2018 Rugby Championship
Date | 18 August 2018 – 6 October 2018 |
---|---|
Countries | Argentina Australia New Zealand South Africa |
Final positions | |
Champions | New Zealand (16th title) |
Bledisloe Cup | New Zealand |
Freedom Cup | New Zealand |
Mandela Challenge Plate | Australia |
Puma Trophy | Australia |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 12 |
Tries scored | 88 (7.33 per match) |
Attendance | 433,657 (36,138 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Nicolás Sánchez (67) |
Most tries | Beauden Barrett (5) Aphiwe Dyantyi (5) Rieko Ioane (5) |
← 2017 2019 → |
The 2018 Rugby Championship was the seventh edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The competition is operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions.
The tournament continued to use the same sequence of games across the schedule, starting on 18 August with Australia hosting reigning champions New Zealand and South Africa hosting Argentina, and ending after eight weeks (six rounds and two bye weeks) on 6 October when New Zealand visited South Africa and Australia played in Argentina.
New Zealand won the Championship for the sixth time after a 35-17 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on 29 September.[1][2]
Background[edit]
The tournament is operated by SANZAAR and known for sponsorship reasons as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship in Australia, and The Personal Rugby Championship in Argentina.
Format[edit]
The format for the 2018 tournament retained the previous Championship format that changed in 2017. Each side played the other once at home, and once away, giving a total of six matches each, and twelve in total. A win earned a team four league points, a draw two league points, and a loss by eight or more points zero league points. A bonus point was earned in one of two ways: by scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match, or by losing within seven points. The competition winner was the side with the most points at the end of the tournament.[3]
Table[edit]
Place | Nation | Games | Points[4] | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Table points | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | |||||
1 | New Zealand | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 225 | 132 | +93 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
2 | South Africa | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 160 | 154 | +6 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
3 | Australia | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 124 | 176 | −52 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
4 | Argentina | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 151 | 198 | −47 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Results[edit]
Round 1[edit]
18 August 2018 19:45 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia | 13–38 | New Zealand (1 BP) |
Try: Maddocks 66' c Con: Foley (1/1) 66' Pen: Hodge (1/1) 9' Foley (1/1) 20' | Report | Try: A. Smith 38' m Goodhue 42' c B. Barrett 51' c Retallick 62' c Naholo (2) 73' m, 74' c Con: B. Barrett (4/6) 43', 52', 64', 76' |
Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 66,318 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Jermaine Ainsley and Jack Maddocks (both Australia) and Tim Perry (New Zealand) made their international debuts.[5]
- Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) became the eighth and youngest ever All Black to earn his 100th test cap.[6]
18 August 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02) |
(1 BP) South Africa | 34–21 | Argentina |
Try: Am 7' m Dyantyi (2) 31' m, 41' c Mapimpi (2) 48' m, 52' m De Klerk 69' c Con: Pollard (2/6) 43', 70' | Report | Try: Sanchez 14' c Matera 26' c Moroni 66' c Con: Sanchez (3/3) 15', 28', 66' |
Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 26,800 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Marco van Staden and Damian Willemse (both South Africa) and Diego Fortuny (Argentina) made their international debuts.[7]
- Pablo Matera (Argentina) earned his 50th test cap.
Round 2[edit]
25 August 2018 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
(1 BP) New Zealand | 40–12 | Australia |
Try: B. Barrett (4) 12' c, 37' c, 61' c, 68' m Moody 42' c Squire 47' c Con: B. Barrett (5/6) 13', 38' 43', 48', 62' | Report | Try: Genia 28' c Hodge 54' m Con: Foley (1/2) 29' |
Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 49,983 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Folau Fainga'a and Tom Banks (both Australia) made their international debuts.
- Owen Franks (New Zealand) became the ninth ever All Black to earn his 100th test cap.
- New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup.[8]
25 August 2018 16:10 AST (UTC-03) |
Argentina | 32–19 | South Africa |
Try: Delguy (2) 18' c, 22' c Sánchez 26' c Moyano 45' m Con: Sánchez (3/4) 19', 23', 27' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 4' Drop: Sánchez (1/1) 36' | Report | Try: Kolisi 13' c Mapoe (2) 47' c, 64' m Con: Pollard (2/3) 14', 48' |
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza Attendance: 27,460 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Facundo Bosch (Argentina) made his international debut.[9]
- This is Argentina's largest winning margin over South Africa, surpassing the 12-point difference set in 2015.
Round 3[edit]
8 September 2018 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
(1 BP) New Zealand | 46–24 | Argentina |
Try: Milner-Skudder 17' c Perenara (2) 29' m, 57' c Read 48' c Frizell 73' c Goodhue 79' c Con: Mo'unga (5/6) 19', 50', 58', 73', 80' Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 4', 40' | Report | Try: Moyano 14' c Sánchez 41' c Boffelli 69' c Con: Sánchez (3/3) 15', 42', 70' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 55' |
Trafalgar Park, Nelson Attendance: 21,440 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (New Zealand) and Juan Pablo Zeiss (Argentina) made their international debuts.
