The Rugby Championship is back for the first time since 2019! In 2020 due to the pandemic, South Africa dropped out of the Rugby Championship which meant that the tournament reverted back to a three-nation tournament named the Tri-Nations.
However, only Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand participated in the 2020 Tri-Nations but now for 2021 all four nations are back for the Rugby Championship.
South Africa go into the Rugby Championship on the back of a series victory over the British and Irish Lions while Australia and New Zealand played each other in Auckland last weekend in Round one of the Bledisloe Cup.
The All Blacks and Wallabies are back in Auckland again this Saturday while South Africa remain in South Africa but move from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth where they will play Argentina twice over the next two weekends.
The action starts first with New Zealand hosting Australia in match number 1.
New Zealand v Australia Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
New Zealand’s All Blacks have played Australia’s Wallabies 171 times and the All Blacks have won 118 matches, lost 45 times and drawn eight.
The All Blacks 118 wins out of 171 matches gives them a record of winning 69% of their matches against the Wallabies regardless of venue.
In the Rugby Championship Zealand’s All Blacks have played Australia’s Wallabies 52 times and they have won 37 matches, lost 14 times and drawn once.
This gives the All Blacks a record of winning 71% of their Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies.
This weekend the match will be played in Auckland, New Zealand which is home for the All Blacks and where the teams have met 24 times.
In those 24 home matches played on New Zealand soil the All Blacks have won 21 matches and lost 3.
This gives the All Blacks a record of winning 88% of their Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies at home in New Zealand.
The average score when the All Blacks play the Wallabies in Auckland is : All Blacks 29 Australia 15.
The All Blacks have won three out of the last five matches against Australia.
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 29 Australia 15.
Last five results
07/08/2021 New Zealand 33 – 25 Australia in Auckland
07/11/2020 Australia 24 – 22 New Zealand in Brisbane
31/10/2020 Australia 5 – 43 New Zealand in Sydney
18/10/2020 New Zealand 27 – 7 Australia in Auckland
11/10/2020 New Zealand 16 – 16 Australia in Wellington
New Zealand overall record against Australia
Played 171, won 118, lost 45, drawn 8
New Zealand overall record against Australia in the Rugby Championship
Played 52, won 37, lost 14, drawn 1
New Zealand’s winning percentage against Australia in the Rugby Championship = 88 %
Match : New Zealand v Australia
Date : Sat 14 August
Venue : Eden Park Auckland
Kick Off local : 19.05
Referee : Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1 : Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2 : Mike Fraser
TMO : Glenn Newman
Teams
New Zealand
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Samuel Whitelock (c), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Jordie Barrett
Australia
15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Tate McDermott, 1 James Slipper, 2 Brandon Paenga Amosa, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Darcy Swain, 5 Matt Philip, 6 Lachie Swinton, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 8 Rob Valetini
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakaia Loto, 20 Harry Wilson, 21 Nic White, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Reece Hodge.
South Africa v Argentina v Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
South Africa’s Springboks have played Argentina’s Pumas 30 times and the Springboks have won 26 matches, lost 3 times and drawn once.
The Springboks 26 wins out of 30 matches gives them a record of winning 87% of their matches against the Pumas regardless of venue.
In the Rugby Championship Zealand’s Springboks have played Argentina’s Pumas 14 times and they have won 10 matches, lost 3 times and drawn once.
This gives the Springboks a record of winning 71% of their Rugby Championship matches against the Pumas.
This weekend the match will be played in South Africa which is home for the Springboks and where the teams have met 7 times.
In those 7 home matches played on South Africa soil the Springboks have won 6 matches and lost 1.
This gives the Springboks a record of winning 86% of their Rugby Championship matches against the Pumas at home in South Africa.
The average score when the Springboks play the Pumas at home is : Springboks 34 Argentina 17.
The Springboks have won four out of the last five matches against Argentina.
Average score: Springboks 34 Argentina 17.
Last five results
2017-08-19 South Africa 37 – 15 Argentina
2017-08-26 Argentina 23 – 41 South Africa
2018-08-18 South Africa 34 – 21 Argentina
2018-08-25 Argentina 32 – 19 South Africa
2019-08-10 Argentina 13 – 46 South Africa
South Africa overall record against Argentina
Played 30, won 26, lost 3, drawn 1
South Africa overall record against Argentina in the Rugby Championship
Played 14, won 10, lost 3, drawn 1
South Africa’s winning percentage against Argentina in the Rugby Championship = 86 %
Match : South Africa v Argentina
Date : Sat 14 August
Venue : Nelson Mandela Stadium Port Elizabeth
Kick Off local : 17.05
Referee : Andrew Brace
Assistant Ref 1 : Karl Dickson
Assistant Ref 2 : AJ Jacobs
TMO : Tom Foley
Teams
South Africa
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Elton Jantjies (vice-captain), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nché
Replacements : 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Dan du Preez, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Morné Steyn
Argentina
15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Matías Moroni, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Facundo Isa, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements : 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Carlos Muzzio, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Matías Alemanno, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere
