Attention, monument in danger.

A leading nation in world rugby, New Zealand is in crisis after losing two matches in a row at home against Ireland in July (23-12 and 32-22).

Already beaten twice last fall, by XV du Clover (29-20) and France (40-25), it has slipped to fourth place in the world rankings, unheard of, and seems to no longer really do scare his opponents.

#photo1

Strongly criticized in the land of the long white cloud, Foster has so far managed to save his head, unlike two of his deputies, John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, recently sacked.

The Rugby Championship, a benchmark annual competition in the southern hemisphere, in which defending champion New Zealand has won eight of the last ten editions, sounds to him like the tournament of the last chance.

Will he see the end?

The All Blacks of Sam Cane, renewed as captain against all odds, begin with two delicate meetings in South Africa, reigning world champion.

#photo2

A replacement in case of red in test

The Springboks, who also suffered last month to win (two wins to one) their Test series against Wales, will be without Toulon winger Cheslin Kolbe on Saturday in Nelspruit, in the northeast of the country. , wounded in the jaw.

"The All Blacks are gifted in all areas. They will come to Nelspruit to make up for their losing streak against Ireland and show that they are still one of the best teams in world rugby," warned South African coach Jacques Nienaber.

#photo3

The other meeting of this first day of the Rugby Championship will pit Argentina against Australia on Saturday in Mendoza.

A special match for the new coach of the Pumas, the Australian Michael Cheika, who spent five years at the head of the Wallabies.

Victorious without necessarily convincing from their series against Scotland in July (two wins to one), the Argentinians, struggling in the competition since their integration ten years ago, will have a shot at home against Australia, who remains on two home defeats and a lost series against England (25-17 and 21-17), and will have to do without her captain, Michael Hooper who withdrew a few hours before the match due to health problems. Mental Health.

"Although this decision was not easy to make, I know it is the right one for me and for the team at this precise moment," said the player with 121 tries, quoted in the statement from Rugby Australia .

"My whole career I have sought to put the team first but I don't feel capable of fulfilling my responsibilities at the moment in my current state of mind."

A new rule will be tested during the tournament, played over six days until September 24: the possibility of replacing a player who has received a red card after 20 minutes.

#photo4

The Rugby Championship 2022 at a glance ahead of the first round matches on Saturday.

The match schedule

Saturday August 6

(In Mbombela/Nelspruit) South Africa - New Zealand (5:05 p.m.)

(In Mendoza) Argentina - Australia (9:10 p.m.)

Saturday August 13

(In Johannesburg) South Africa - New Zealand (5:05 p.m.)

(In San Juan) Argentina - Australia (9:10 p.m.)

Saturday August 27

(In Adelaide) Australia - South Africa (7h30)

(In Christchurch) New Zealand - Argentina (9h45)

Saturday September 3

(In Hamilton) New Zealand - Argentina (9h05)

(In Sydney) Australia - South Africa (11.35 a.m.)

Thursday September 15

(In Melbourne) Australia - New Zealand (11:45 a.m.)

Saturday September 17

(In Buenos Aires) Argentina - South Africa (21h10)

Saturday September 24

(In Auckland) New Zealand - Australia (9h05)

(In Durban) South Africa - Argentina (5:05 p.m.)

Note: 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 offensive bonus point for a team scoring at least three more tries than their opponent, 1 defensive bonus point for losing by less than eight points .

The last five winners

2016: New Zealand

2017: New Zealand

2018: New Zealand

2019: South Africa

2021: New Zealand

Note: The 2020 edition, won by New Zealand, had been reduced to three nations due to the Covid pandemic which prevented South Africa from taking part.

© 2022 AFP