The 2018 Rugby Championship was the seventh edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, featuring Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The competition is operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions.
The tournament continued to use the same sequence of games across the schedule, starting on 18 August with Australia hosting reigning champions New Zealand and South Africa hosting Argentina, and ending after eight weeks (six rounds and two bye weeks) on 6 October when New Zealand visited South Africa and Australia played in Argentina.
New Zealand won the Championship for the sixth time after a 35-17 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on 29 September.
Background The tournament is operated by SANZAAR and known for sponsorship reasons as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship in Australia, and The Personal Rugby Championship in Argentina.
Format The format for the 2018 tournament retained the previous Championship format that changed in 2017. Each side played the other once at home, and once away, giving a total of six matches each, and twelve in total. A win earned a team four league points, a draw two league points, and a loss by eight or more points zero league points. A bonus point was earned in one of two ways: by scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match, or by losing within seven points. The competition winner was the side with the most points at the end of the tournament.
Table
Results Round 1
FB 15Israel Folau RW 14Dane Haylett-Petty OC 13Reece HodgeIC 12Kurtley BealeLW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Will Genia N8 8 David PocockOF 7 Michael Hooper (c) BF 6 Lukhan TuiRL 5 Adam ColemanLL 4 Izack Rodda TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Tom Robertson Replacements:HK 16Tolu Latu PR 17Allan Alaalatoa PR 18Jermaine Ainsley LK 19Rob Simmons FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Nick Phipps FH 22Matt To'omua WG 23Jack Maddocks Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Ben SmithRW 14Waisake NaholoOC 13Jack GoodhueIC 12Ryan Crotty LW 11Rieko Ioane FH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran Read (c)OF 7 Sam Cane BF 6 Liam Squire RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Joe Moody Replacements:HK 16Nathan Harris PR 17Tim Perry PR 18Karl Tu’inukuafe LK 19Scott Barrett FL 20Ardie Savea SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Damian McKenzie CE 23Anton Lienert-Brown Coach: Steve Hansen Man of the Match: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Luke Pearce (England) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Jermaine Ainsley and Jack Maddocks (both Australia) and Tim Perry (New Zealand) made their international debuts. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) became the eighth and youngest ever All Black to earn his 100th test cap.
FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Makazole MapimpiOC 13Lukhanyo Am IC 12André Esterhuizen LW 11Aphiwe Dyantyi FH 10Handré PollardSH 9 Faf de KlerkN8 8 Warren WhiteleyOF 7 Siya Kolisi (c)BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 Pieter-Steph du ToitLL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Bongi Mbonambi PR 17Steven Kitshoff PR 18Thomas du Toit LK 19Marvin OrieFL 20Marco van Staden SH 21Embrose Papier CE 22Lionel Mapoe FH 23Damian Willemse Coach: Rassie Erasmus FB 15Emiliano BoffelliRW 14Bautista DelguyOC 13Matías MoroniIC 12Bautista Ezcurra LW 11Ramiro MoyanoFH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou N8 8 Javier Ortega DesioOF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Matías Alemanno LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Diego Fortuny PR 17Santiago García Botta PR 18Santiago Medrano LK 19Tomás Lavanini FL 20Tomás Lezana SH 21Martín Landajo CE 22Santiago González Iglesias FB 23Juan Cruz MalliaCoach: Mario Ledesma Man of the Match: Aphiwe Dyantyi (South Africa)
Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Andrew Brace (Ireland) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Notes: Marco van Staden and Damian Willemse (both South Africa) and Diego Fortuny (Argentina) made their international debuts. Pablo Matera (Argentina) earned his 50th test cap.
Round 2
FB 15Jordie Barrett RW 14Ben SmithOC 13Jack Goodhue IC 12Ngani LaumapeLW 11Waisake NaholoFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran Read (c)OF 7 Sam Cane BF 6 Liam Squire RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Joe Moody Replacements:HK 16Nathan Harris PR 17Karl Tu’inukuafe PR 18Ofa Tu'ungafasi LK 19Scott Barrett FL 20Ardie Savea SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Damian McKenzie CE 23Anton Lienert-Brown Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Dane Haylett-Petty RW 14Jack MaddocksOC 13Reece HodgeIC 12Kurtley BealeLW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Bernard Foley SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 David PocockOF 7 Michael Hooper (c) BF 6 Lukhan TuiRL 5 Adam ColemanLL 4 Izack Rodda TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Tom Robertson PR 18Sekope Kepu LK 19Rob Simmons FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Nick Phipps FH 22Matt To'omua FB 23Tom Banks Coach: Michael Cheika Man of the Match: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Luke Pearce (England) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Folau Fainga'a and Tom Banks (both Australia) made their international debuts. Owen Franks (New Zealand) became the ninth ever All Black to earn his 100th test cap. New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup.
