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The RC teams are quite clearly the benchmark for international rugby, 8 World Cups to 1 is pretty damming.
The recent record is heavily skewed by most of the games being played in the NH. Granted AUS and SA have had some shocking periods in the last few years which has helped as well. Look at the historic head to heads.
I assume you watch SH rugby regularly? Currie Cup, Super Rugby, Mitre Cup, Rugby Championship etc or do you just watch when the NH teams play them? The level of talent which doesn't even make it to international level is scary. Just look at the amount of average SH players who tear up the Premiership and Pro 14 year on year.
There's no point arguing with you on Billy and AWJ I've watched and played enough Rugby in the last 30 years to know how I feel about them both and their respective abilities.
Saffronspokes-
Historically? Sure. Currently? Far less clear.
I watch the RC and enjoyed the Aotearoa last year. Super Rugby is fun when it gets to the pointy end. I make no claims beyond that. I watch lots of the Guinness Prem so have a good sense of SA's strength in depth. That said, having watched your Pro-14 teams I'm not sure the strength in depth is infinite... ;)
Are you calling 3-0 SA at this point? I'll happily take a charity bet against that if you've the courage of your convictions?
owl
There's a lot to unpick in this comment. Firstly, "decent opposition = not the 6 nations" - presumably the inference is that the Rugby Championship teams are the benchmark for international quality? Let's look at that:
SA vs Wales last 5 matches: SA 1 - 4 Wales
SA vs Ireland last 5 matches: SA 2 - 3 Ireland
SA vs England last 5 matches: SA 3 - 2 England
Aus vs Wales last 5: Aus 3 - 2 Wales
Aus vs England last 5: Aus 0 - 5 England
Aus vs Ireland last 5: Aus 1 - 4 Ireland
I'm not going to bother with NZ (we know they're head and shoulders above, albeit Ireland and England have had as much success against them recently as SA) and Argentina/Scotland/Italy/France, but to suggest that Southern Hemisphere is currently significantly superior to Northern doesn't hold much water when the recent head to heads look like they do.
Billy never shows up against decent opposition. NZ semi final 2019. Saracens vs Leinster 2019. 3 man of the match performances in 2016 grand slam etc...
AWJ would be uncapped if South African. Having won 4 out of the last 5 matches against them, I'm not sure many would agree with you there...