2013 Rugby Championship

Jacovs

Round 1
Match : Australia v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 17 August
Venue : ANZ Stadium, Sydney


Match : South Africa v Argentina
Date: Saturday 17 August
Venue : Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein


Round 2
Match : New Zealand v Australia
Date: Saturday 24 August
Venue : Westpac Stadium, Wellington


Match : Argentina v South Africa
Date: Saturday 24 August
Venue : Estadio Malvinas Argentinas Mendoza


BYE: Saturday 31 August


Round 3
Match : Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday 7 September
Venue : Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane


Match : New Zealand v Argentina
Date: Saturday 7 September
Venue : Waikato Stadium, Hamilton


Round 4
Match : Australia v Argentina
Date: Saturday 14 September
Venue : Patersons Stadium, Perth


Match : New Zealand v South Africa
Date: Saturday 14 September
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland


BYE :Saturday 21 September



Round 5
Match : South Africa v Australia
Date: Saturday 28 September
Venue : Newlands Stadium, Cape Town


Match : Argentina v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 28 September
Venue : Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata


Round 6
Match : South Africa v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 5 October
Venue : Ellis Park, Johannesburg


Match : Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday 5 October
Venue : Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario

Swiwi

I'll be watching! Will be interesting to see if Agentina can pick up an inaugural victory. By then we'll know if Australia are Lions champs or chumps...

Jacovs

Swiwi wrote: »

I'll be watching! Will be interesting to see if Agentina can pick up an inaugural victory. By then we'll know if Australia are Lions champs or chumps...

They managed a draw against SA in last year's inaugural Rugby Championship.
I'd say this year will still be fairly straight forward as to the winner and loser, just a question of who will be 2nd and 3rd. Maybe from next year we might see a different winner or loser.

bilston

Jacovs wrote: »

Round 1
Match : Australia v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 17 August
Venue : ANZ Stadium, Sydney


Match : South Africa v Argentina
Date: Saturday 17 August
Venue : Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein


Round 2
Match : New Zealand v Australia
Date: Saturday 24 August
Venue : Westpac Stadium, Wellington


Match : Argentina v South Africa
Date: Saturday 24 August
Venue : Estadio Malvinas Argentinas Mendoza


BYE: Saturday 31 August


Round 3
Match : Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday 7 September
Venue : Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane


Match : New Zealand v Argentina
Date: Saturday 7 September
Venue : Waikato Stadium, Hamilton


Round 4
Match : Australia v Argentina
Date: Saturday 14 September
Venue : Patersons Stadium, Perth


Match : New Zealand v South Africa
Date: Saturday 14 September
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland


BYE :Saturday 21 September



Round 5
Match : South Africa v Australia
Date: Saturday 28 September
Venue : Newlands Stadium, Cape Town


Match : Argentina v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 28 September
Venue : Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata


Round 6
Match : South Africa v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 5 October
Venue : Ellis Park, Johannesburg


Match : Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday 5 October
Venue : Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario

Looking forward to it, however from a selfish point of view I suppose this probably means no Pienaar for Ulster until mid October at best and even then he'll be knackered.

Jacovs

bilston wrote: »

Looking forward to it, however from a selfish point of view I suppose this probably means no Pienaar for Ulster until mid October at best and even then he'll be knackered.

Heyneke Meyer wont be picking overseas based players for his squads unless he absolutely has to. Which means Pienaar will probably not be picked unless he returns for the Sharks's Currie Cup campaign.

Swan Curry

Jacovs wrote: »

Heyneke Meyer wont be picking overseas based players for his squads unless he absolutely has to. Which means Pienaar will probably not be picked unless he returns for the Sharks's Currie Cup campaign.

Do SA have enough talented scrum-halves to not pick him?

bilston

Jacovs wrote: »

Heyneke Meyer wont be picking overseas based players for his squads unless he absolutely has to. Which means Pienaar will probably not be picked unless he returns for the Sharks's Currie Cup campaign.

