The Rugby Championship

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s The Rugby Championship news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Eben Etzebeth has final word as Springboks claim crown

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock South Africa ……………….. 48pts Tries: Fassi 8, 33; du Toit 14, 73, Kolbe 38, Marx 69, Kriel 77 Conversions: Hendrikse 9, 15, […]

Next generation of All Blacks looks special – Sam Cane

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock New Zealand ………………. 33pts Tries: Reece 16, Jordan 22, Clarke 41, 64; Williams 55 Conversions: Barrett 23, 42, 56, 66 Australia ………………………. […]

Wallabies push All Blacks to the limit in thriller

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Australia………………………………………………. 28pts Tries: McReight 18, Faessler 36, Paisami 65, Wright 79 Conversions: Lolesio 19, 37, 66, 79 New Zealand………………………………………… 31pts Tries: Jordan […]

Too much of a good thing can be overkill

8 September 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED “People might think it’s arrogant,” said Rian Oberholzer, the chief executive of the Springbok domain, just the other day, “but we […]

Marx on parade to make it four in a row

8 September 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees South Africa ………………… 18pts Tries: Kolisi 48, Marx 73 Conversions: Pollard 49 Penalties: Pollard 31, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 54 New Zealand……………….. 12pts Penalties: McKenzie […]

When it really matters, Pollard gets the vote

8 September 2024 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher So in the week that we learnt a proper All Blacks tour of South Africa is likely in 2026, the two sides contested […]

Argentina embarrass Australia in record-breaking victory

7 September 2024 0 comments

By Joe Santamaria Just a week after a 20-19 victory appeared to reinforce Joe Schmidt’s modest Australian rebuild, they were humbled by a second-half Argentine […]

Round 1 to Boks in battle of the big beasts

1 September 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY South Africa ………………… 31pts Tries: Mbonambi 16, Smith 68, Williams 75 Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 69, 76 Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 29, 36, 46, 49 New […]

Once again, the world champs find a way to win

1 September 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER THE scoreline would suggest a classic for the ages, the exuberant commentary team sounded like they were going to explode and the capacity […]

Borthwick faces starting again

1 September 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE DEPARTURES OF FELIX JONES AND ALED WALTERS AND WONDERS WHAT IT MEANS FOR ENGLAND ONE of the most remarkable […]

It’s time to call for three-man scrum

25 August 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Uncontested scrums are a blight on the fifteens game, and my solution to get rid of them […]

Robertson needs to redress the balance

25 August 2024 0 comments

Chris Hewett Thinking allowed It was a cheap shot, admittedly, but only a pacifist or a fool would spurn the opportunity to kick the New […]

Stick or twist? The choice at 10

25 August 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks ahead to New Zealand’s heavyweight matches against world champions South Africa The Rugby Championship title could be decided in the next two […]

Classy Jordan shows the way as All Blacks get back in old routine

18 August 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY New Zealand………………. 42pts Tries: McKenzie 6, Savea 17, Clarke 24, Jordan 30, 42; B Barrett 36 Conversions: McKenzie 7, 18, 25, 31, […]

Savea: We need to produce the goods everywhere

18 August 2024 0 comments

NEW Zealand captain Ardie Savea warned his side they should not need a painful defeat to spur them into action. The All Blacks bounced back […]

Once again, Pumas fail to back it up

18 August 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Running riot: All Blacks No.8 Ardie Savea ONE of the most question able truisms in rugby is that wet weather is a great […]

Etzebeth glad to see the depth in squad

18 August 2024 0 comments

EBEN Etzebeth was delighted to secure back-toback victories and is eagerly anticipating their New Zealand showdown in a fortnight. Etzebeth, who stepped in as captain […]

Boks put on the burners to deck Aussies

18 August 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Australia………………………. 12pts Penalties: Lolesio 3, 21, 36, 47 South Africa …………………30pts Tries: Fassi 17, van Staden 43, Marx 63, 73 Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu […]

No scrums? No problem for Springboks

18 August 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER LAST week in Brisbane Pieter Steph Du Toit famously asked Luke Pearce: “Where’s the scrum?” when presented with a choice of three separate […]

Erasmus: We didn’t cherish ball and look after it like gold

11 August 2024 0 comments

AFTER easing past Australia with a phenomenal all-court game in Brisbane, South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus is expecting a reaction next week from the […]

Springboks open box of tricks as they leave Wallabies at the gate

11 August 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Australia………………………… 7pts Tries: Paisami 76 Conversions: Lynagh 77 South Africa ……………….. 33pts Tries: Kolisi 10, du Toit 24, Arendse 35, 64; Smith […]

Whisper it, but these Boks may deserve our love

11 August 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER THERE are many of you out there, often to be found in the noisy corner of X, who don’t think back-to-back world champions […]

Savea: We need to get it right next time

11 August 2024 0 comments

NEW Zealand captain Ar-die Savea admitted their performance wasn’t “up to All Black standard” and hopes the pain of just their third ever defeat to […]

Argentina grab their chance to stun New Zealand

11 August 2024 0 comments

■ By BEN JAYCOCK New Zealand ………………..30pts Tries: Darry 15, Lienert-Brown 35, Tele’a 52 Conversions: McKenzie 16, 36, 53 Penalties: McKenzie 12, 27, 47 Argentina […]

Creevy & Co show England how it’s done

11 August 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER ANEW Pumas generation is beginning to flex their muscles, but it was the veteran Gus Creevy, 40 next birthday, who got them over […]

Jeremy Guscott: Current All Blacks lack the fear factor

4 August 2024 0 comments

New Zealand don’t carry the same fear factor that they had in the 2011-2015 era going into this season’s Rugby Championship.

