2013 Rugby Championship
Date | 17 August 2013 – 5 October 2013 |
---|---|
Countries |
Argentina Australia New Zealand South Africa |
Final positions | |
Champions | New Zealand (2nd title) |
Bledisloe Cup | New Zealand |
Freedom Cup | New Zealand |
Mandela Challenge Plate | South Africa |
Puma Trophy | Australia |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 12 |
Tries scored | 66 (5.5 per match) |
Attendance | 488,113 (40,676 per match) |
Top scorer(s) | Morné Steyn (88) |
Most tries | Ben Smith (8) |
← 2012 2014 → |
The 2013 Rugby Championship, known as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship in Australia and The Personal Rugby Championship in Argentina for sponsorship reasons, was the second edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere championship consisting of Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. New Zealand as the 2012 holders, was trying to keep their 100% winning record in the championship after winning six from six in 2012.
The Championship began on 17 August with Australia hosting New Zealand at the ANZ Stadium and South Africa hosting Argentina at the FNB Stadium. The South Africa vs Argentina match was originally meant to be held at the Free State Stadium, but it was moved to the FNB to form a unique sports programme – Nelson Mandela Sports Day – in honour of Nelson Mandela.[1]
The Championship concluded with South Africa hosting New Zealand at the Coca-Cola Park and Argentina hosting Australia at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. Argentina were the only nation to reuse the same venues from 2012.[2]
The Championship was retained by New Zealand after a 38-27 win against South Africa in Ellis Park on 5 October, keeping their 100% winning record in the championship.[3][4][5][6]
Standings
Place | Nation | Games | Points | Bonus points |
Table points | ||||||
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Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference | 4 Tries | 7 Point Loss | |||
1 | New Zealand | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 115 | +87 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
2 | South Africa | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 203 | 117 | +86 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
3 | Australia | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 133 | 153 | -20 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
4 | Argentina | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 88 | 224 | -136 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Fixtures
Round 1
Australia | 29–47 | New Zealand |
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Try: Genia 37' c O'Connor 79' c Con: Lealiifano (2/2) 33', 81' Pen: Lealiifano (5/5) 7', 12', 22', 27', 46' Mogg (0/1) |
Report | Try: B. Smith (3) 2' c, 56' m, 71' c Cruden 28' c McCaw 31' m C. Smith 51' c Con: Cruden (3/5) 4', 29', 52' Barrett (1/1) 72' Pen: Cruden (3/3) 19', 40', 65' |
Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Matt Toomua, Scott Sio, Scott Fardy, Tevita Kuridrani and Nic White made their debuts for Australia, with Toomua being the first Wallaby to make his debut against New Zealand in the starting XV since Rod Kafer in 1999.
- Ryan Crotty made his debut for New Zealand.
- New Zealand recorded a 100 test victories against Australia, making them the first ever team to record a century of victories over a single nation.
- With McCaw's try, he becomes the first New Zealand forward to score 100 test points.
South Africa | 73–13 | Argentina |
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Try: Penalty try 29' c Engelbrecht 32' c Strauss 45' c Alberts 52' m De Villiers 55' c Du Preez 62' c Habana 65' c Vermeulen 69' c B. du Plessis 75' c Con: Steyn (8/9) 30', 33', 47', 55', 63', 67', 70', 76' Pen: Steyn (4/4) 5', 9', 18', 37' |
Report | Try: Contepomi 79' c Con: Contepomi (1/1) 80' Pen: Contepomi (2/2) 16', 22' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- With this win, South Africa records their biggest winning margin over Argentina of 60. It was previously 54 which they held from 2008.
- South Africa records the biggest winning margin in either the Rugby Championship or Tri Nations. It was previously held by Australia in 2006 following a 49-0 victory over South Africa
Round 2
New Zealand | 27–16 | Australia |
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Try: B. Smith (2) 26' c, 39' m Con: Taylor (1/2) 27' Pen: Taylor (4/6) 36', 53', 60', 69' Dagg (1/1) 75' |
Report | Try: Folau 71' c Con: Lealiifano (1/1) 72' Pen: Lealiifano (3/4) 7', 25', 57' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Tom Taylor made his debut for New Zealand.
- Tony Woodcock became the fourth New Zealand player to earn 100 test caps.
- With this win, New Zealand retains the Bledisloe Cup.[7]
Argentina | 17–22 | South Africa |
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Try: Leguizamón 1' c Bosch 36' c Con: Contepomi (2/2) 2', 37' Pen: Contepomi (1/2) 10' Bosch (0/1) |
Report | Try: Basson 13' c Con: Steyn (1/1) 14' Pen: Steyn (5/5) 8', 40', 45', 71', 80' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- With this win, South Africa record their first away win in The Rugby Championship
- Bismarck du Plessis earned his 50th cap for South Africa.
