ARGENTINA V SOUTH AFRICA: Rugby Championship

17.08.2013

Venue:  FNB Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg

Referee: Christopher Pollock (New Zealand)

Preview
The Rugby Championship is now into its second season. With the addition of Argentina this competition replaced the Tri-Nations competition. New Zealand was the first winners of the Rugby Championship. This, the second game in the Championship this weekend, sees hosts South Africa take on Argentina.

Argentina proved their place in this competition last year with a 16-16 draw against South Africa in Mendoza. Also last year they held New Zealand 5-21 in Wellington and pushed Australia twice, losing 19-23 in the Gold Coast and again 19-26 in Rosario.

South Africa emerged from the inaugural 2013 Triangular tournament against Samoa, Scotland and Italy as comfortable winners but failed to field a team in the Super Rugby final.

Last Five Encounters
25.08.2012 Drawn 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 South Africa 27-6 in Capetown (Rugby Championship)
09.08.2008 South Africa 63-7 in Johannesburg
14.10.2007 South Africa 37-13 in Paris (World Cup, Semi-final)
05.11.2005 South Africa 34-23 in Buenos Aires

South Africa Last Five
22.06.2013 v Samoa W 56-23 in Pretoria (Quadrangular Tournament)
15.06.2013 v Scotland W 30-17 in Nelspruit (Quadrangular Tournament)
08.06.2013 v Italy W 44-10 in Durban (Quadrangular Tournament)
24.11.2012 v England W 16-15 at Twickenham
17.11.2012 v Scotland W 21-10 at Murrayfield

Argentina Last Five
22.06.2013 v Georgia W 29-18 in San Juan
15.06.2013 v England L 26-51 in Buenos Aires
08.06.2013 v England L 3-32 in Salta
04.05.2013 v Brazil W 83-0 in Montevideo (WCQ America; CONSUR A)
02.05.2013 v Chile W 84-10 in Montevideo (WCQ America; CONSUR A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: South Africa 6th, Argentina 15th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 87.03, Argentina 76.67

Prediction: South Africa by 20 points

Milestones
Fourie du Preez had last played a test for South Africa v Australia on 09.10. 2011 in Wellington in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup, which South Africa lost 9-11.

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Willie le Roux	Griqualand West
14		Bjorn Basson	Blue Bulls
13		JJ Engelbrecht	Blue Bulls
12		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province
11		Bryan Habana	RC Toulonnais, France
10		Morne Steyn	Blue Bulls
9		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
8		Duane Vermeulen	Western Province
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Francoise Louw	Bath, England
5		Juandré Kruger	Racing Metro 92, France
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Free State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Bismarck du Plessis	Natal Sharks
17		Gurthrö Steenkamp	Stade Toulousain, France
18		Coenie Oosthuizen	Free State Cheetahs
19		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
20		Siya Kolisi	Western Province
21		Fourie du Preez	Suntory, Japan
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
23		Jan Serfontein	Blue Bulls
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

Argentina

15		Juan Martín Hernández	Racing Metro 92, France
14		Gonzalo Camacho	Exeter Chiefs, England
13		Marcelo Bosch	Saracens, England
12		Felipe Contepomi (Capt.)	Stade Français, France
11		Juan Imhoff	Racing Metro 92, France
10		Nicolás Sánchez	Union Bordeaux Bègles, France
9		Martin Landajo	Club Atletico San Isidro
8		Leonardo Senatore	Worcester Warriors, England
7		Juan Manuel Leguizamón	RC Toulonnais, France
6		Pablo Matera	Asociación Alumni
5		Patricio Albacete	Stade Toulousian, France
4		Manuel Carizza	Racing Metro 92, France
3		Matías Díaz	Teqüé RC
2		Eusebio Guiñazú	Bath Rugby, England
1		Juan Figallo	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
16		Agustín Creevy	Worcester Warriors, England
17		Nahuel Lobo	Newcastle Falcons, England
18		Juan Pablo Orlandi	Bath Rugby, England
19		Mariano Galarza	Leinster, Ireland
20		Julio Farías Cabello	London Welsh, England
21		Tomás Cubelli	Belgrano Athletic
22		Santiago Fernández	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
23		Horacio Agulla	Bath Rugby, England
		HEAD COACH: Santiago Phelan

NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA: Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship

17.08.2013

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Preview
The big Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship kicks off with test matches in Australia and South Africa. Old Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia clash in a match which also sees the iconic Bledisloe Cup on the line.

