2024 Rugby Championship – Review

The 2024 Rugby Championship was filled with thrilling encounters between four of the top rugby nations. Bet Central takes a look at how all the teams fared in this year’s competition.

Argentina – Major Improvement

Los Pumas were the most improved side this year. Never before in the history of the Rugby Championship have they managed to beat all three of their rivals in the tournament, but they achieved it this year.

Their most impressive performance was their win in New Zealand, closely followed by their dominant victory over Australia. Winning away from home against a team that hadn’t lost up to that point was mighty impressive from Felipe Contepomi’s side.

Some of the changes he made, like the elevation of Tomás Albornoz, gave the team more control in terms of game management, resulting in major improvements. There is plenty for Contepomi to build on with this Los Pumas side.

Most Valuable Player: There were plenty of standout players for Los Pumas, particularly in their wins. Joaquín Oviedo made a huge impact off the bench and could be considered the find of the tournament for Los Pumas. However, certain players had an even greater influence. Santiago Chocobares was superb, but Pablo Matera has to be regarded as the best player of the tournament for Argentina.

Australia – Massive Rebuilding Job

The Wallabies finished last, with only a last-minute win against Argentina in South America to their name. Australian rugby is clearly feeling the effects of a disruptive tenure under Eddie Jones.
Joe Schmidt has a massive job ahead of him. The Wallabies are in the doldrums and need a significant boost in quality in their forward pack, particularly in the tight five, as well as finding a flyhalf capable of controlling the game.

Despite the challenges, there were some positives. The emergence of young loose forwards like Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight was a huge plus, while the growth of Harry Wilson was impressive. The return of Len Ikitau also provided much-needed defensive strength and attacking creativity.

Most Valuable Player: Few players stood out, but Harry Wilson remained a player who could walk away with his head held high. He played and led admirably in difficult circumstances.

New Zealand – Aura Of Old Is Gone

The All Blacks are rarely second-best, let alone third-best, but this year they finished third in the tournament. The once-intimidating aura of the All Blacks seems to have faded.
They are by no means in crisis like the Wallabies, but at the moment, they aren’t performing at a level that puts them among the elite. Their standout performance was the Bledisloe win over Australia.

Scott Robertson won’t be disheartened, though, as there were many positives. However, his Achilles’ heel was the bench’s inability to close out games as well as they started.

Most Valuable Player: Wallace Sititi stepped up in a big way towards the end of the tournament. Ardie Savea, as always, was brilliant, as was Tyrel Lomax. However, this year, Tupou Vaa’i became invaluable for the All Blacks.

South Africa – Simply Unmatched

Is there a team with more depth in world rugby right now than the Springboks? Highly unlikely. No team in the world can match the depth the Springboks have, and it was fully on display in the Rugby Championship, which they won after losing only once.

Rassie Erasmus has transformed this Springbok side into one of the greatest teams of all time, and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Add to that the fact that this team has now won nearly everything available to them, and they become even more impressive.

What was most remarkable was how, despite rotating and changing the team almost weekly, their efficiency remained incredibly high. The Springboks have an established way of playing that continues to yield results.

Most Valuable Player: There were many standout performers throughout the tournament, but none shone brighter than Pieter-Steph du Toit.