8 September 2018 20:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia | 23–18 | South Africa (1 BP) |
Try: Hooper 1' c To'omua 32' c Con: To'omua (2/2) 2', 33' Pen: Hodge (1/1) 40' To'omua (2/2) 54', 68' | Report | Try: Mbonambi 13' c Mapimpi 27' m Con: Jantjies (1/2) 15' Pen: Jantjies (2/2) 6', 38' |
Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 27,849 Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) made his international debut.
- Australia retain the Mandela Challenge Plate.
Round 4[edit]
15 September 2018 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
(1 BP) New Zealand | 34–36 | South Africa |
Try: J. Barrett 4' m A. Smith 15' c Ioane (2) 37' m, 51' c Taylor 60' m Savea 73' m Con: B. Barrett (2/6) 17', 53' | Report | Try: Dyantyi (2) 19' c, 56' m Le Roux 24' c Marx 31' c Kolbe 41' c Con: Pollard (4/5) 20', 25', 32', 42' Pen: Pollard (1/1) 40 |
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 34,182 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
- South Africa recorded their first win against New Zealand in New Zealand since their 32–29 win in 2009.
15 September 2018 20:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
(1 BP) Australia | 19–23 | Argentina |
Try: Genia 10' c Folau 18' c Haylett-Petty 54' m Con: To'omua (2/3) 11', 19' | Report | Try: Sánchez 14' c Delguy 35' c Con: Sánchez (2/2) 15', 36' Pen: Boffelli (2/2) 4', 76' Sánchez (1/1) 47' |
Robina Stadium, Gold Coast Attendance: 16,019 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Argentina recorded their first win against Australia in Australia since their 18–3 win in 1983.
- This win saw Argentina achieved two wins in a single Rugby Championship for the first time.
- With this loss (and South Africa's victory), Australia drops to a record low seventh place on the World Rugby Rankings.
Round 5[edit]
29 September 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02) |
South Africa | 23–12 | Australia |
Try: Dyantyi 1' c De Klerk 20' c Con: Pollard (2/2) 1', 21' Pen: Pollard (3/3) 33', 40', 45' | Report | Try: Hodge 25' m Genia 28' c Con: To'omua (1/2) 29' |
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Attendance: 41,332 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Scott Sio (Australia) earned his 50th test cap.
29 September 2018 19:40 AST (UTC-03) |
Argentina | 17–35 | New Zealand (1 BP) |
Try: Cubelli 57' c Boffelli 67' c Con: Sánchez (2/2) 58', 67' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Ioane (2) 7' c, 29' c Naholo 16' c Tuipulotu 54' c Lienert-Brown 72' c Con: B. Barrett (4/4) 8', 17' 31', 56' Mo'unga (1/1) 72' |
José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Angus Ta'avao (New Zealand) made his international debut.
- TJ Perenara (New Zealand) earned his 50th test cap.
Round 6[edit]
6 October 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02) |
(1 BP) South Africa | 30–32 | New Zealand |
Try: Kriel 44' c De Allende 52' c Kolbe 59' c Con: Pollard (3/3) 45', 53', 60' Pen: Pollard (3/3) 4', 13', 48' | Report | Try: A. Smith 54' c Ioane 62' m S. Barrett 76' c Savea 79' c Con: Mo'unga (3/4) 55', 76', 80' Pen: B. Barrett (2/2) 26', 36' |
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 51,762 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Willie le Roux (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap.
- New Zealand retain the Freedom Cup.
6 October 2018 19:40 AST (UTC-03) |
Argentina | 34–45 | Australia |
Try: Matera 2' c Boffelli 4' c Orlando 27' c Gonzalez Iglesias 31' c Con: Sánchez (3/3) 3', 5', 28' Gonzalez Iglesias (1/1) 32' Pen: Gonzalez Iglesias (2/2) 38', 61' | Report | Try: Hooper 14' c Rodda 44' c Folau 48' c Haylett-Petty (2) 51' c, 66' c Pocock 64' c Con: Foley (6/6) 15', 45', 49', 53', 65', 67' Pen: Foley (1/1) 75' |
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta Attendance: 20,512 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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Man of the Match: Touch judges: |
Notes:
- Matías Alemanno and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (both Argentina) made earned their 50th test cap.
- Australia retain the Puma Trophy.
Statistics[edit]
Points scorers[edit]
| Try scorers[edit]
|
Squads[edit]
Nation | Match venues | Head coach | Captain | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | City | Capacity | |||
Argentina | José Amalfitani Stadium | Buenos Aires | 49,540 | Mario Ledesma | Agustín Creevy |
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas | Mendoza | 40,268 | |||
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena | Salta | 20,408 | |||
Australia | Stadium Australia | Sydney | 83,500 | Michael Cheika | Michael Hooper David Pocock |
Lang Park | Brisbane | 52,500 | |||
Robina Stadium | Gold Coast | 27,400 | |||
New Zealand | Eden Park | Auckland | 50,000 | Steve Hansen | Kieran Read |
Wellington Regional Stadium | Wellington | 34,500 | |||
Trafalgar Park | Nelson | 18,000 | |||
South Africa | Kings Park Stadium | Durban | 52,000 | Rassie Erasmus | Siya Kolisi |
Loftus Versfeld Stadium | Pretoria | 51,762 | |||
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Port Elizabeth | 48,000 |
Note: Ages, caps and clubs/franchises are of 18 August 2018 – the starting date of the tournament
Argentina[edit]
On 6 August, newly appointed head coach Mario Ledesma named a 36-man squad for the Championship.[10]
1 Ahead of the traveling to South Africa for the opening match, Tomás Lezana joined the squad after recovering from injury.[11]
2 On 9 August, Juan Figallo became the first European based player to be selected for the national side since the 2015 World Cup, after a change of selection policy under Ledesma.[12]
3 On 19 August, Santiago Álvarez, Facundo Bosch and Santiago Carreras joined the ahead of the round 2 home clash against South Africa.[13]
4 On 27 August, Gaston Cortes joined the squad for the Oceania leg of the Championship in rounds 3 and 4.[14]
5 On 19 September, Ramiro Herrera, Matías Osadczuk, Lucas Paulos and Enrique Pieretto joined were added as part of the training squad ahead of the fifth round clash with New Zealand.[15]
6 On 24 September, Manuel Montero joined the squad as injury cover for Ramiro Moyano.[16]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
---|---|---|---|---|
Facundo Bosch 3 | Hooker | 8 August 1991 (aged 27) | 0 | Agen |
Agustín Creevy (c) | Hooker | 15 March 1985 (aged 33) | 74 | Jaguares |
Diego Fortuny | Hooker | 27 September 1991 (aged 26) | 0 | Jaguares |
Julián Montoya | Hooker | 29 October 1993 (aged 24) | 44 | Jaguares |
Marco Ciccioli | Prop | 6 November 1995 (aged 22) | 0 | CASI |
Gaston Cortes 4 | Prop | 6 October 1985 (aged 32) | 4 | Leicester Tigers |
Lucas Favre | Prop | 20 November 1996 (aged 21) | 0 | Lomas |
Juan Figallo 2 | Prop | 25 March 1988 | 24 | Saracens |
Santiago García Botta | Prop | 19 June 1992 (aged 26) | 25 | Jaguares |
Ramiro Herrera 5 | Prop | 14 February 1989 (aged 29) | 37 | Stade Français |
Santiago Medrano | Prop | 6 May 1996 (aged 22) | 3 | Jaguares |
Enrique Pieretto 5 | Prop | 15 December 1994 (aged 23) | 24 | Jaguares |
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Prop | 11 June 1989 (aged 29) | 44 | Jaguares |
Mayco Vivas | Prop | 2 June 1998 (aged 20) | 0 | Atlético del Rosario |
Juan Pablo Zeiss | Prop | 2 August 1989 (aged 29) | 0 | Los Matreros |
Matías Alemanno | Lock | 5 December 1991 (aged 26) | 44 | Jaguares |
Ignacio Larrague | Lock | 25 October 1995 (aged 22) | 2 | CASI |
Tomás Lavanini | Lock | 22 January 1993 (aged 25) | 41 | Jaguares |
Franco Molina | Lock | 28 August 1997 (aged 20) | 0 | Jockey Córdoba |
Guido Petti | Lock | 17 November 1994 (aged 23) | 36 | Jaguares |
Lucas Paulos 5 | Lock | 9 January 1998 (aged 20) | 0 | Olivos |
Santiago Grondana | Flanker | 25 July 1998 (aged 20) | 0 | Champagnat |
Marcos Kremer | Flanker | 30 July 1997 (aged 21) | 15 | Jaguares |
Juan Manuel Leguizamón | Flanker | 6 June 1983 (aged 35) | 82 | Jaguares |
Pablo Matera | Flanker | 18 July 1993 (aged 25) | 49 | Jaguares |
Javier Ortega Desio | Flanker | 14 June 1990 (aged 28) | 42 | Jaguares |
