The 2019 Rugby Championship will get underway on Saturday the 20th of July. Darry Worthington runs the rule over the tournament, below.
The Southern Hemisphere’s international rugby season is about to get underway with the 2019 Rugby Championship kicking off on Saturday the 20th of July.
Due to it being a Rugby World Cup year, this year’s tournament will only feature a set of round-robin games as opposed to non-World Cup years where teams play each other twice in home and away fixtures.
To Win Tournament Outright
New Zealand 2/9
South Africa 6/1
Australia 10/1
Argentina 20/1
Fixtures
Round 1
Saturday 20 July
South Africa v Australia
Ellis Park
17:05
Argentina v New Zealand
Estadio Jose Amalfitani
20:05
Round 2
Saturday 27 July
New Zealand v South Africa
Wellington Regional Stadium
09:35
Australia v Argentina
Suncorp Stadium
11:45
Round 3
Saturday 10 August
Australia v New Zealand
Optus Stadium
11:45
Argentina v South Africa
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena
21:40
Argentina
2018 Finish: Last
Los Pumas could be a real threat this year as they have been allowed to select overseas players with the Argentina Rugby Union negating their rule of only selecting locally based players so as to strengthen the side for the upcoming World Cup.
With the likes of European-based players Nicolas Sanchez, Facundo Isa and Juan Figallo joining an already strong squad of Jaguares players, the Argentines will surely fancy their chances of having a real tilt at the Rugby Championship title or at least improving on last season’s fourth-place finish.
Key Fixture: Round 1 v New Zealand (20 July)
The Argentines open their campaign with a tough assignment against the reigning champions in Buenos Aires. If they can run the Kiwis close and pick up a losing bonus point from this one then they may well be in the hunt for the title.
Squad
Forwards
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Mayco Vivas, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Javier Díaz, Santiago García Botta, Juan Figallo, Ramiro Herrera, Santiago Medrano, Enrique Pieretto, Lucio Sordoni, Agustín Creevy, Julián Montoya, Santiago Socino, Guido Petti, Tomás Lavanini, Matías Alemanno, Lucas Paulos, Pablo Matera, Tomás Lezana, Facundo Isa, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Juan Manuel Leguizamón.
Backs
Tomás Cubelli, Gonzalo Bertranou, Martín Landajo, Felipe Ezcurra, Nicolás Sánchez, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Domingo Miotti, Santiago González Iglesias, Jerónimo De La Fuente, Matías Orlando, Matías Moroni, Lucas Mensa, Juan Cruz Mallía, Bautista Ezcurra, Ramiro Moyano, Bautista Delguy, Sebastián Cancelliere, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquín Tuculet, Manuel Montero, Santiago Carreras
Australia
2018 Finish: Third
The Wallabies haven’t even taken to the field this year and yet they are already in turmoil with the Israel Folau Saga not only robbing them of arguably their best player but also causing a lot of friction between teammates.
While the off-field dramas have unsettled their build-up to the Rugby Championship, the Australians can still field a very talented side. They have also had a few young guns put their hands up during the Super Rugby season with livewire Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell and franchise teammate Tom Banks enjoying great campaigns.
Key Fixture: Round 2 v Argentina (27 July)
This game will offer the Australian a chance to redeem themselves after they went down to the Argentines 19-23 on home soil last year, If the Aussies can get a victory here it could well guarantee that they avoid the tournament’s wooden spoon.
Squad
TBA
New Zealand
2018 Finish: Champions
The reigning champions suffered a Rugby Championship defeat for the first time since 2015 when they went down 34-36 at the Westpac Stadium last year. Despite the loss, the All Blacks still managed to secure last year’s title at a canter finishing 10 points above the second-placed South Africans.
Rugby World Cup years have coincided with the All Blacks failing to deliver the goods at the Rugby Championship and its predecessor, the Tri-Nations. Australia won the Tri-Nations in 2011 and the Rugby Championship in 2015 with the All Blacks going on two win the World Cups later in the year.
There is a reason for the All Blacks failings during Rugby World Cup years and that is experimentation. They tend to rotate their squad and give fringe players a bash so as to ensure they have the depth for the World Cup.
This is likely to happen this year with four rookies being called up to the Rugby Championship squad including Crusaders’ flyer Sevu Reece and Highlanders pivot Josh Ioane. Both youngsters are likely to be given a run out at some point in the tournament.
Key Fixture: v South Africa (Round 2)
The All Blacks will once again take on the South Africans out in Wellington and they will be looking to put in a big display after last year’s shock loss. They’re likely to win their opener against Argentina and if they follow up that victory with a win against the Springboks then they’ll be in the drivers’ seat to defend their title.
Squad
Forwards
Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Jackson Hemopo, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd.
Backs
TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Josh Ioane, Richie Mo’unga, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith.
South Africa
2018 Finish: Runners-Up
The Springboks will be looking to build on a solid 2018 season when they get their Rugby Championship campaign underway. Rassie Erasmus has turned around the South Africans fortunes since taking over as coach but faces his toughest challenge this season as he has to ensure his side remain competitive while building enough depth to launch a real assault on the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
The Springbok mentor has done well so far in his quest to deepen the Springboks playing numbers by bringing back a number of veterans back into the fold including former Sharks men Marcel Coetzee and Francois Steyn. He also has veterans Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Britz in red-hot form with the duo producing some great displays for the Bulls during the Super Rugby season.
Erasmus has also brought some fresh new talent into the set up with impressive Bulls’ loosie Marco van Staaden and Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies called up to the squad after impressing for their franchises during the Super Rugby campaign.
If Erasmus can get the balancing act right, then the Springboks may well be title contenders this season.
Key Fixture v New Zealand Round 2 (20 July)
Last year’s famous win in Wellington will live long in Springbok folklore and if the ‘Boks can produce the same kind of magic here then they may well win the title. especially if they manage a bonus point win over an unsettled Australian side in their opening fixture.
Squad
Forwards
Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions), RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Andre Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions), Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), Dillyn Lleyds (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Sibusiso Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).
Verdict: Argentina 20/1
I fancy a little punt on the Argentines here. They are a vastly improved side, and with New Zealand traditionally struggling in World Cup years the Argentines may well secure that illusive Rugby Championship title.
