Springboks turn focus to Autumn Series after Rugby Championship title triumph

Since Argentina joined the fray to expand the old Tri Nations into the Rugby Championship in 2011, the competition has long since been dominated with the All Blacks. New Zealand had won nine titles since 2012, with sporadic Springboks and Wallabies successes sprinkled in between the Kiwi era.

However, the latest South African triumph marks a seismic shift in the South Hemisphere narrative, with Rassie Erasmus' men crowned champions at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, this past Saturday.

The Springboks took on Argentina for the curtain-closer in London, with the 'neutral' backdrop heavily dominated by fans in green and gold. The Springboks departed London on Sunday night following their 29-27 victory over Los Pumas, with the upcoming Autumn Nations Series being the next target for the all-conquering Springboks.

This Autumn, the Springboks will face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales across five matches in Europe and the UK. For South Africa scrum half Cobus Reinach, thoughts have quickly turned to the upcoming November tour.

“You could see in the tournament how we’d lose one, win one, lose again, and then win a match,” said Reinach, who scored two tries against the Pumas. “Rugby is a strange game. But we know we have a lot of work to do before the year-end tour, and we are all ready and excited to do it. It’s going to be tough, but we’re ready to put in the work.”

Reflecting on the Springboks' Rugby Championship win, Reinach, who was named Player of the Match at the Allianz Stadium added: “The last time that we won a proper Rugby Championship title before last year was several years ago. It’s a really tough competition, and Argentina showed it. Anything could have happened, and any of the teams could have almost won, so it’s a great feeling.”

On where the triumph ranks in his career, the scrumhalf added: “I’m someone who doesn’t really look back at achievements before I’m done, and I’m not done. What I can say is that it’s unbelievable. One day I’ll be able to sit down properly and tell you what it means, I suppose.”

Reinach admitted the final match was a grind, with Argentina pushing hard until the end. “Looking at where they come from, their country, and their team, we knew they would come out firing. They have a lot of fight in them. They are a team that doesn’t stop giving up, and they showed that. There were stages in which we had to chase a few tails and shadows, and luckily, we maintained that. But credit to Argentina, they are a good team.”

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to announce his November tour squad in the next two weeks, ahead of the squad’s reassembly later this month.