The Breakdown: A statistical look at round six of the Rugby Championship
New Zealand clinched the Rugby Championship last weekend but they must now face South Africa, the only side to have beaten the All Blacks so far.
A second defeat for Steve Hansen’s men would be unprecedented, although the Springboks boast a strong record in Pretoria going into Saturday’s clash.
In the other fixture on the final weekend of this year’s tournament, Argentina and Australia battle it out to avoid taking the wooden spoon, with the Wallabies potentially making unwanted history.
Australia at least enjoy a strong record when visiting the Pumas.
South Africa v New Zealand
South Africa have the opportunity to record back-to-back wins over New Zealand for the first time since 2009, following on from their 36-34 triumph in Wellington.
But the All Blacks have won on their last three trips to South Africa, while the world champions have not lost two matches in the same Rugby Championship campaign since Argentina joined the competition in 2012.
The Springboks have won 77 per cent of their Test matches at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, but even that impressive record includes just one victory against New Zealand.
Former Springbok lock Victor Matfield, Rassie Erasmus and Eben Etzebeth at the team training session at Loftus, Pretoria. pic.twitter.com/w9LgFjOyMx
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 1, 2018
Rieko Ioane is the danger man, having scored 20 tries in 19 appearances for the All Blacks. Four of those have come in three games against South Africa.
The hosts retain a threat from lineouts, however, where Eben Etzebeth (26) has won more than any other player in the tournament.
Continue reading below…
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Argentina v Australia
Argentina have the opportunity to win consecutive games against Australia for the first time ever after their shock 23-19 success away from home last month.
And should the Wallabies – winless in four away games – fail to respond with a victory of their own, they will finish bottom of the Rugby Championship for the first time in its current format.
However, Australia have won on five of their last six trips to face the Pumas and will have the opportunity to improve that record at Ernesto Maltearena Stadium, where the Wallabies have never previously played.
We have arrived in Argentina ahead of #ARGvAUS.
GALLERY: https://t.co/sd4YWco3Ob#TRC18 #ARGvAUS #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/kbhqnroAFI
— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 3, 2018
Argentina have won three and lost three of their six matches at the stadium.
The Pumas’ Nicolas Sanchez will hope to round off a fine campaign as the tournament’s top scorer, currently leading the way on 61 points, including four tries.
Watch: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika and flyhalf Bernard Foley ahead of facing Argentina
Comments on RugbyPass
Pick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
15 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
15 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
15 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments