Sydney start: All Blacks
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New Zealand will begin their Rugby Championship title defence away to Australia when the tournament kicks off on August 17.
The first Bledisloe Cup match will take place at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, with South Africa entertaining Argentina in Bloemfontein.
The reverse fixtures will take place seven days later - with the Wallabies travelling to Wellington and the Pumas hosting the Boks to Mendoza.
That will be the first of three successive home games for the All Blacks - with Argentina taking on the World Cup winners at Waikato Stadium on September 7 before South Africa visit Eden Park.
SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said it was exciting to release the draw for the Rugby Championship as Test rugby closed out for the year.
"In 2012 we saw The Rugby Championship played for the first time, welcoming the Pumas into the fold alongside the original Tri-Nations teams, which saw the All Blacks claim inaugural success with an unbeaten charge to the title," Peters said.
"The Rugby Championship will again feature the best teams in the world. With the recent End of Year Tests yielding 10 victories for our competing rugby nations.
"The Pumas claimed a historic win in Cardiff against Six Nations champions Wales, the Springboks went through Europe unbeaten, while the All Blacks and Wallabies won three of their four Tests."
Peters said that the new dimension that Argentina brought to The Rugby Championship was evident with the fan response through the six rounds.
"A total of over 16 million viewers tuned into the twelve Tests of The Rugby Championship and an average of 44,000 attended the matches, which saw stadiums at 91% capacity, with the 88,739 crowd that saw the All Blacks come back from a half time deficit to defeat the Springboks 32-16 at FNB Stadium in Soweto the most attended match of the season," Peters said.
"The first round of action, with the Wallabies playing the All Blacks in Sydney, and the Springboks hosting the Pumas in Bloemfontein, will have added spice considering the last time each of these two nations played - the result was an 18-18 and 16-16 draw respectively.
"We are also pleased to announce that the format for 2013 will be consistent with the recent season to enable Unions and fans to have certainty on which weekends matches will be played in their territories."
2013 Rugby Championship fixtures
August 17: Australia v New Zealand, ANZ Stadium, Sydney. South Africa v Argentina, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
August 24: New Zealand v Australia, Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Argentina v South Africa, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza.
September 7: Australia v South Africa, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. New Zealand v Argentina, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
September 14: Australia v Argentina, Patersons Stadium, Perth. New Zealand v South Africa, Eden Park, Auckland.
September 28: South Africa v Australia, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town. Argentina v New Zealand, Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata.
October 5: South Africa v New Zealand, Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg. Argentina v Australia, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario.
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Ahhhh, I dunno, what are you southern hem types like!?! It's simple. Ya ALL crooked if ya ask me.
*Wonders down to the pub for a pint, happy in the knowledge that I've settled the argument.*
Wait, what did you say?
Ball tampering? WHO MENTIONED BALL TAMPERING!?!?! Jeez! the ball was blatently not working properly. It's not ball tampering if the ball won't fly in a straight line! Graham Henry was in the dunedin crowd flying the ball about by remote control! Its a bleedin' conspiracy!!!!
Posted 17:17 20th February 2013
brands says...
@ BokCheater/BryceAvenger
Do you believe we are stupid enough to think you are two seperate people?
God made many creatures and no two the same, so goes for pillocks like you, Amen.
Posted 01:28 01st February 2013
kennyisgay says...
bokraverager, you've pushed it too far now lass with the husband part. No man in there right mind would marry such a thing... or is he a man? I bet he can't walk stairs can't he? Does he say anyhing other than goonie goo goo?
Posted 23:45 29th January 2013
BryceCheater says...
What happened to my post of yesterday . it seems as if dissenting opinions are moderated ( censored ) on this site . if you do not agree you do not get to post . THIS SITE IS JUST LIKE THE FIXED RWC 2011 . Someone out there is pulling the strings to prevent outside opinions from being published . If there is a problem then why not give others the chance to complain rather than just censoring posts as you see fit or is this site being run by a bunch of cowards .
Posted 07:06 29th January 2013
Ramage says...
It is sad reading such dribble from BokAvenger. If only that sad person realised that the continued imagined persecution of South Africa is all in the head. This lack of self esteem of the South African nation is there for all to see. While loudly bolstering the so called achievements of the said nation and accusing everyone else of being corrupt comes one who accepted a regime who introduced some of the most vile & repressive laws seen on this earth. Now it is one which is rated high in the corruption stakes of the world. Shame to see this as one can only praise the efforts made by many South Africans to break from those shackles.
BokAvenger your posts are not humerous they are pitiful and offensive to those of us who love the game of rugby.
Before you continue about so called corruption of officials be certain you look at the people who have run and are running the game in your own country. Before coming out and labelling people in other countries as corrupt.
Look at the Lous Leyt saga of gold watches, and the fact South Africa was able to swing those final games in 1995. This could lead many to assert that the corruption in that tournament was intense, Look at the recent debacle of the Lions.
Who the hell would pick Watson, one of the most corrupt modern referees, to have anything to do with any position of authority in any world rugby body. No one in their right mind would want a bar of him. If you honestly believe it was Paddy O' Brien who stopped him, then you are a joke. Paddy didn't have the power to stop Watson achieving any position. Watson saw to it himself. He was one of the most detested referees in World rugby and it was his own persona that made him unpopular in world rugby.
