The Springboks have started their defence of the Rugby Championship, and for the first time they had no Super Rugby exposure as building block for the tournament.

Super Rugby as a fully-fledged international competition convulsed for the final time last year, when Covid-19 and all its debilitating restrictions expedited its demise.

In its pomp, the competition did prove the bedrock of SA, New Zealand and Australia's lofty status in the game. The quality of opposition, different playing conditions and punishing travel schedules helped separate the original Sanzar alliance from the rest of the rugby world’s would-be trendsetters...