Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Harry Latham-Coyle

What do the Springboks need to win the Rugby Championship? Title permutations explained

South Africa will hope to secure the Rugby Championship - (AP)

South Africa control their own destiny entering the final game of the Rugby Championship as the Springboks bid to defend their title.

A thrilling edition of the competition has perhaps been more hotly-contested than ever before, with just two points separating all four sides before the penultimate games.

An entertaining thrashing of Argentina has allowed South Africa to pull clear, though, and another win over the Pumas at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham would ensure that Rassie Erasmus’s side top the table.

They began the last day of action a point ahead of New Zealand, who beat Australia in Perth in their final fixture - with the All Blacks securing a bonus point for outscoring their opposition by three tries.

That success took New Zealand to 19 points, a tally South Africa will match if they beat Argentina without a bonus point or surpass should they win with one.

The Springboks do possess a vastly superior points difference, though, which ensures that a win of any kind will be enough to retain their crown.

Rugby Championship table

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points Difference

Points

1 New Zealand

6

4

0

2

+8

19

2 South Africa

5

3

0

2

+55

15

3 Australia

6

2

0

4

-13

11

4 Argentina

5

2

0

3

-50

9

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.