Australia enters this test match with a new coach and a number of new players. Since taking over from Robbie Deans Ewen Mckenzie has ringed the changes, introducing seven new players to the day’s 22 and recalling controversial player Quade Cooper into the fold.

New Zealand has recalled Richie McCaw after a 6 month sabbatical and reinstated him as captain. They will be missing Daniel Carter and Liam Massom both out with injury.

Last Five Encounters
20.10.2012 Drawn 18-18 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup)
25.08.2012 New Zealand 22-0 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Champ.)
18.08.2012 New Zealand 27-19 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Champ.)
16.10.2011 New Zealand 20-6 in Auckland (World Cup, Semi-final)
27.08.2011 Australia 25-20 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations)

New Zealand Last Five
22.06.2013 v France W 24-9 in New Plymouth
15.06.2013 v France W 30-0 in Christchurch
08.06.2013 v France W 23-13 in Auckland
01.12.2012 v England L 21-38 at Twickenham
24.11.2012 v Wales W 33-10 in Cardiff

Australia Last Five
06.07.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 16-41 in Sydney
29.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions W 16-15 in Melbourne
22.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 21-23 in Brisbane
01.12.2012 v Wales W 14-12 in Cardiff
24.11.2012 v Italy W 22-19 in Florence

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: New Zealand 4th, Australia 11th
Oceania Table: New Zealand 1st, Australia 2nd

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 90.08, Australia 86.87

Prediction: New Zealand by 12 points.

Milestones
If New Zealand win it will be their 100th test rugby win over Australia.

TEAMS

Australia

15		Jesse Mogg	ACT Brumbies
14		Israel Folau	NSW Waratahs
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Christian Leali’ifano	ACT Brumbies
11		James O’Connor	Melbourne Rebels
10		Matthew Toomua *	ACT Brumbies
9		William Genia	Queensland Reds
8		Benjamin Mowen	ACT Brumbies
7		Michael Hooper	NSW Waratahs
6		Hugh McMeniman	WA Western Force
5		James Horwell (Capt.)	Queensland Reds
4		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
1		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		Scott Sio *	ACT Brumbies
18		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
19		Scott Fardy *	ACT Brumbies
20		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
21		Nicholas White *	ACT Brumbies
22		Quade Cooper	Queensland Reds
23		Tevita Kuridrani *	ACT Brumbies
		HEAD COACH: Ewan McKenzie

* New test cap
http://www.allblacks.com/news/23002/Wallabies-team-to-play-All-Blacks

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Benjamin Smith	Otago
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Ma'a Nonu	Auckland
11		Julian Savea	Wellington
10		Aaron Cruden	Manawatu
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richie McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Steven Luatua	Auckland
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Luke Romano	Canterbury
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Keven Mealamu	Auckland
17		Benjamin Franks	Hawkes Bay
18		Charlie Faumuina	Auckland
19		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
20		Samuel Cane	Bay of Plenty
21		Tawera Kerr-Barlow	Waikato
22		Beauden Barrett	Taranaki
23		Ryan Crotty *	Canterbury
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

* New test cap
http://www.allblacks.com/news/23008/REVISED-TEAM-All-Blacks-side-to-face-Wallabies

TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND 17 AUGUST

17.08.2013
New Zealand v Australia in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship)
South Africa v Argentina in Bloemfontein (International Rugby Championship)
Canada v United States in Charleston (WCQ Americas)

Briefly
It has been over a month since the last test rugby match was played world wide.

This weekend the big Southern Hemisphere Championship begins with New Zealand and Australia clash for the Bledisloe Cup whilst Argentina travels to South Africa.

Canada and the United States plays the first of a 2 leg clash to claim the Americas 1 place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.