The 2019 Rugby championship kicks off this weekend on Saturday and as usual with Rugby World cup years there will be a shortened version of the tournament.
There are no June tours this year and the Rugby Championship teams will not play each other on a home and away basis for the tournament itself.
There will however be matches played on a home and away basis but the final “round” of matches will be the extra Bledisloe Cup match and for South Africa and Argentina a Rugby world cup warm-up.
As there is a truncated version of the Rugby Championship this year’s tournament will be all the more important for the participating nations as there are fewer matches for teams to build on partnerships and familiarities within the teams.
Here we take a look at this week’s matches in the Rugby Championship and the history between the teams.
South Africa v Australia Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
South Africa’s Springboks have played Australia’s Wallabies 87 times since 1933 and the Springboks have won 47 matches, lost 37 times and drawn three.
The Springboks 47 wins out of 87 matches gives them a record of winning 54% of their matches against the Wallabies regardless of venue.
This weekend the match will be played in Johannesburg which is a home venue for the Springboks and a venue where the teams have met 10 times.
In those 10 matches played in Johannesburg, the Springboks have won 9 matches and lost 1. This gives the Springboks a record of winning 90% of their matches against the Wallabies at home in Johannesburg.
The average score when the Springboks play the Wallabies in Johannesburg is Springboks 28 Australia 12.
The Springboks have won the last six matches against Australia in Johannesburg and Australia have not won in the city since 1963.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport)and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Average score: South Africa 20 Australia 18
Last five results
Sat, 29 Sep 2018 SAF v AUS 23-12 N. Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth
Sat, 08 Sep 2018 SAF v AUS 18-23 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Sat,
30 Sep 2017 SAF v AUS 27-27 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Sat, 09 Sep 2017 SAF v AUS 23-23 Subiaco Oval, Perth
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 SAF v AUS 18-10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
South Africa’s overall record against Australia
Played 87 ,Wins 47 ,Losses 37 ,Draws 3
South Africa’s winning percentage against Australia at home = 76 %
Match : South Africa v Australia
Date : Sat 20 Jul 2019
Venue : Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kick Off local : 17.05
Referee : Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Ref 1 : Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Ref 2 : Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO : Rowan Kitt (RFU)
Teams
South Africa
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Francois Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds
Australia
15 Tom Banks , 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Kurtley Beale
Argentina v New Zealand Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
Argentina’s Puma have played New Zealand’s All Blacks 28 times since 1985 and the Puma have lost all but one match which ended in a 21-all draw.
This gives Argentina a record of losing 96% of their matches against New Zealand’s All Blacks regardless of venue.
This weekend the match will be played at Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires which is a home venue for the Pumas and a venue where the teams have met 5 times.
In those 5 matches played in Buenos Aires the Puma have lost all five matches since 1991 including the last two matches which were played in 2017 and 2018 and were part of the Rugby championship.
The average score when the Puma’s play the All Blacks in Buenos Aires is : Argentina 13 New Zealand 32.
The All Blacks are undefeated in Buenos Aires and their lowest winning margin was six points which was in 2006.
Average score: Argentina 14 New Zealand 40
Last five results
Sat, 29 Sep 2018 ARG v NZL 17-35 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Sat, 08 Sep 2018 ARG v NZL 24-46 Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Sat, 30 Sep 2017 ARG v NZL 10-36 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Sat, 09 Sep 2017 ARG v NZL 22-39 New Plymouth
Sat, 01 Oct 2016 ARG v NZL 17-36 River Plate, Buenos Aires
Argentina’s overall record against New Zealand
Played 28 , Wins 0 ,Losses 27 ,Draws 1
Argentinas winning percentage at home against New Zealand = 0 %
Match : Argentina v New Zealand
Date : Sat 20 Jul 2019
Venue : Buenos Aires, Argentina
Kick Off local : TBC
Referee : Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Ref 1 : Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Ref 2 : Alex Ruiz (FFR)
TMO : Graham Hughes (RFU)
Teams
Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli; 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano; 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli,; 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (c),5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti; 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 23 Joaquin Tuculet
New Zealand
Ben Smith, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Vaea Fifita, Patrick Tuipulotu, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi.
Replacements: Liam Coltman, Atu Moli, Nepo Laulala, Jackson Hemopo, Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, Josh Ioane, Braydon Ennor.