The History Behind This Weekend's Rugby Championship Matches

Jamie Wall looks back on some classic matches contested by the All Blacks and Pumas, and the Wallabies and Springboks, before they meet in The Rugby Championship this weekend.

All Blacks vs Pumas

1985: Pumas 21 All Blacks 21 (Ferrocaril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires)

One of the first matches ever played between the two countries was as close as the Argentines have come to beating the All Blacks. All of the home side’s points came off the boot of the legendary Hugo Porta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfoc2KfJvFY

1997: All Blacks 93 Pumas 8 (Athletic Park, Wellington)

This match was so one-sided that All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick instructed the ref to call the game off with six minutes to go to avoid a century being put on the visitors. The way the All Blacks ran up the score so high is very fun to watch, though.

2001: All Blacks 24 Pumas 20 (River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires)

Los Pumas did everything but win this game against a very understrength All Black side that played horribly and deserved to lose. Unfortunately, all it took was one missed clearing kick to protect the All Blacks’ record.

2012: All Blacks 54 Pumas 15 (City of La Plata Stadium, Buenos Aires)

Another caning, but Los Pumas did score a terrific try to open the test match. Unfortunately for them, the All Blacks scored seven in reply, all off the top shelf.

Wallabies vs Springboks

2000: Wallabies 19 Springboks 18 (Kings Park, Durban)

The 2000 Tri Nations may go down as the best edition of the Rugby Championship ever, given the two unforgettable matches between the All Blacks and Wallabies. However, it all came down to the very last penalty in the very last match for the Wallabies to seal the title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQz2ubsuZFY#t=51

2004: Wallabies 30 Springboks 26 (Subiaco Oval, Perth)

Clyde Rathbone: hero or traitor? Depends what side of the Indian Ocean you’re from. The former South African U21 captain switched his allegiance to Australia at test level, then proved his new-found loyalty by scoring the match-winner in this high-scoring thriller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypv6-cp5id4

2010: Springboks 42 Wallabies 31 (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

This barn burner opened with five tries in the first 15 minutes and had an aggregate of 50 points in the first half. Love him or hate him, Kurtley Beale was electric, but the Boks had the last laugh for their only win of the tournament.

2013: Springboks 38 Wallabies 12 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)

The Boks hadn’t won in Brisbane for over 40 years coming into this test. They showed up and smashed the hell out of that record in stunning style, running in four tries. They then went on to play two classic tests against the All Blacks later in the tournament.