‘Immortal’ Whitelock to retire

7 April 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON NEW Zealand’s mostcapped player Sam Whitelock will retire at the end of the French club season in June. The lock, who played […]

Sanzaar miss chance to inject new blood

31 March 2024 0 comments

The 2024 Six Nations has been lauded in the southern hemisphere for its sensational quality and entertainment – which has not always been the case. […]

Beware this move to 15-a-side Rollerball

24 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IF THE Six Nations failed to meet expectations, it was in a good way. Italy’s knee-clenching World Cup humiliation turned out […]

Global 20-minute red card

17 March 2024 0 comments

SANZAAR want the 20-minute red card to be introduced worldwide with the motion set to be voted on in May. Chief executive Brendan Morris attended […]

Come on, Joe! Time to pay attention

10 March 2024 0 comments

JOE Schmidt, the recently-appointed coach of a Wallaby vintage who wear the same colours as Matthew Burke, David Campese, Tim Horan and John Eales but […]

Erasmus to take Springboks through to 2027

6 February 2024 0 comments

Rassie Erasmus will return as head coach of South Africa through to the next Rugby World Cup after the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. […]

24-team World Cup, Nations Cup and global calendar confirmed by World Rugby

24 October 2023 0 comments

World Rugby have announced there will be a new international league competition included in a global calendar from 2026, with a 24-team World Cup given […]

We let everybody down out there, admits devastated prop Bell

30 July 2023 0 comments

A DEVASTATED Angus Bell said the Wallabies had let Australia down after another miserable night in front of a huge crowd in Melbourne. Loosehead Bell […]

All Blacks pull Wallabies apart

30 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Australia………………………… 7pts Tries: Valetini 7 Conversions: Gordon 8 New Zealand ……………… 38pts Tries: Frizell 3, Taylor 34, Jordan 42, Clarke 59, Telea […]

Summer Tests use ‘Bunker’ review system

30 July 2023 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA A FOUL play Television Match Official ‘Bunker’ review system is one of a number of innovations set to be used during the World […]

Argentina send out World Cup warning

30 July 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES South Africa ……………….. 22pts Tries: Etzebeth 19, de Allende 26, Libbok 69 Conversions: Libbok 27, 70 Penalties: Libbok 12 Argentina ……………………..21pts Tries: […]

The Rugby Championship final round preview

28 July 2023 0 comments

A resurgent New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to retain The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, but Eddie Jones’ Australia will be desperate to throw a […]

Mo’unga in control as All Blacks look in the mood for World Cup

16 July 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER New Zealand………………. 35pts Tries: Smith 4, Frizzell 15, Jordan 68, Mounga 76 Conversions: Mo’unga 4, 16, 69 Penalties: Mo’unga 10, 37, 60 […]

‘Any win over SA is special’

16 July 2023 0 comments

NEW Zealand coach Ian Foster said it was another step forward as his side held off the second-half fightback to seal victory. “There were a […]

Misery for Jones as Argentina snatch it

16 July 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Australia……………………….31pts Tries: Ikitau 4, White 52, Kerevi 71, Nawaqaniawase 75 Conversions: Cooper 5, 53, 72, 76 Penalties: Cooper 12 Argentina ……………………. 34pts […]

Eddie: There’s going to be pain

16 July 2023 0 comments

EDDIE Jones insists his winless Australia can get themselves back on track against unbeaten New Zealand in Melbourne at the end of the month. The […]

Arendse piles the misery on Jones

9 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK South Africa ……………….. 43pts Tries: Arendse 16, 30, 51, Penalty 54, 68, PS du Toit Conversions: Libbok 17, 31, 76 Penalties: Libbok […]

‘We just got beaten to the punch all day’

9 July 2023 0 comments

Australian coach Eddie Jones admitted his side were second best in most areas in their heavy defeat to South Africa. He said: “We just got […]

Jones: We must be multi-dimensional

2 July 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES The last peak scaled by England under Jones was in Australia last summer when they came from one down to clinch the […]

Five Falcons are chosen in Argentina squad

2 July 2023 0 comments

Named: Mateo Carreras FIVE Newcastle Falcons have been named in Argentina’s training squad as they prepare for the upcoming Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup. […]

Kremer blow for Argentina

25 June 2023 0 comments

Los Pumas are set to be without banned backrower Marcos Kremer for the entire Rugby Championship campaign. Kremer has been banned for five games for […]

Tupou on track to return for Wallabies

25 June 2023 0 comments

Wallabies star prop Taniela Tupou is on track to make his return from injury against the Springboks in their Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld […]

Nienaber keeps faith with World Cup stars

25 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH Africa’s squad preparing for the Rugby Championship contains 19 players who were involved in the 2019 World Cup final […]