Bryan Habana and John Smit on Africa’s Strengths and Challenges in the Rugby Championship

Although South African rugby has thrown in its lot up north with the Europeans, former Springbok captain John Smit says the relationship with their southern hemisphere rivals is still okay and the Rugby Championship still features the best teams in the world.

The 2026 edition of the Rugby Championship began at the weekend with the defending champion Springboks hosting Australia at Ellis Park, while world number two New Zealand travelled to Argentina.

"The Rugby Championship is a special tournament, it's the best versus the best. South Africans will forever-and-a-day rate the All Blacks as our ultimate opponent, Australia have stepped up and are really competitive now, and Argentina are a vibrant team that plays to the end," Smit told SportsBoom.co.za.

"If you don't play in these pressure games, then you don't get to taste that pressure that you get at world cups. Every game feels like a World Cup knockout match and if things don't go well, then it's all about how you recover from a loss."

"This Rugby Championship is going to be a lot tougher than people think, especially playing the All Blacks away twice. So the boys will be under pressure, but this current Springbok group has been fed pressure nicely. And I do think they've delivered, they've protected our status and kept us where we are in world rugby - number one for two years now," the 2007 World Cup-winning captain said.

Very good depth

Smit said South Africa's success in the Rugby Championship will be built on the very good playing depth they enjoy.

"The tight five play a massive part, they are the first to step into the boxing ring and it's all about whether they throw or take the first punch. It's much easier to play when you're going forward. If you get ascendancy up front then it makes your attack, defence, everything, a lot easier."

"So we have an amazing point of reference there. If you go back, we were worried about who the next Bakkies Botha would be, but then we got Eben Etzebeth. Frans Malherbe is arguably the best tighthead we've had, and now every No.3 who plays takes every second of their opportunity like it's the last one they'll get. We're privileged with the beef we have and no-one coming in has let the side down, they've all stepped up."

"When last did we have three flyhalves who can all play a massive role? They manage your game and if your flyhalf has a good day, then the team has a good day. In my day, we were turning scrumhalves into No.10s, we had to make a plan there."

"Now we have Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu who has x-factor and such promise, Manie Libbok brings magic and Handre Pollard kicks over the poles like a dead-eye dick. The best teams just want to keep winning and it's incredible how Rassie Erasmus has innovated, he's introduced some key differences that other teams don't think about," Smit said.

Piling on agony

Right through their history, the Springboks have been able to suffocate teams by playing 10-man rugby, but now they have an exhilarating backline that can also pile on the agony for the opposition. 

Bryan Habana, the leading try-scorer in Springbok history, told SportsBoom.co.za that he is very impressed by the current wings in South Africa's stable.

"Look at Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi, and now Edwill van der Merwe, who scored tries in his first three Tests. They're like the power rangers with their scrum caps on and they are redefining the way we play. Now that I'm a fan like any other, watching them is absolutely brilliant, we have a phenomenal crop of young backline players coming through."

"Edwill has been playing superb rugby for the last six years. He works very hard and has the vision to pop up in a position to surprise the opposition. His off-the-mark speed is great, and his power-to-weight ratio is up there with Cheslin Kolbe."

"These guys have been breaking the stigma about choosing shorter wings. But Rassie looks at their battle stats, their work-rate and their effort. They all train exceptionally hard, they bounce props and you can't leave them out."

"Rassie knows what he can get out of them and they have used their opportunities to smash out the prejudices against smaller players. They have rarely put a foot out of place. Guys like Jonah Lomu, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Ben Cohen were also freaks, but it's not about size, it's all about what you do and your impact," Habana concluded.