The Rugby Championship returns this weekend for Round three in which New Zealand’s All Blacks host Argentina’s Pumas and Australia’s Wallabies host South Africa’s Springboks.
In the first Rugby Championship match New Zealand play Argentina at Trafalgar Park in Nelson and in the second match Australia take on South Africa at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
New Zealand v Argentina Rugby Championship Rd.3 Preview
The All Blacks will be aiming to keep their perfect record this weekend by beating Argentina with a bonus point – as they have done in both of their matches played this weekend.
The All Blacks beat Australia twice in their first two matches this year and both were won with a bonus point. They have a points differential of 53 points so far and this could prove to be crucial.
New Zealand’s All Blacks have played Argentina 26 times and although they have never lost to the Pumas they have an almost perfect record as there was a draw in 1985.
The All Blacks have therefore won 25 out of 26 Test matches between the sides and the average score when these teams meet is New Zealand 40 Argentina 14. When they meet in New Zealand the average score is New Zealand 47 Argentina 13.
This year the All Blacks have played 5 Test matches and they have yet to lose a match.
Argentina have played five Test matches in 2018 and they have won one (in their last match they beat South Africa) but they have yet to win away from home.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport)
and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Average score: New Zealand 40 Argentina 14
Last five results
Sat, 30 Sep 2017 NZL v ARG 36-10 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Sat, 09 Sep 2017 NZL v ARG 39-22 New Plymouth
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 NZL v ARG 36-17 River Plate, Buenos Aires
Sat, 10 Sep 2016 NZL v ARG 57-22 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Sun, 20 Sep 2015 WC Pool C NZL v ARG 26-16 Wembley Stadium, London
New Zealand’s overall record against Argentina
Played 26 , Wins 25 , Losses 0, Draws 1
New Zealand’s overall winning percentage against Argentina = 96.2%
Match : New Zealand v Argentina
Date : Sat 8 Sept 2018
Venue : Trafalgar Park, Nelson, New Zealand
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistant Ref 1: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant Ref 2: Nic Berry (ARU)
TMO : Rowan Kitt (RFU)
Teams
New Zealand
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe , 2. Codie Taylor , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Scott Barrett , 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. TJ Perenara , 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Waisake Naholo , 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Jack Goodhue , 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15. Ben Smith
Replacements : 16. Nathan Harris , 17. Tim Perry , 18. Ofa Tuungafasi , 19. Samuel Whitelock , 20. Luke Whitelock (5) 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi , 22. Damian McKenzie , 23. Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Chaparro Tetaz, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Garcia Botta
Replacements :16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Gaston Cortez, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
Australia v South Africa Championship Rd.3 Preview
The Rugby Championship moves to Brisbane for the second match on Saturday where Australia’ Wallabies will be hoping to beat South Africa’s Springboks.
The last two Test matches between Australia and South Africa both ended in a draw. The teams drew 23 all in Perth and then 27 all in Bloemfontein last year.
In 2016 the teams met twice and both teams won their home matches. The last time either of these teams won away from home was in 2013 when the Springboks beat the Wallabies in Brisbane – the venue for this week’s match.
Australia have played South Africa 85 times since 1933 and the Wallabies have won 36 matches, lost 46 and there have been three draws. The average score when these teams meet is Australia 18 South Africa 19.
Australia have played South Africa in Australia 38 times and they have won 24 matches, lost 12 and drawn two. The average score when these teams meet on Australian soil is : Australia 22 South Africa 16.
Australia have won 63% of their home matches against South Africa.
Australia have played 5 matches this season and they have won one match. They beat Ireland in their first test match this year but have now lost their last five.
South Africa have played six matches this year and they have won three and lost three. They have played two matches away from home and they have yet to
win away from home.
Average score: Australia 18 South Africa 19
Last five results
Sat, 30 Sep 2017 AUS v SAF 27-27 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Sat, 09 Sep 2017 AUS v SAF 23-23 Subiaco Oval, Perth
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 AUS v SAF 10-18 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Sat, 10 Sep 2016 AUS v SAF 23-17 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat, 18 Jul 2015 AUS v SAF 24-20 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Australia’s overall record against South Africa
Played 85 , Wins 36, Losses 46, Draws 3
Australia’s overall winning percentage against South Africa = 42.4%
Match : Australia v South Africa
Date : Sat 8 Sept 2018
Venue : Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZRU)
Assistant Ref 1: John Lacey (IRFU)
Assistant Ref 2: Paul Williams (NZRU)
TMO : Glenn Newman (NZRU)
Teams
Australia (revised)
1. Scott Sio, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau , 3. Allan Alaalatoa , 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Adam Coleman , 6. Lukhan Tui , 7. Michael Hooper (c) , 8. Pete Samu , 9. Will Genia , 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Matt Toomua, 13. Reece Hodge, 14. Dane Haylett-Petty, 15. Israel Folau
Replacements : 16. Folau Faingaa, 17. Tom Robertson , 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Izack Rodda , 20. Ned Hanigan , 21. Joe Powell , 22. Bernard Foley, 23. Jack Maddocks
South Africa
15-Willie le Roux, 14-Makazole Mapimpi, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damien de Allende, 11-Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10-Elton Jantjies, 9-Faf de Klerk, 8-Warren Whiteley, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (c), 5-Franco Mostert, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 1-Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Tendai Mtawarira, 18-Wilco Louw, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Francois Louw, 21-Embrose Papier, 22-Handre Pollard, 23-Cheslin Kolbe