2018 Rugby Championship Rd.4 Team vs Team Preview

This weekend the Rugby championship reaches the fourth round and if the All Blacks beat South Africa’s Springboks they will secure the title for another year.

The All Blacks are still the only unbeaten team in the 2018 Rugby championship and after three matches they have 15 points.

South Africa are second with six points so to keep the title alive they need to win this weekend. Australia are in last place but they have home advantage over Argentina.

New Zealand v South Africa Rugby Championship Rd.4 Preview

New Zealand’s All Blacks will be aiming for a seventh straight victory over South Africa this weekend and if they achieve this they will wrap up the Rugby championship before they play the Springboks in South Africa.

New Zealand have played South Africa 95 times since 1921 and they have won 57 matches or 60% of the clashes regardless of the venue.

This weekend the match will be played in Wellington where the teams have met 6 times and the All Blacks have won all six.

The average score when the All Blacks play the Springboks in Wellington is New Zealand 30 South Africa 13.

New Zealand have won their last eight matches against South Africa on New Zealand soil. The last time South Africa beat the All Blacks in New Zealand was 2009 in Hamilton.

This year the All Blacks have played six matches and they have won six matches.

South Africa have played seven matches in 2018 and they have won three. Away from home South Africa have played three matches and they have lost all three.

The Bookies have given South Africa a 22 point start for this Match – with an   offer of up to $200 in Bonus bets. New Zealand will be too organised for South Africa who have now lost two in a row. The All Blacks should win by 18 or more. .

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 20 South Africa 16

Last five results
Sat, 07 Oct 2017 NZL v SAF 25-24 Newlands, Cape Town
Sat, 16 Sep 2017 NZL v SAF 57-0 Albany
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 NZL v SAF 57-15 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Sat, 17 Sep 2016 NZL v SAF 41-13 Rugby League Pk, Christchurch
Sat, 24 Oct 2015 WC Semi NZL v SAF 20-18 Twickenham, London

New Zealand’s overall record against South Africa
Played 95 ,Wins 57 ,Losses 35 , Draws 3

New Zealand’s winning percentage against South Africa = 60 %

Match : New Zealand v South Africa
Date : Sat 18 Sep 2018
Venue : Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Kick Off local: 7:35 PM
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant Ref 1: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistant Ref 2:Nic Berry (ARU)
TMO : Rowan Kitt (RFU)

Teams

New Zealand

Jordie Barrett, Ben Smith, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (Captain), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe

Replacements : Liam Coltman, Tim Perry, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Damian McKenzie

South Africa

1. Steven Kitshoff 2. Malcolm Marx 3. Frans Malherbe 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Franco Mostert 6. Siya Kolisi 7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit 8. Warren Whiteley 9. Faf de Klerk 10. Handre Pollard 11. Aphiwe Dyantyi 12. Damian de Allende 13. Lukhanyo Am 14. Jesse Kriel 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements : 16. Bongi Mbonambi 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Wilco Louw 19. RG Snyman 20. Francois Louw 21. Ross Cronjé 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Cheslin Kolbe

Australia v Argentina Rugby Championship Rd.4 Preview

Australia’s Wallabies will be aiming for back to back wins this weekend by following up last week’s 23-18 win over the Springboks with a victory over Argentina.

Australia have had a difficult year so far but last week they held on to beat South Africa and another win this weekend will give their confidence a major boost.

Australia have played Argentina 29 times since 1979 and they have won 23 matches, drawn one and lost five matches.

Australia have played Argentina 14 times in Australia and they have won 13 out of the 14 clashes. Australia’s only loss to Argentina on Australian soil was the very first match they played and in Australia was in 1983. Australia have won the last 13 matches in Australia since then.

The average score when Australia play Argentina in Australia is Australia 31 Argentina 16.

This year Australia have played six matches and won two. They have played five matches at home and won two.

Argentina have played six matches this year and they have won one. They have played two matches away from home and have yet win away.

Australia have won the last six Tests between these teams and they have not lost to Argentina since 2014.

The Bookies have given Argentina a 9 point start for this Match – with an offer of up to $200 in Bonus bets. Australia have a strong record against Argentina at home. Argentina will test the Wallabies but Australia should win by at least 5.

Average score: Australia 28 Argentina 16

Last five results
Sat, 07 Oct 2017 AUS v ARG 37-20 Mendoza
Sat, 16 Sep 2017 AUS v ARG 45-20 Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 AUS v ARG 33-21 Twickenham, London
Sat, 17 Sep 2016 AUS v ARG 36-20 Perth Oval
Sun, 25 Oct 2015 WC Semi AUS v ARG 29-15 Twickenham, London

Australia’s overall record against Argentina
Played 29, Wins 23, Losses 5, Draws 1

Australia’s winning percentage against Argentina = 79%

Match : South Africa v Argentina
Date : Sat 18 Sep 2018
Venue : Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia
Kick Off local: 8:00pm
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
Assistant Ref 1: Glen Jackson (NZRU)
Assistant Ref 2: Paul Williams (NZRU)
TMO : Glenn Newman (NZRU

Teams

Australia

Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (captain), Lukhan Tui, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio.

Replacements: Folau Faingaa, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Adam Coleman, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Jack Maddocks

Argentina

Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy (c), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Matias Alemanno, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Martin Landajo, Bautista Ezcurra, Juan Cruz Mallia