Tomás Lezana 1 | Flanker | 16 February 1994 (aged 24) | 24 | Jaguares |
Rodrigo Bruni | Number 8 | 3 September 1993 (aged 24) | 0 | San Luis |
Gonzalo Bertranou | Scrum-half | 31 December 1993 (aged 24) | 12 | Jaguares |
Tomás Cubelli | Scrum-half | 12 June 1989 (aged 29) | 63 | Jaguares |
Martín Landajo | Scrum-half | 14 June 1988 (aged 30) | 81 | Jaguares |
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla | Fly-half | 12 April 1989 (aged 29) | 0 | Jaguares |
Nicolás Sánchez | Fly-half | 26 October 1988 (aged 29) | 65 | Jaguares |
Santiago Álvarez 3 | Centre | 17 February 1994 (aged 24) | 0 | Jaguares |
Jerónimo de la Fuente | Centre | 24 February 1991 (aged 27) | 38 | Jaguares |
Bautista Ezcurra | Centre | 21 April 1995 (aged 23) | 1 | Jaguares |
Santiago González Iglesias | Centre | 16 June 1988 (aged 30) | 41 | Jaguares |
Matías Moroni | Centre | 29 March 1991 (aged 27) | 31 | Jaguares |
Matías Orlando | Centre | 14 November 1991 (aged 26) | 34 | Jaguares |
Matías Osadczuk 5 | Centre | 22 April 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | SITAS |
Sebastián Cancelliere | Wing | 17 September 1993 (aged 24) | 6 | Jaguares |
Bautista Delguy | Wing | 22 April 1997 (aged 21) | 3 | Jaguares |
Manuel Montero 6 | Wing | 20 November 1991 | 27 | Pucará |
Ramiro Moyano | Wing | 28 May 1990 (aged 28) | 22 | Jaguares |
Emiliano Boffelli | Fullback | 16 January 1995 (aged 23) | 14 | Jaguares |
Santiago Carreras 3 | Fullback | 30 March 1998 (aged 20) | 0 | Córdoba Athletic |
Juan Cruz Mallia | Fullback | 11 September 1996 (aged 21) | 1 | Jaguares |
Australia[edit]
On 5 August, Michael Cheika named a 36-man extended squad ahead of the Championship.[17]
1 On 21 September, Jake Gordon and Angus Cottrell were added to the squad for the final two rounds of the Championship, with the latter replacing Lukhan Tui who withdrew from the squad for personal reasons.[18]
Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Franchise/province |
---|---|---|---|---|
Folau Fainga'a | Hooker | 5 May 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | Brumbies / Canberra Vikings |
Tolu Latu | Hooker | 23 February 1993 (aged 25) | 7 | Waratahs / NSW Country Eagles |
Brandon Paenga-Amosa | Hooker | 25 December 1995 (aged 22) | 3 | Queensland Reds / Brisbane City |
Tatafu Polota-Nau | Hooker | 26 July 1985 (aged 33) | 82 | Leicester Tigers |
Jermaine Ainsley | Prop | 8 August 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | Melbourne Rebels / Melbourne Rising |
Allan Alaalatoa | Prop | 28 January 1994 (aged 24) | 22 | Brumbies / Canberra Vikings |
Sekope Kepu | Prop | 5 February 1986 (aged 32) | 94 | Waratahs / Sydney Rays |
Tom Robertson | Prop | 28 August 1994 (aged 23) | 21 | Waratahs / NSW Country Eagles |
Scott Sio | Prop | 16 October 1991 (aged 26) | 46 | Brumbies / Canberra Vikings |
Taniela Tupou | Prop | 10 May 1996 (aged 22) | 4 | Queensland Reds / Queensland Country |
Rory Arnold | Lock | 1 July 1990 (aged 28) | 15 | Brumbies / Canberra Vikings |
Adam Coleman | Lock | 7 October 1991 (aged 26) | 23 | Melbourne Rebels / Melbourne Rising |
Izack Rodda | Lock | 20 August 1996 (aged 21) | 7 | Queensland Reds / Queensland Country |
Rob Simmons | Lock | 19 April 1989 (aged 29) | 85 | Waratahs / Sydney Rays |
Lukhan Tui | Lock | 19 September 1996 (aged 21) | 7 | Queensland Reds / Brisbane City |
Angus Cottrell 1 | Flanker | 20 November 1989 (aged 28) | 0 | Melbourne Rebels / Melbourne Rising |
Ned Hanigan | Flanker | 11 April 1995 (aged 23) | 13 | Waratahs / NSW Country Eagles |
Michael Hooper (c) | Flanker | 29 October 1991 (aged 26) | 82 | Waratahs / Sydney Rays |
David Pocock | Flanker | 23 April 1988 (aged 30) | 69 | Brumbies / Panasonic Wild Knights |
Peter Samu | Flanker | 17 December 1991 (aged 26) | 3 | Crusaders / Canberra Vikings |
Caleb Timu | Number 8 | 22 February 1994 (aged 24) | 2 |
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