The Rugby Championship to determine the REAL Champions of the Rugby, for 2024

[cashead]

Rugby Championship Squads

Argentina
Hookers
Agustín Creevy (Sale Sharks)
Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers)
Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan)

Props
Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Falcons)
Thomas Gallo (Benetton)
Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle)
Lucio Sordoni (Glasgow Warriors)
Mayco Vivas (Gloucester)

Locks
Efraín Elías (Toulouse)
Tomás Lavanini (Lyon OU)
Franco Molina (Dogos)
Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons)

Loose Forwards
Juan Martín González (Saracens)
Marcos Kremer (Clermont)
Pablo Matera (Mie Honda Heat)
Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan)
Bautista Pedemonte (Vannes)

Halfbacks
Lautaro Bazán (Rovigo Delta)
Gonzalo Bertranou (Cardiff Rugby)
Gonzalo García (Zebre Parma)

First five-eighths
Tomás Albornoz (Benetton)
Santiago Carreras (Gloucester)

Midfielders
Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse)
Lucio Cinti (Saracens)
Matías Moroni (Newcastle Falcons)
Matías Orlando (Miami Sharks)

Back Three Quarters
Martín Bogado (Highlanders)
Mateo Carreras (Bayonne)
Santiago Cordero (Connacht)
Bautista Delguy (Clermont)
Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse)



Australia
Hookers
Matt Faessler (Reds)
Josh Nasser (Reds)
Billy Pollard (Brumbies)

Props
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
Angus Bell (Waratahs)
Isaac Kailea (Rebels)
Zane Nonggorr (Reds)
James Slipper (Brumbies)
Taniela Tupou (Reds)

Locks
Angus Blyth (Reds)
Nick Frost (Brumbies)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels)
Jeremy Williams (Force)

Loose Forwards
Tom Hooper (Brumbies)
Luke Reimer (Brumbies)
Carlo Tizzano (Force)
Seru Uru (Reds)
Rob Valetini (Brumbies)
Harry Wilson (Reds)

Halfbacks
Jake Gordon (Waratahs)
Tate McDermott (Reds)
Nic White (Force)

First five-eighths
Ben Donaldson (Waratahs)
Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
Tom Lynagh (Reds)

Midfielders
Josh Flook (Reds)
Len Ikitau (Brumbies)
Hunter Paisami (Reds)
Hamish Stewart (Force)

Back Three Quarters
Filipo Daugunu (Rebels)
Max Jorgensen (Waratahs)
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels)
Marika Koroibete (Panasonic Wild Knights)
Dylan Pietsch (Waratahs)
Corey Toole (Brumbies)
Tom Wright (Brumbies)



New Zealand
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes/Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders/Canterbury)
George Bell (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Props
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders/Southland)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes/Tasman)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders/Canterbury)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes/Bay of Plenty)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues/Northland)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Captain, Crusaders/Tasman)
Tupou Vaa'i (Chiefs/Taranaki)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues/Auckland)
Sam Darry (Blues/Canterbury)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders/Tasman)
Sam Cane (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs/Waikato)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs/Waikato)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues/Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea (Vice-Captain, Moana Pasifika/Wellington
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs/North Harbour)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (Crusaders/Tasman)
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes/Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs/Waikato)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Blues/Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato)

Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (Vice-Captain, Hurricanes/Taranaki)
David Havili (Crusaders/Tasman)
Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes/Wellington)

Back Three Quarters
Caleb Clarke (Blues/Auckland)
Will Jordan (Crusaders/Tasman)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes/Wellington)
Stephen Perofeta (Blues/Taranaki)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders/Southland)
Mark Tele’a (Blues/North Harbour)



South Africa
Hookers
Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls)

Props
Thomas du Toit (Bath)
Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers)
Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls)

Locks
Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers)
Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)
Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)
RG Snyman (Leinster)

Loose Forwards
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Siya Kolisi (Captain, Racing 92)
Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls)

Halfbacks
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions)
Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Five-Eighths
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

Midfielders
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)

Back Three Quarters
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls)
Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath)
Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls)
Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

[cashead]

Fixtures

Round 1 - 10/8/2024
Australia 7-33 South Africa
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (England)

New Zealand 30-38 Argentina
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)


Round 2 - 17/8/2024
New Zealand 42-10 Argentina
Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Australia 12-30 South Africa
Optus Stadium, Perth
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)


Round 3 - 31/8/2024
South Africa vs New Zealand
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Argentina vs Australia
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)


Round 4 - 7/9/2024
South Africa vs New Zealand
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Argentina vs Australia
Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)


Round 5 - 21/9/2024
Australia vs New Zealand
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amushukeli (Georgia), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)

Argentina vs South Africa
Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)


Round 6 - 28/9/2024
New Zealand vs Australia
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

South Africa vs Argentina
Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

[morepork]

Boks just absolutely manhandled the Wobblies. Boo wingers are a joy to watch in full flight.

