The Rugby Championship begins August 18th and the reigning champions of the four nation tournament, New Zealand, will open in Australia. South Africa, on the other hand, are going to host Argentina in their first game. The Springboks hope to improve on their performance last year of two wins, two draws, and two heavy losses to the All Blacks. CGTN's Sias Du Plessis has more.

The 7th edition of the expanded competition will offer renewed hope for fans of the famous green and gold jersey after the Springboks claimed a 2-1 series victory over England and showed some immense character against the former World and Six Nations champions, but as former Springbok captain Victor Matfield warns, the Rugby Championship is a different kettle of fish.

VICTOR MATFIELD FORMER SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN "I think it was great performance especially on the dry fields we saw what we can do, there is a lot of talent in the squad I think Rassie and Jacques they're the guys to take the team forward, so everyone is very positive, but saying that there's a lot of work to be done."

Rassie Erasmus has restored some pride in the national team but as former Springbok skipper Morne Du Plessis maintains, his true test will come against the likes of the reigning world champions and South Africa's old foes, New Zealand.

MORNE DU PLESSIS FORMER SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN "We caught them at home after a long season, they are a good team there is no doubt about it, they showed it in Cape Town, but still you've got to play the All Blacks in New Zealand to really measure yourself."

The Rugby World Cup in Japan is just over a year away and will see South Africa aiming to become only the second team after New Zealand to win the coveted title for a third time and will need to find form at the tournament in order to pull off that feat.

MORNE DU PLESSIS FORMER SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN "It is really too early to tell and I think we should keep the pressure off them, these days so much can change in a season in fact in a few months things can change, and it is peaking at the right time, the World Cup is about peaking at the right time no doubt about it."

Matfield who is South Africa's most capped Springbok with 127 caps predicts a stern test for Erasmus's charges but is confident the team can challenge for the Rugby Championship title.

VICTOR MATFIELD SPRINGBOK RECORD CAP HOLDER "I think Australia is going to be much better this year as well they will have a lot of confidence but New Zealand is the team you want to measure yourself against, I still believe we have got the talent and the players that can beat them, but they've got such a belief at the moment the All Blacks doesn't matter what the situation is, they believe in themselves and that is what we need to create with the Springboks."

SIAS DU PLESSIS PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA "With South Africa's campaign set to culminate here against New Zealand on October 6th,Springbok fans will be hoping the men in green and gold are in a position to challenge for the title come that game, it is not going to be easy against the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas, but there are enough positive signs from the series victory over England to make sure fans are excited for when the tournament kicks off, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Pretoria."