TEST RUGBY RESULTS: 29 September

29.09.2012
South Africa 31, Australia 8 in Pretoria (Rugby Championship)
New Zealand 54, Argentina 15 in La Plata (Rugby Championship)
Paraguay 29, Bermuda 14 in Asuncion (WCQ Americas Playoff)
Botswana v Swaziland in Manzini (Friendly) possibly on 6 October

Briefly
The complete performance by the All Blacks has come to pass Oh Lord! Not that I’m religious but certainly the game played by the All Blacks against Argentina was certainly one you’d expect to see in heaven. They were simply superb in every department. Hats off to Argentina. Against a ‘normal’ side they would have done better. They never gave up. The Pumas will be sharpening their claws ready for the battered Wallabies next weekend.

South Africa had a comfortable win against Australia. They played their best rugby of the season to date. The walking wounded Wallabies could make a test side of their own. The Aussie commentators listed 15 top players now out with injury. This included Ashley-Cooper who was concussed in today’s test.

Paraguay moved on in the Rugby World Cup qualifying process with a comfortable win over the visiting Bermudans. Paraguay now meets Brazil in Brazil at the end of October.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: New Zealand in Argentina

29.09.2012
New Zealand v Argentina in La Plata (Rugby Championship)

Venue: Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Preview
Argentina is winless in this Rugby Championship competition. That results has not been for want of trying. In fact they are well respected by the other three teams in this competition.

New Zealand will need to be at their best. Daniel Carter is back for New Zealand. His presence makes a big difference when he is on the field. I can’t see them losing but be sure Argentina will push them right to the end.

Argentina at home are more than a handful and you can expect a highly charged, passionate and emotional home crowd that will lift these Pumas.

It’ll be a cracker of a game.

Last Five Encounters
08.09.2012 New Zealand 21-5 in Wellington (Rugby Championship)
09.10.2011 New Zealand 33-10 in Auckland (World Cup, Quarter-final)24.06.2006 New Zealand 24-19 in Buenos Aires
26.06.2004 New Zealand 41-7 in Hamilton
01.12.2001 New Zealand 24-20 in Buenos Aires

Argentina has Never defeated New Zealand. The closest they came was a 21-21 draw back in 1985 in Buenos Aires.

New Zealand Last Five P 5, W 5
15.09.2012 v South Africa W 21-11 in Dunedin (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 v Argentina W 21-5 in Wellington (Rugby Championship)
25.08.2012 v Australia W 22-0 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)18.08.2012 v Australia W 27-19 in Sydney (Bledisoe Cup; Rugby Champ.)23.06.2012 v Ireland W 60-0 in Hamilton

New Zealand has won it’s last 14 rugby test matches. The world record for test rugby is 18 held by Lithuania. Yes, Lithuania.

Wanna see? Lithuania’s test rugby record here at www.rugbyinternational.net

Argentina Last Five P 5, W 1, D1, L 3
15.09.2012 v Australia L 19-23 in Gold Coast (Rugby Championship)
08.09.2012 v New Zealand L 5-21 in Wellington (Rugby Championship)25.08.2012 v South Africa D 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Champ.)
18.08.2012 v South Africa L 6-27 in Capetown (Rugby Champ.)
23.06.2012 v France L 10-49 in Tucuman

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-New Zealand 1st, Argentina 5th

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 92.43, Argentina 79.34

Prediction: New Zealand by 8 points

TEAMS

Argentina

15		Lucas González Amorosino	Montpellier, France
14		Gonzalo Camacho	Exeter Chiefs, England
13		Marcelo Bosch	Biarritz, France
12		Santiago Fernández	Montpellier, France
11		Horacio Agulla	Bath Rugby, England
10		Juan Martin Hernandez	Racing Metro, France
9		Martin Landajo	Club Atletico San Isidro
8		Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Capt.)	Toulon, France
7		Juan Manuel Leguizamon	Lyon OU, France
6		Julio Farías Cabello	Tucuman Rugby
5		Patricio Albacete	Toulouse, France
4		Manuel Carizza	Biarritz, France
3		Juan Figallo	Montpellier, France
2		Eusebio Guinazu	Biarritz, France
1		Rodrigo Roncero	Stade Français, France
16		Augustin Creevy	Montpellier, France
17		Marcos Ayerza	Leicester Tigers, England
18		Tomas Vallejos Cinalli	Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
19		Thomas Leonardi	Los Pampas XV
20		Nicolás Vergallo	Stade Français, France
21		Martín Rodríguez Gurruchage	Stade Français, France
22		Juan José Imhoff	Racing Metro, France
		HEAD COACH: Santiago Phelan

