Preparations are in full swing and happening in all earnest for the Rugby World Cup 2019, happening in just more than a month, in Japan.

Teams are positioning themselves, showing their hands, building their squads…

Having had a full Sunday und another half day to ponder the past weekend’s Test results, the following:

The Rugby Championship 2019:

Springboks:

Rassie seems to be building nicely for the Rugby World Cup and the Springboks are in a far better place now than a month ago. Depth in positions are fine, combinations seem more sorted… still little errors but a huge improvement overall.

• Good home win with a B-Team against the Wallabies
• Sufficient DRAW against the All Blacks in New Zealand and determination a plenty to take that game out of the fire at the end
• Massive win against Los Pumas, away from home this past weekend, with specially the scrums and defence very impressive

The Springboks are the deserved champs of The Rugby Championship 2019, clearing their nearest rivals by 4 Log Points.

This coming weekend at Loftus, I would like to see the B-side again. We must give Lizo Gqoboka and Vincent Koch a good run, so too the 3rd hooker (Schalk Brits), Lood de Jager and RG Snyman at locks. Rest Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit and give Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith and Francois Louw a good run… I would not play Rynhardt Elstadt (in fact I would cut him from the squad). I would give Cobus Reinach a good run at scrummie, with Herschell Jantjies on the bench. I would rest Pollard… so Elton Jantjies it would have to be. In the centres is where I would really experiment, with Frans Steyn at 12 and Jesse Kriel at 13. On the wings I would play Sbu Nkosi and I’d even give Cornal Hendricks a go again (not going to happen), with Warrick Gelant at fullback.

Wallabies:

They came back from the dead after losing so badly against the Springboks B-side at Emirates Airline Park in The Rugby Championship opener. Michael Cheika will be much happier since then.

• Bad loss against the Springboks B-side
• Good win against Los Pumas in Australia
• Massive win against the All Blacks in Perth this past weekend

Their combinations seem to be falling into place and they are now as close as possible to their starting Rugby World Cup side. Their forwards are motivated, their backline runs with purpose.

For the return leg of the Bledisloe Cup this coming weekend, I would give their real starters (this past weekend’s team) another full go.

All Blacks:

I am still astounded about the lack of purpose, form, combinations and the games which the All Blacks played in The Rugby Championship 2019.

• A narrow win and an untidy game by the All Blacks against Los Pumas in the 1st game. Many, many errors, no cohesion
• A draw, at home, against the Springboks… with what should have been their best possible side. Error-rate and kicking to posts shoddy
• A massive loss to the Wallabies, with arguably also near their strongest outfit. Their possession percentages were poor, their territorial percentages poor, far too many errors and the All Blacks pack was dominated. Their combinations are not firing at all.

It is not their finest hour at all, but does that make them even more dangerous going ahead OR are they being found out and countered effectively?

Are the All Blacks finally vulnerable enough to be exploited by the world’s top teams?

I won’t read too much in the return encounter in New Zealand this coming weekend, between the All Blacks vs Wallabies. There should be some experimentation by both sides…

For the All Blacks, they need to stop the No 15 experiment of Beauden Barrett. Their props not up to par, maybe play the 2 bench players to start and place the incumbants on the bench. They have serious problems at lock, with Retallick injured and Scott Barrett Red Carded this past weekend. Their loose forwards are not gelling as a unit, highly suspect there. Brad Weber should have been given a run and I hope they do so this coming weekend. Flyhalves should still rather be Beauden Barrett and then Richie Mo’unga. Their centres… big conundrum because it appears that Hansen is hugely unsure here. Ben Smith must move to fullback and Sevu Reece and Rieko Ioane the wings… natural order restored.

Los Pumas:

They will have more questions than answers at the moment and are not in the space they want to be. Their scrums are dismal and ill-dicipline has crawled right back into their side.

• Error-ridden game against the All Blacks
• Bad loss against the Wallabies
• Terrible loss against the Springboks this past weekend in Salta

I do not believe Nicolas Sanchez is their best Flyhalf anymore and he has been defensively weak. Their overseas props are woeful. They need to move closer to the Los Jaguares side who did so well in Super Rugby, for more cohesion and purpose. I think they need to play their strongest available squad against the Springboks at Loftus this coming weekend.

Rugby World Cup contenders:

The Rugby World Cup now suddenly sees 6 or 7 sides with a real chance at the title… in my mind along the following order:

• All Blacks
• England
• Ireland
• Springboks
• Wales
• Wallabies
• France (never discount the Froggies)

PS! England really outperformed Wales yesterday and Eddie Jones must be satisfied with his 1st hit out in preparation of the Rugby World Cup. Ireland also beat Italy, 29 / 10.