You sure about that? Pienaar played last season for them.

Jacovs

Swan Curry wrote: »

Do SA have enough talented scrum-halves to not pick him?

Think they will be going with Francois Hougaard and/or Jano Vermaak. Not saying they are more talented, but Meyer's said if it's a 50-50 decision between a local player and overseas then he will go with local.

bilston wrote: »

You sure about that? Pienaar played last season for them.

Last season was Meyer's first season, he didnt have much time yet to get his processes in order. He has had a bit of time and is favouring local players heavily this time around. Unless there are a few more injuries before the Rugby Championship I dont think he will get a call-up.

bilston

Jacovs wrote: »

Think they will be going with Francois Hougaard and/or Jano Vermaak. Not saying they are more talented, but Meyer's said if it's a 50-50 decision between a local player and overseas then he will go with local.



Last season was Meyer's first season, he didnt have much time yet to get his processes in order. He has had a bit of time and is favouring local players heavily this time around. Unless there are a few more injuries before the Rugby Championship I dont think he will get a call-up.

Fair enough.

Jacovs

bilston wrote: »

Fair enough.

Btw, I like Ruan Pienaar more than the other 2 I mentioned, if only he could carry his form from Ulster into the Springbok jersey.
And Jano Vermaak might be going abroad too after the Bulls offered him half his salary to stay on. If the players keep going abroad like they are now then they wont have a choice but to pick from them too.

CatFromHue

Pretty crappy draw for Argentina with only 1 home game in the first 4.

Podge_irl

Terrible draw for Arg - their best chance of a win is in a home game towards the start of the comp. I'm convinced they would have beat Aus at home last time out if it wasn't the last game of the championship. They just don't have the squad for 6 test of such high quality in a row.

Swiwi.

Not too long now until this kicks off. Rumour already suggests McKenzie +/- &/or Jake White will be the new Aussies coach. Australia are not that bad, they just need a better selection policy! The clangers from Deans that need addressing

1) Joe Tomane is not their next best left wing. Nick Cummins has never let Aussie down, and the Reds flyers have been going well this season.
2) JOC is not a 10. McKenzie would have chosen QC no question, McKenzie might have even gone with Toomua.
3) Most important of all, the Wallabies need new props. I have been impressed with Slipper this year with the Reds.

Looking forward to it!

matthew8

Hoping for McKenzie so we can get a bit of Quade. White might be a bit more boring and you'd get all that nonsense from Australians about a having foreign coach.

It should be an absolute cakewalk for New Zealand, and I'd have them as favourites for every game they don't play in SA, unless Australia have a miraculous turnaround.

Swiwi.

matthew8 wrote: »

Hoping for McKenzie so we can get a bit of Quade. White might be a bit more boring and you'd get all that nonsense from Australians about a having foreign coach.

It should be an absolute cakewalk for New Zealand, and I'd have them as favourites for every game they don't play in SA, unless Australia have a miraculous turnaround.

SA seemed to have shipped a fair few injuries in the last month or so, especially in the loose forwards. I'd love to see Quade in action again too. I feel more confident about NZ's chances then I did a few weeks back.

Australia have a lot of good players who could be given a decent crack under a new coach.

thomond2006

Will anyone be able to outshine this man this year?

Swiwi.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Will anyone be able to outshine this man this year?

The more relevant question, t2006, is whether the other 14 Argies can match his displays and nick a win or two?

Kiwi_knock

If there is one positive the Wallabies can take from the Lions series it is the emergence of Ben Mowen, he was everywhere. Him, Pocock and Higginbotham are a formidable backrow. Be interesting to see the changes the Wallabies will make if they get a new coach, will Beale and JOC feature so prominently.

Jacovs

Can anyone see the All Blacks not winning the Championship? Or the Pumas not finishing last?

Stev_o

Jacovs wrote: »

Can anyone see the All Blacks not winning the Championship? Or the Pumas not finishing last?

