With just over a month to go to the first Test of 2023, the Springboks face a delicate balancing act between trying to win, and preparing for, the Rugby World Cup.
One could argue that clinching the Rugby Championship title should not be a priority when the Webb Ellis Cup is up for grabs later in the year.
But Bok coach Jacques Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus also wouldn’t want a situation where South Africa lose all six Tests before they arrive in Marseille for the World Cup opener against Scotland on September 10.
The world champions would want to arrive in France with considerable