Round 3
New Zealand | 28–13 | Argentina |
---|---|---|
Try: A. Smith (2) 23' c, 26' m Savea 53' c Con: Carter (2/3) 25', 54' Pen: Carter (2/4) 10', 49' Barrett (1/1) 74' |
Report | Try: Leguizamón 4' c Con: Sánchez (1/1) 5' Pen: Sánchez (2/3) 30', 52' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- During the match, Dan Carter became the first player to pass 1400 international test points.
- Francis Saili made his debut for New Zealand (All Black number 1126).
Australia | 12–38 | South Africa |
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Pen: Lealiifano (4/4) 8', 22', 43', 52' |
Report | Try: Oosthuizen 5' c De Villiers 59' m Kirchner 65' c Le Roux 68' c Con: Steyn (3/4) 5', 67', 69' Pen: Steyn (4/5) 13', 28', 34', 49' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Australia captain James Horwill was selected in the starting XV, but was withdrawn ahead of the match with a hamstring injury.[8] Jake Schatz could have made his debut of the bench, but was ruled out hours before kick off with a knee injury.[9]
- First win for South Africa at Suncorp Stadium and the first in Brisbane since 1971.
- The victory marks the biggest ever winning margin by South Africa over Australia in Australia.
Round 4
New Zealand | 29–15 | South Africa |
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Try: Read (2) 3' c, 45' c Retallick 21' c Cane 67' m Con: Carter (1/1) 4' Barrett (2/3) 22', 46' Pen: Barrett (1/2) 34' |
Report | Try: B. du Plessis 31' c Lambie 75' m Con: Steyn (1/2) 32' Pen: Steyn (1/2) 9' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- New Zealand retain the Freedom Cup.
- Owen Franks earned his 50th test cap playing for New Zealand.
Australia | 14–13 | Argentina |
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Try: Folau 27' m Con: Lealiifano (0/1) Pen: Lealiifano (3/5) 11', 16', 40' |
Report | Try: Leguizamón 64' c Con: Hernández (1/1) 65' Pen: Sánchez (2/3) 7', 60' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Brumbies captain Ben Mowen became the 80th test captain for the Wallabies on just his 7th test.
- Australia retain the Puma Trophy.
- First match Australia has failed to score points in the second half since the home test v New Zealand in 2005.
- Juan Manuel Leguizamón earned his 50th test cap playing for Argentina.
Round 5
South Africa | 28–8 | Australia |
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Try: Strauss 12' c Kirchner 14' c Le Roux 71' m Con: Steyn (2/3) 13', 15' Pen: Steyn (3/3) 8', 18', 31' |
Report | Try: Feauai-Sautia 77' Con: Cooper (0/1) Pen: Lealiifano (1/1) 6' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Fly-half Morné Steyn and prop Jannie du Plessis earned their 50th caps.
- Australia winger Chris Feauai-Sautia made his international debut at the age of 19, and scored his first international try.
- South Africa claim the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2009.[10]
Argentina | 15–33 | New Zealand |
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Pen: Sánchez (4/5) 8', 15', 30', 63' Bosch (1/2) 43' |
Report | Try: Savea 22' m Cane 51' m B. Smith (2) 55' c, 79' c Con: Cruden (1/3) 55' Barrett (1/1) 80' Pen: Cruden (3/3) 12', 27', 45' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Round 6
South Africa | 27–38 | New Zealand |
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Try: Habana (2) 17' c, 19' m Le Roux 46' c De Villiers 57' m Con: Steyn (2/4) 18', 47' Pen: Steyn (1/1) 9' |
Report | Try: B. Smith 11' c Messam (2) 25' c, 40' c Barrett 60' c Read 64' c Con: Cruden (3/3) 12', 25', 40' Barrett (2/2) 61', 65' Pen: Barrett (1/1) 54' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- South African Tendai Mtawarira earns his 50th test cap.
- Franco van der Merwe made his international debut for South Africa.
- Ben Smith scored his 8th try of the tournament, a new record in either the Rugby Championship / Tri Nations.
- New Zealand centre pairing Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu surpass the 50 starts shared by Ireland pair Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy to become the most-capped centre pairing.[11]
Argentina | 17–54 | Australia |
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Try: Bosch 36' c Landajo 48' c Con: Sánchez (2/2) 37', 48' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 28' |
Report | Try: Folau (3) 2' c, 34' c, 41' c Ashley-Cooper 32' m Tomane 63' m Robinson 73' c Foley 78' c Con: Lealiifano (2/3) 3', 35' Cooper (1/2) 42' Foley (2/2) 74', 79' Pen: Lealiifano (2/2) 24', 30' Cooper (1/1) 55' |
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Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
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Notes:
- Bernard Foley made his international debut for Australia, and scored his first international try.