Id say SA has a strong chance of winning this year.

thomond2006

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

If there is one positive the Wallabies can take from the Lions series it is the emergence of Ben Mowen, he was everywhere. Him, Pocock and Higginbotham are a formidable backrow. Be interesting to see the changes the Wallabies will make if they get a new coach, will Beale and JOC feature so prominently.

Where has Mowen been before now, he's 29 in December so he's been a late comer to international rugby.

jank

Rumors are gathering force that Dingo Deans has been sacked and that McKenzie is taking up the job of Australian Coach.
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/mckenzie-appointed-wallabies-coach/

Should be made offical tomorrow. Cooper will be back so

.ak

That didn't take long.

Kiwi_knock

Surprised that they went for McKenzie, White seemed a more steady choice. However the demand amongst Australian fans for an Aussie coach and an attacking game plan seems to have made the decision for the ARU.

Kiwi_knock

So McKenzie's first task will be to deal with the discipline issues of Beale and O'Connor, with the Aussie squad seemingly tired of their behaviour. I wonder if they will be dropped for the Championship or at least benched. Aussies can get by without them, with Mogg at fullback and Cooper at outhalf (maybe a bit suspect defensively).

Swiwi.

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

So McKenzie's first task will be to deal with the discipline issues of Beale and O'Connor, with the Aussie squad seemingly tired of their behaviour. I wonder if they will be dropped for the Championship or at least benched. Aussies can get by without them, with Mogg at fullback and Cooper at outhalf (maybe a bit suspect defensively).

Yeah, as much as Beale & JOC have a bit of genius about them at times, I'd go with the likes of Jesse Mogg who has been good all season, and is not a prima donna. Would Matt Giteau be tempted back to Aus, he's only 30, and would be in with a good chance for RWC 2015?

Looking forward to 4N. Nice to see the new scrum trial getting a run too.

Swiwi.

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Surprised that they went for McKenzie, White seemed a more steady choice. However the demand amongst Australian fans for an Aussie coach and an attacking game plan seems to have made the decision for the ARU.

White would get results, but he has a pretty stilted gameplan. If McKenzie can get the Wallabies to play like the Reds, and find a couple of decent props, it could be exciting times ahead. I think Aus are due to play Eng again this year, no surprises what gameplan England will bring, but it could be a classic. Psychological blows ahead of 2015 and all that.

Swiwi.

McKenzie due to name his inaugural squad this Friday with 40 players to be cut to 30 for the 4N. QC picked to make a return.

Kiwi_knock

Cam Crawford, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Scott Fardy, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin and Bernard Foley are all expected to be named in the extended squad. Will be interesting to see the squad, will any players that featured in the Lions be axed. McKenzie will have a lot more leeway with the fans to experiment with player and team selection, so he is free to take a few risks.

Swiwi.

Squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Betham, Quade Cooper, Nick Cummins, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Scott Fardy, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Liam Gill, Mike Harris, Michael Hooper, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Peter Kimlin, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Ben McCalman, Hugh McMeniman, Jesse Mogg, Stephen Moore, Ben Mowen, James O'Connor, Nick Phipps, Tatafu Polota Nau, Hugh Pyle, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, Jake Schatz, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White.

Kiwi_knock

Squad broken down into positions

Props: Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, Scott Sio, James Slipper

Hookers: Saia Fainga'a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota Nau,

Second Rows: Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, James Horwill, Hugh McMeniman, Hugh Pyle, Rob Simmons

Backrow: Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Peter Kimlin, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen, Jake Schatz

Scrum Halfs: Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White

Out Halfs: Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, Matt Toomua

Centres: Adam Ashley Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano

Wings: Peter Betham, Nick Cummins, Israel Folau, James O'Connor, Joe Tomane

Fullbacks: Jesse Mogg

.ak

No Beale?

Kiwi_knock

.ak wrote: »

No Beale?

He is out injured, getting surgery on his shoulder.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Will be great to see Nick Cummins get a run

pickarooney

No Skelton?

