For updated The Rugby Championship Round 5 starting team lists go to

http://www.superrugbytips.com/p/rugby-championship-2013-squads.html

Springboks vs Wallabies

The Springboks host the Wallabies and there are some interesting changes for the Springboks which were predetermined by coach Heyneke Meyer. The Springboks will want to bully their Australian counterparts with brute force. They will welcome Adriaan Strauss, it seems that the Springboks will be too strong for the Wallabies who haven't really fired a shot under new coach Ewen McKenzie. McKenzie is not doing any better than the man he replaced in Robbie Deans and a major improvement is required by the Wallabies. Jannie du Plessis and Morne Steyn bring up their 50th test matches.

The battle of the halfbacks will be interesting with Fourie du Preez named to start for the Springboks taking on Nick White who has kept Will Genia on the bench. The Wallabies have handed starts to Tevita Kuridrani and Joseph Tomane. These guys are good Super Rugby players, but it is a bit much expecting them to step up against the Springboks so early in their careers. Test rugby in South Africa is difficult. I expect the return of James Horwill from injury to help the Wallabies leadership and stability at set pieces.

I think the home advantage and extra physicality of the Springboks will get them home by 14 points.

Pumas vs All Blacks

The All Blacks will win in Argentina, but plenty will depend on what style of play Argentina bring to the game. In their away matches so far in The Rugby Championship against the All Blacks, Argentina haven't lost by heaps, but have played really spoiling tactics which have helped to keep the score down. They need to stick to their strength which is in the forwards. Unfortunately in the Rugby Championship last year the Pumas tried to beat the All Blacks at their own game by giving the ball plenty of air and this didn't work.

The All Blacks rarely get to play in warm and dry conditions at home in New Zealand because of the time differential with the rest of the world. Therefore their home games are often played in cold and damp conditions. They will relish playing on dry grounds and should win easily. The All Blacks have resisted the urge to blood some new players with Andrew Hore and Aaron Cruden coming into the starting line-up. Cruden will most likely share some game time with Beauden Barrett.

I am picking the All Blacks to win by 35 points.

Who are you picking to win The Rugby Championship Round 5 matches? Will it be plain sailing for the All Blacks?

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/09/the-rugby-championship-preview-round-5.html