Rugby Union Today: Rugby Championship team news

Adam Kyriacou
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Another busy day in the rugby union game as the four Rugby Championship sides named their teams for this weekend’s encounters.

What’s on the site

The teams were named for the Rugby Championship games on Saturday as New Zealand made four changes to their starting line-up against South Africa, while the Springboks brought Francois Louw in at number eight.

In the other contest, Bernard Foley returns to the Australia XV at fly-half, with Kurtley Beale moving to centre, leaving Matt Toomua to sit on the replacements bench. Argentina have also made alterations as Ramiro Moyano and Matias Orlando come into the first team.

As part of the build-up, we have a betting preview for those two matches, where we look at the best odds.

Finally, it is not just about the southern hemisphere’s premier competition as the Premiership and PRO14 continues, and we have looked ahead to Friday’s action.

What’s in the news

Exeter Chiefs has suffered a blow after it was confirmed that capped England back-rower Sam Simmonds would be out of action for a lengthy period.

Elsewhere, Connacht have decided not to sign Waikato’s Sevu Reece after the wing was fined following a domestic violence incident, which saw his girlfriend sustain injuries to her face, waist and knee.

What’s on social media

Danny Cipriani, to the shock of many, was not included in the recent England training squad and, to add further pressure on Eddie Jones, the Gloucester fly-half has now been named as the Premiership Player of the Month.

What’s on TV

Sky Sports will be showing Round Six of the Rugby Championship which sees South Africa host New Zealand before Argentina face Australia. The same network also televises the Mitre 10 Cup and Top 14.

BT Sport will show four Premiership games this weekend with Bath v Exeter Chiefs kicking things off on Friday at the Rec. Finally Premier Sports will again bring you all of the PRO14 action this weekend.

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