As the Rugby World Cup 2023 draws closer, the Australian Wallabies are eagerly seeking winning momentum in the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The highly anticipated tournament kicks off this Sunday morning at 12:30 am AEST on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport.
This year’s Rugby Championship holds significant implications, acting as a dress rehearsal for the Rugby World Cup 2023, set to commence on September 9 on Stan Sport. With every team aiming to make a lasting impression, each player is determined to secure their spot in the starting lineup.
In their opening match, the Wallabies will face the formidable Springboks in South Africa, providing a true litmus test for both the team and their prodigal coach, Eddie Jones. This marks Jones’ return to mentor the side after a successful stint with England, a gap of 18 years. Adding to the excitement, Stan Sport commentator Morgan Turinui will be reporting live from the ground during the broadcast.
The clash takes place in Pretoria, a venue where the Wallabies have yet to secure victory in seven attempts. Breaking this hoodoo will be paramount as the Wallabies aim to make a statement. The team’s co-captains, Michael Hooper and James Slipper, will lead the charge against a cunning South African side who enters the match as clear favorites. Notably, enforcer Eben Etzebeth will relish another showdown with Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, after their fiery skirmish in their previous encounter.
Following the South African test, the Wallabies will face Argentina at CommBank Stadium in Sydney the following weekend. Despite the Wallabies’ historical dominance on home soil, ‘Los Pumas’ have emerged victorious only twice in the past.
The Wallabies will then confront their greatest challenge – the Bledisloe Cup. Their aim is to end the All Blacks’ 21-year reign over the prestigious trophy, which remains one of the most revered sporting events each year. This year’s Bledisloe Cup will be part of The Rugby Championship.
On Saturday, July 29, the Wallabies will kick off the two-game series at the MCG in Melbourne, expecting a monumental crowd. It will be their first appearance at the iconic venue in 16 years, since their remarkable come-from-behind victory over the All Blacks in front of 80,000 enthusiastic fans in 2007.
The action then shifts to Dunedin, the All Blacks’ stronghold, where the Wallabies will venture into enemy territory. The sea of black jerseys will undoubtedly create a hostile atmosphere, adding to the challenge for the Australian team.