[morepork]

Quality Argentina. Nice action you bastards.

[J Dory]

Bring back Foster.

[morepork]

Bring back Cam Roigard. And another lock. Got to hand it to Argentina though. They are far too athletic on the counter when we try to get cute.

[cashead]

Roigard's injured.

As is Scott Barrett and Paddy Tuipulotu, who probably would've made a huge difference in the second half. Right now, the available stock is far too inexperienced.

The other issue is Damian Mackenzie, who really doesn't have the temperament required to operate under pressure.

Thought Ethan Blackadder was fucking garbage. He's incredibly lucky to be there. Dude's almost 30, has a skeleton made of glass, and has never been able to impose himself on a game, and frankly, was lucky not to eat a card.

[J Dory]

Agree Mackenzie, love him to bits, but I think Barrett should be 10. He's just a better 10. Good win Argies.

[morepork]

OK. A bit better.

[J Dory]

All is well in the world, brilliant coach that Robinson.

[cashead]

The ABs will probably have one or two more defeats this year, but that comes with the territory of bedding in new structures and systems.

They were looking good for about 20~30 minutes last week before they let the Argies back into the game and hit panic stations, resulting in them making hard work out of their exits. The curious lack of scrums also denied them a platform as well.

This week, you could see what they missed without the scrums.

Still some work to do, as they'd left about 2 tries or so out there, but I guess it was inevitable they'd go into cruise control in the second half, when the game was already won in the first 40.

[morepork]

WTF went down with Rangi?

[cashead]

Seems fairly straight forward. The attack wasn't consistent, and it appears there were some differing philosophies between Razor and Rangi, so Rangi has dropped out for the better of the team.

He'd still be a fairly highly regarded coach in his own right, but it just wasn't translating with what's in Razor's playbook.

[morepork]

You make it all sound so dreadfully civil.

[Mr Mwenda]

Has anyone ever seen Razor and Eddie Jones in the same room?

[morepork]

Has anyone ever seen Razor and Eddie Jones in the same room?

Just the last Take Your Ewok to Work event.

[morepork]

Here's to not getting pumped by the Meat Eaters

[morepork]

Fucking death by a thousand chips. They bombed it.

[paddy no 11]

Fucking death by a thousand chips. They bombed it.

Hardly strung 3 phases together the last 20 minutes

[cashead]

Pretty hard to, when the winning team has the "assisted by the ref" buff going on.

Seriously, defend this shit.

https://x.com/i/status/1829903956404826308

[paddy no 11]

Pretty hard to, when the winning team has the "assisted by the ref" buff going on.

Seriously, defend this shit.

https://x.com/i/status/1829903956404826308

Why would I want to defend that. I actually didn't see 1st 25 minutes did they show that angle at the time?

[cashead]

Pretty hard to, when the winning team has the "assisted by the ref" buff going on.

Seriously, defend this shit.

https://x.com/i/status/1829903956404826308

Why would I want to defend that. I actually didn't see 1st 25 minutes did they show that angle at the time?

It was being shown while they were lining up the conversion.

8 of the 11 points scored by the Boks in the first half were through poor officiating - the Mbonambi try, and later on, a penalty awarded to the Boks right after Wiese swatted the ball out of Perenara's hands while he was lying flat on his back in a ruck.

Further penalties were awarded, one against Finau when he was being held in a ruck and couldn't extricate himself, and another directly after a strip off of Sam Darry, who had his knee on the ground while being tackled - ie, establishing a ruck, but not being given a chance to place the ball on the ground, so therefore a penalty against Malcolm Marx.

[Cameo]

Great game, but unfortunately I would have to agree the ref got some big calls wrong. Would like to see a replay of the penalty leading to the NZ yellow card and SA try at the end too - on first look it seemed like a classic example of the counter-rucking team being held to a far higher standard than the one with the ball.

Anyway, liked the attack from NZ when they wemt for it. Too many chips late on as it felt like they could make ground ball in hand. I am also not convinced by their clearing kicks. Even apart from a stupid kick straight out from Barrett, it just felt they weren't going for enough on them.

[J Dory]

Good game, wasn't happy with the ref, but you need to take the ref out of the equation and we could have. I want to see the ABs run the ball more, that back line is brimming with speed, power, skill, put it through the hands. ABs should have won that, and by that i don't mean we was robbed, i mean, fuck, we should have won that. Would like to see a bit more risk with the selection, more impact/x factor off the bench. Promising signs though. Looking forward to the repeat.

[morepork]

Chipitis is spreading like COVID in a Florida airport. We need some interventive coaching therapy to combat it. That’s a few games now when we have given the ball away cheaply at the worst possible time and lost it. Credit to the Boks though. They just won’t go down.