To all those sane & sensible supporters of rugby in Sth Africa my apologies for this rant I just want to give back an offensive reply to Bok Avenger. My first & last for 2013.
Posted 13:07 26th January 2013
7ton says...
Brycecheater or bokavenger (the same person perhaps) says " The WC trophy before 95 should be renamed the World minus Africa cup"
So are you saying SA should have been in the first two WCs despite the political system that existed there at the time?
Posted 23:58 23rd January 2013
BryceCheater says...
Bok avenger , finally there is somebody out there who is willing to take on the AB and Oz on their own message boards . Us Saffas have been taking the brunt of bad decisions , lop sided travelling schedules and all the while having to endure this while we are arguably the main reason why the Super rugby tournament and tri/ 4nations/ Championship is a financial success . the fact that SA has achieved so much success in such a short period of time should be commended . Awarding the WC to NZ didnt make any financial or commercial sense .
In fact ant WC trophy before 95 should be renamed the World minus Africa cup .
Posted 10:16 23rd January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@GoldenState: You're paying way too much attention to me. Better keep a sharp eye on Suzie the blow up sheep. Wouldn't want a dingo to eat your baby.
Posted 10:10 22nd January 2013
golden_statenba says...
@BA
"The trophy cabinet reads 2 World Cups in less than half the time it took NZ to do the same"
They in there now?
You don't get trophy's for 3rd and 6th
I thought you got all your come backs form your husband!
They were funny about 20 years ago...You are a bit behind the times like your past glory
Posted 18:49 21st January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@GoldenShower. The trophy cabinet reads 2 World Cups in less than half the time it took NZ to do the same. By the way, my husband says hi. Says he knows you're still hurt about the divorce but that he's much happier living with me. Besides, Suzie the blow up sheep and you make a nice match.
Posted 15:52 21st January 2013
golden_statenba says...
@BA
Your poor husband
"You on the other hand, probably have to make do with a blow up sheep wearing an AB jumper"
Better then a Bock one. Hows that trophy cabinet doing??
Now there is some puerile humour for you and I don't need to offend you.
There is a mirror in you bathroom for that my dear.
Posted 11:56 21st January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@GoldenShower I'm not sure if you somehow think that your puerile humour is supposed to offend me? However, if it really means that much to you I will inform you that I do not have a boyfriend and am instead happily married. You on the other hand, probably have to make do with a blow up sheep wearing an AB jumper.
Posted 10:12 21st January 2013
golden_statenba says...
@BA
You forgot to answer the question
"The amount of times I've sat watching a game with Aussies"
Your boyfriend know about this?
Posted 08:50 21st January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@GoldenShower: Yes, England are very frightening. They were particularly frightening when we beat them for the 11th time in a row in November. No crooked Aussie or Kiwi refs to bail them out.
Posted 07:23 21st January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@kennyisgay But you're perfectly okay with corrupt referees?
Posted 05:06 21st January 2013
Golden_statenba says...
@BA
"The amount of times I've sat watching a game with Aussies"
Your boyfriend know about this?
"And furthermore, in SA we actually marvel at the skill of Australian backline play"
I can see why
Not much to fear from your team right now ha?
England are more frightening right now!
Posted 21:43 20th January 2013
kennyisgay says...
BokAvenger... I wish you'd phone home and have ET come collect ya. We don't need your type corrupting our planet you ugly smelly creature
Posted 19:09 20th January 2013
BokAvenger says...
@Trinats2 Ha, ha ha ha ha. So you deride me as a conspiracy theorist but then hatch a conspiracy theory of your own: Aus only loses to NZ because of Saffa refs. HA HA HA HA HA HA.
From my experience most Australians don't have a clue about the rules of rugby. The amount of times I've sat watching a game with Aussies and they have absolutely no concept of why penalties are awareded when scrums are collapsed, people playing balls on the floor etc. Your average South African grandma knows more about the rules of rugby than your elite refs. Hell you lot even had to import a Kiwi drunkard to up your refereeing standards. You lot have no clue.
And furthermore, in SA we actually marvel at the skill of Australian backline play and many people think all SA backline coaches should be Aussie. What we don't like about your rugby is the penchant for deliberately collapsing scrums or cheating by crabbing etc. We also don't like the way you guys want to try and turn rugby into league. That's the only issue we have with your rugby.
Oh, and brands - since when do you speak for the world?
Posted 09:14 20th January 2013
brands says...
@cokavenger
Please go away
Sincerely
The world.
Posted 07:09 20th January 2013
Trinats2 says...
BokAvenger:
"The IRB is a South African free zone"
Explain the 1995 fix ? Or did SA just buy the refs with gold watches and holiday homes ! (Bevan) or they just poisoned the opposition ???
And you say IRB block Watson so have no SA influence, yet pick Joubert !!!
mate, you're going around in circles, have a brandy and coke or seven.
Try come from a country where rugby is not a main sport and have calls go against you time and time again. How many of the past 10 wins NZ have had over Aus with a Saffa ref.....answer..... 10, yet it's 2-1 to Aus with non saffa refs !!!! Not saying that Aus would have won them all but if there was a neutral ref, but maybe one.
Lets face it Saffas don't like Aus playing rugby it's only SA and NZ as far as you Saffas are concerned. I can see SA finishing third (maybe fourth), yet again this year which will pi$$ you off again.
Imagine if Australia took rugby seriously !!!
Posted 23:55 19th January 2013