- Felipe Contepomi made his final appearance for Argentina.
- First bonus point win for Australia in The Rugby Championship, and the most points scores in either the Rugby Championship / Tri Nations
Warm-up matches
On 3 August and 9 August, Argentina played two uncapped matches against a New South Wales Waratahs Barbarians team in La Plata and in Salta in preparation for the tournament. The NSW Barbarians was composed of 21 Waratahs players (mostly players not involved in the Australian set-up for the championship) and 13 Shute Shield players.[12]
3 August 2013 | Argentina | 29–27 | NSW Barbarians | La Plata Rugby Club, La Plata | ||
18:40 ART (UTC-3) | Try: Agulla 2' c Creevy 63' m, 66' m Con: Hernández (1/3) 3' Pen: Hernández (2/4) 26', 55' Sánchez (2/2) 75', 80' |
Report (In Spanish) |
Try: Kepu 5' c, 40' m Betham 46' m Mitchell 60' c Con: McKibbin (2/4) 40', 61' Pen: Foley (1/2) 77' |
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina) |
9 August 2013 | Argentina | 58–12 | NSW Barbarians | Estadio Padre Martearena, Salta | ||
20:10 ART (UTC-3) | Try: Landajo 7' c Camacho 24' c, 69' c Imhoff 29' m Tuculet 34' c Leguizamón 59' c Agulla 73' c Matera 77' m Con: Contepomi (2/2) 8', 35' Hernández (1/2) 25' Sánchez (3/4) 60', 70', 74' Pen: Contepomi (1/2) 5' Hernández (1/1) 13' |
Report (In Spanish) |
Try: Horwitz 41' m Holloway 75' c Con: McKibbin (1/2) 76' |
Referee: Juan Hernán Sylvestre (Argentina) |
Squads
Summary
Nation | Match venues | Head coach | Captain | ||
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Name | City | Capacity | |||
Argentina | Estadio Ciudad de La Plata | La Plata | 53,000 | Santiago Phelan | Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe Felipe Contepomi[N 1] |
Estadio Gigante de Arroyito | Rosario | 41,654 | |||
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas | Mendoza | 40,268 | |||
Australia | ANZ Stadium | Sydney | 84,000 | Ewen McKenzie | James Horwill Will Genia[N 2] Ben Mowen[N 3] |
Suncorp Stadium | Brisbane | 52,500 | |||
Subiaco Oval | Perth | 43,500 | |||
New Zealand | Eden Park | Auckland | 50,000 | Steve Hansen | Richie McCaw Kieran Read[N 4] |
Westpac Stadium | Wellington | 36,000 | |||
Waikato Stadium | Hamilton | 25,800 | |||
South Africa | FNB Stadium | Johannesburg | 94,736 | Heyneke Meyer | Jean de Villiers |
Coca-Cola Park | Johannesburg | 62,567 | |||
Newlands Stadium | Cape Town | 51,900 |
- ↑ Captain Fernández Lobbe was ruled out of the opening two fixtures due to a calf injury, and with his absence, Contepomi was given captaincy for this fixture.[13]
- ↑ Captain James Horwill was ruled out of rounds 3 and 4 with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Will Genia became captain for round 3.[14]
- ↑ Stand-in captain Will Genia was selected on the bench for round 4, and Ben Mowen became captain for this fixture.[15]
- ↑ Captain McCaw was ruled out of rounds 4 and 5 due to an injury. In his absence, Kieran Read became captain.[16]
Note: Ages, Caps and Clubs are off the starting date of the tournament (17 August 2013).
Argentina
Argentina 30-man Squad for the Championship was announced on 25 June.[17][18]
Tomás Lavanini was added to the squad to cover the second row.[19]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
AustraliaAustralia 30-man squad for the Championship, including 8 uncapped players and the re-call of Fly Half Quade Cooper.[20] With captain James Horwill ruled out of round's 3 and 4 and with Hugh McMeniman also out injured, Sitaleki Timani was brought into the squad as cover for the second row,[8] but kept his place in the squad for the final two rounds. Dave Dennis was added to the squad to replace Jake Schatz who was ruled out of the championship after picking up an injury in training ahead of round 3.[21] Benn Robinson and Chris Feauai-Sautia were added to the squad for the away fixtures against South Africa and Argentina, with Nick Cummins and Jesse Mogg withdrawn from the squad due to injury.[22][23] James O'Connor was removed from the squad on 20 September following an off-field incident that occurred following the Wallabies win over Argentina in round 4. Uncapped player Peter Betham was called in as his replacement.[24] Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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