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Corey Jane	Wellington
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Ma'a Nonu	Auckland
11		Julian Savea	Wellington
10		Daniel Carter	Canterbury
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richard McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Liam Messan	Waikato
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Luke Romano	Canterbury
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Kevin Mealamu	Auckland
17		Charles Faumuina	Auckland
18		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
19		Samuel Cane	Bay of Plenty
20		Piri Weepu	Auckland
21		Aaron Cruden	Manawatu
22		Benjamin Smith	Otago
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TEST RUGBY: Boks v Wallabies

29.09.2012
Australia v South Africa in Pretoria (Rugby Championship, Mandela Cup)

Venue: Loftus Versfeld

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Preview
This test match will be an interesting one. Both sides appear to be striving to play an open, expansive game with some interesting selections.

Australia has won the last five test matches against South Africa but will be up against History on Saturday. They have never won a test match in Pretoria.

Kurtley Beale comes into the pivot position for Australia. Beale has had confidence problems this season and has not been at his best. Although seen as a gamble from Robbie Deans it could well open up the game and create more opportunities for the Australian backline.

Australia has gone for a five-two forwards-back mix on the bench so will be expecting a rough time from the Springbox up front.

Springbox coach has been listening to critics and has dumped Mornie Steyn. This class player will be back but at present his game is not right. His replacement is young Johaan Goosen, a very exciting player. A concern is the injury to Frans Steyn. His replacement is one of two new caps in the side, Jaco Taute.

South Africa will be looking to dominate the Australians up front and create the platform for their backs to excel, something that has been lacking so far this season.

Last Five Encounters
08.09.2012 Australia 26-19 in Perth (Rugby Championship)
09.10.2011 Australia 11-9 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)
13.08.2011 Australia 14-9 in Durban (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
23.07.2011 Australia 39-20 in Sydney (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
04.09.2010 Australia 41-39 in Bloemfontein (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 1, D 2, L 2
15.09.2012 v New Zealand L 11-21 in Dunedin (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 v Australia L 19-26 in Perth (Rugby Championship)
25.08.2012 v Argentina D 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 v Argentina W 27-6 in Capetown (Rugby Championship)
23.06.2012 v England D 14-14 in Port Elizabeth

Australia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
15.09.2012 v Argentina W 23-19 in Gold Coast (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 v South Africa W 26-19 in Perth (Mandela Cup, Rugby Ch.)
25.08.2012 v New Zealand L 0-22 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Ch.)
18.08.2012 v New Zealand L 19-27 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Ch.)23.06.2012 v Wales W 20-19 in Sydney

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Australia 3rd, South Africa 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 86.62, South Africa 84.20

Prediction: South Africa by 7 points

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Zane Kirchner	Blue Bulls
14		Bryan Habana	Western Province Stormers
13		Jaco Taute *	Golden Lions
12		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province Stormers
11		Francois Hougaard	Blue Bulls
10		Johaan Goosen	Free State Cheetahs
9		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
8		Duane Vermeulen	Western Province Stormers
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Francoise Louw	Bath, England
5		Andries Bekker	Western Province Stormers
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province Stormers
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Freee State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Tiaan Liebenburg	Western Province Stormers
17		Patrick Cilliers	Golden Lions
18		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
19		Marcell Coetzee	Natal Sharks
20		Elton Jantjies *	Golden Lions
21		Juan de Jong	Western Province Stormers
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

* Test debut

Australia

15		Berrick Barnes	NSW Waratahs
14		Dominic Shipperley	Queensland Reds
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Patrick McCabe	ACT Brumbies
11		Digby Ioane	Queensland Reds
10		Kurtley Beale	Queensland Reds
9		Nicholas Phipps	Melbourne Rebels
8		Radiki Samo	NSW Waratahs
7		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
6		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
5		Nathan Sharpe (Capt.)	WA Western Force
4		Kane Douglas	NSW Waratahs
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Tatafu Polota-Nau	NSW Waratahs
1		Ben Robinson	NSW Waratahs
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
18		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
19		Scott Higginbotham	Queensland Reds
20		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
21		Brett Sheehan	WA Western Force
22		Anthony Fainga'a	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans