first time this season over the Springboks.
Handre Pollard’s absence will force Jacques Nienaber to focus on finding the best alternate flyhalf during the remainder of the Rugby Championship, writes DYLAN JACK.
Trevor Nyakane and Jesse Kriel are both confident that there is more than enough depth for the Springboks to have a successful Rugby Championship campaign without Handre Pollard or Lukhanyo Am.
Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio has been encouraged to shed his ‘nice-guy’ image and get aggressive against the Springboks in Sydney on Saturday.
Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am have been released from the Springbok squad to return to their respective clubs and are expected to miss the rest of the Rugby Championship through injury.
Deon Fourie’s expected appearance against Australia in Sydney on Saturday will double as an audition for the role Schalk Brits played for the Springboks at the 2019 World Cup.
After kicking Joel Stransky to the curb, Frans Steyn now comes up against Morne Steyn to crown the most clutch Springbok goal-kicker.
Jacques Nienaber has backed Damian Willemse to shine at flyhalf for the Springboks in the clash with the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.