.ak

pickarooney wrote: »

No Skelton?

He's in the closet.








... I'll get my coat.

Swiwi.

How much poorer does Ben Alexander have to play in a test match to be dropped? He basically got a yellow card for being crap in the scrum...and yet still he's selected. Bring it on from my point of view!

matthew8

None of the Rugby Championship looseheads compare to Alex Corbisiero in the scrum. And it was a game with Romain Poite, which means going backwards is a penalty offense. He minced the Cheetahs scrum too, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him gain the upper hand tomorrow either.

Swiwi.

matthew8 wrote: »

None of the Rugby Championship looseheads compare to Alex Corbisiero in the scrum. And it was a game with Romain Poite, which means going backwards is a penalty offense. He minced the Cheetahs scrum too, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him gain the upper hand tomorrow either.

I'd be confident with any of Woodcock, Franks or Crockett going up against Alexander.

In saying that, will be intriguing to see how the new scrum bind laws pan out.

Kiwi_knock

Le vieux renard wrote: »

How much poorer does Ben Alexander have to play in a test match to be dropped? He basically got a yellow card for being crap in the scrum...and yet still he's selected. Bring it on from my point of view!

To be fair there is not a lot of quality in the prop department in Australia, I say Alexander is being given a chance to redeem himself in the training camp. Surprised to see Kimlin in the squad when he is leaving after the Championship, especially when he is not first choice.

Swiwi.

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

To be fair there is not a lot of quality in the prop department in Australia, I say Alexander is being given a chance to redeem himself in the training camp. Surprised to see Kimlin in the squad when he is leaving after the Championship, especially when he is not first choice.

I think Kimlin has some sort of early out clause in his new deal - ie play the 4N, miss the AIs, and potentially back towards the end of SXV 2014, so maybe McKenzie likes what he sees, and has him in mind for the future.

Kiwi_knock

Not quite the return to Australia that Luke Burgess predicted.

thomond2006

The following Argentina lineup scraped past a NSW team at the weekend.

Argentina: 15 Martín Rodríguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernández, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8855485,00.html

Swiwi.

thomond2006 wrote: »

The following Argentina lineup scraped past a NSW team at the weekend.

Argentina: 15 Martín Rodríguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernández, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8855485,00.html

Yeah, I saw that result. TBH, I only expect Argentina to improve with time together, it's a crying shame they start the RC with away games, if I'm correct.

Swiwi.

For the neutral fan (ie most of this forum), the new scrum laws should provide an interesting backdrop to this years tournament. Here is a link to an interesting article on the subject

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/9004873/New-scrum-laws-will-wind-clock-back-says-Cron

pickarooney

Why does he reckon the new laws will benefit NZ?

Jacovs

The 30-man Springbok squad for the first two legs of the Rugby Championships:

Backs: Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Jean de Villiers (captain)

Forwards: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Juandre Kruger, Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Duane Vermeulen

Jacovs

So much for Meyer's stance on not selecting overseas based players. 10 of his 30 players are overseas based. Had to offer it up to keep continuity in the team.

Fourie du Preez making a come back too. Talks of having him play on till the 2015 world cup.

matthew8

Backline without overseas players:
9. Van Zyl
10. Steyn
11. Basson
12. De Villiers
13. De Jongh
14. Engelbrecht
15. Le Roux

That's a shocking backline, overseas players totally necessary. It's crazy how despite getting big crowds and presumably big money from attendances in the S15, that the SARU is so poor at keeping players in the country.

Jacovs

Steyn is overseas based now too.

Swiwi.

pickarooney wrote: »

Why does he reckon the new laws will benefit NZ?

There seems to be an implication that the SA props will be found out under the news, as technique will have more importance than brute force. I'm not really sure if there is any evidence to support this, and obviously he was writing for a NZ audience, but he is a scrumming expert, so maybe he has seen something in the SA props indicating a weakness.