The 2017 Rugby Championship will be contested by Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa as usual and New Zealand’s All Blacks will be defending their title.
There are two matches this weekend and here we look at the two test matches coming up on Saturday.
Australia host New Zealand in Sydney while South Africa host Argentina in Port Elizabeth.
Australia v New Zealand Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
Australia’s players will go into this match desperate for a fresh start as Australian Super Rugby teams played 26 matches this year and lost all 26.
Super Rugby form does not always carry through to national level but in this case it is a similar problem as Australia’s Wallabies have lost their last five Tests to New Zealand.
Overall Australia’s Wallabies have played New Zealand’s All Blacks 158 times and they have won 42 matches or 27%.
At home the Wallabies have played the All Blacks 80 times and they have won 25 matches or 31%.
While the All Blacks drew the series against the British and Irish Lions they are still the form nation in World Rugby while Australian rugby is still at a low point.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport) and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Average score: Australia 14 New Zealand 21
Last five results
Sat, 22 Oct 2016 AUS v NZL 10-37 Eden Park, Auckland
Sat, 27 Aug 2016 AUS v NZL 9-29 Westpac Trust, Wellington
Sat, 20 Aug 2016 AUS v NZL 8-42 Stadium Australia, Sydney
Sat, 31 Oct 2015 WC Final AUS v NZL 17-34 Twickenham, London
Sat, 15 Aug 2015 AUS v NZL 13-41 Eden Park, Auckland
Australia’s overall record against New Zealand
Played 158 , Wins 42, Losses 109 , Draws 7
Winning percentage = 27%
Match Officials
Referee: Sydney Jerome Garces (FFR)
Assistant Ref 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Ref 2: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
TMO : Rowan Kitt (RFU)
Teams
Australia
1. Scott Sio , 2. Stephen Moore , 3. Allan Alaalatoa , 4. Rory Arnold , 5. Adam Coleman , 6. Ned Hanigan , 7. Michael Hooper (c) , 8. Sean McMahon, 9. Will Genia , 10. Bernard Foley , 11. Curtis Rona, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Samu Kerevi, 14. Henry Speight , 15. Israel Folau
Replacements : 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau , 17. Tom Robertson , 18. Sekope Kepu , 19. Rob Simmons , 20. Lopeti Timani , 21. Nick Phipps , 22. Reece Hodge , 23. Tevita Kuridrani
New Zealand
1. Joe Moody , 2. Codie Taylor , 3. Owen Franks , 4. Brodie Retallick , 5. Samuel Whitelock , 6. Liam Squire , 7. Sam Cane , 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Aaron Smith , 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams , 13. Ryan Crotty , 14. Ben Smith, 15. Damian McKenzie
Replacements : 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi , 19. Luke Romano, 20. Ardie Savea , 21. TJ Perenara , 22. Lima Sopoaga , 23. Anton Lienert-Brown
South Africa v Argentina Rugby Championship Rd.1 Preview
South Africa’s Springboks will have much confidence for this match as they go into the Rugby Championship on the back of three wins over France.
It should be noted that France were not at their strongest in June but the Springboks won all three tests and appear to have turned a corner compared to last year.
The last time the Springboks played Argentina in the Rugby Championship the Pumas were 26-24 winners in Salta so the Boks will have a measure of revenge in mind.
Out of the last five matches between the sides the Springboks have won three and Argentina have won two.
Overall the Springboks have played the Pumas 24 times and won 21 matches or 88% of the matches.
At home South Africa have played Argentina 10 times and won 9 or 90% of their matches.
While the Springboks appear to be on the up rugby in Argentina looks to be struggling. The Pumas players as the Jaguares did not have a strong Super Rugby season and they lost twice to a well under strength England team at home in June.
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 26 Argentina 20
Last five results
Sat, 27 Aug 2016 South Africa v Argentina 24-26 Salta
Sat, 20 Aug 2016 South Africa v Argentina 30-23 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Fri, 30 Oct 2015 WC 3&4 South Africa v Argentina 24-13 Olympic Stadium,London
Sat, 15 Aug 2015 South Africa v Argentina 26-12 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Sat, 08 Aug 2015 South Africa v Argentina 25-37 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
South Africa’s overall record against Argentina
Played 24 , Wins 21 , Losses 2 , Draws 1
Winning percentage = 88%
Match Officials
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
Assistant Ref 1: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistant Ref 2: Nic Berry (ARU)
TMO : Glenn Newman (NZR)
Teams
South Africa
15. Andries Coetzee,14. Raymond Rhule,13. Jesse Kriel,12. Jan Serfontein,11. Courtnall Skosan,10. Elton Jantjies ,9. Ross Cronje ,8. Uzair Cassiem ,7. Jaco Kriel ,6. Siya Kolisi ,5. Franco Mostert,4. Eben Etzebeth (c),3. Coenie Oosthuizen,2. Malcolm Marx ,1. Tendai Mtawarira,
Replacements:16. Bongi Mbonambi,17. Steven Kitshoff ,18. Trevor Nyakane ,19. Pieter-Steph du Toit ,20. Jean-Luc du Preez ,21. Francois Hougaard ,22. Curwin Bosch,23. Damian de Allende
Argentina
15 Joaquin Tuculet; 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli; 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera; 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti; 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements : Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Ramiro Herrera, Marcos Kremer, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Cubelli, Juan Martin Hernandez, Matias Moroni