FB 15Emiliano Boffelli RW 14Bautista DelguyOC 13Matías MoroniIC 12Bautista Ezcurra LW 11Ramiro Moyano FH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou N8 8 Javier Ortega DesioOF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Facundo Bosch PR 17Santiago García Botta PR 18Santiago Medrano LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Tomás Lezana SH 21Tomás Cubelli CE 22Jerónimo de la Fuente FB 23Juan Cruz Mallia Coach: Mario Ledesma FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Makazole Mapimpi OC 13Lukhanyo AmIC 12André Esterhuizen LW 11Aphiwe DyantyiFH 10Handré PollardSH 9 Faf de KlerkN8 8 Warren Whiteley OF 7 Siya Kolisi (c)BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Bongi Mbonambi PR 17Steven Kitshoff PR 18Wilco Louw LK 19RG Snyman LK 20Pieter-Steph du Toit SH 21Embrose PapierCE 22Lionel Mapoe FH 23Damian Willemse Coach: Rassie Erasmus Man of the Match: Guido Petti (Argentina)
Touch judges: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Andrew Brace (Ireland) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Notes: Facundo Bosch (Argentina) made his international debut. This is Argentina's largest winning margin over South Africa, surpassing the 12-point difference set in 2015.
Round 3
FB 15Ben Smith RW 14Nehe Milner-SkudderOC 13Jack GoodhueIC 12Ngani Laumape LW 11Waisake Naholo FH 10Richie Mo'ungaSH 9 TJ Perenara N8 8 Kieran Read (c) OF 7 Ardie SaveaBF 6 Shannon FrizellRL 5 Scott BarrettLL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe Replacements:HK 16Nathan Harris PR 17Tim Perry PR 18Ofa Tu'ungafasi LK 19Sam Whitelock N8 20Luke Whitelock SH 21Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi FH 22Damian McKenzie CE 23Anton Lienert-Brown Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Emiliano Boffelli RW 14Bautista DelguyOC 13Matías Moroni IC 12Jerónimo de la FuenteLW 11Ramiro MoyanoFH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Javier Ortega DesioOF 7 Marcos KremerBF 6 Tomás Lezana RL 5 Tomás LavaniniLL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Santiago García Botta Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Juan Pablo Zeiss PR 18Gaston Cortes LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Pablo Matera SH 21Tomás Cubelli CE 22Bautista EzcurraFB 23Juan Cruz Mallia Coach: Mario Ledesma Man of the Match: TJ Perenara (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Nic Berry (Australia) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (New Zealand) and Juan Pablo Zeiss (Argentina) made their international debuts.
FB 15Dane Haylett-PettyRW 14Jack Maddocks OC 13Reece Hodge IC 12Matt To'omuaLW 11Marika Koroibete FH 10Kurtley BealeSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Pete SamuOF 7 Michael Hooper (c)BF 6 Lukhan TuiRL 5 Izack Rodda LL 4 Rory Arnold TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Tom Robertson PR 18Taniela Tupou LK 19Rob Simmons FL 20Ned Hanigan SH 21Joe PowellFH 22Bernard Foley FB 23Tom Banks Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Makazole Mapimpi OC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Aphiwe DyantyiFH 10Elton Jantjies SH 9 Faf de KlerkN8 8 Warren Whiteley OF 7 Pieter-Steph du ToitBF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)RL 5 Franco MostertLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi LP 1 Steven Kitshoff Replacements:HK 16Malcolm Marx PR 17Tendai Mtawarira PR 18Wilco Louw LK 19RG Snyman LK 20Francois Louw SH 21Embrose PapierCE 22Handré Pollard FB 23Cheslin Kolbe Coach: Rassie Erasmus Man of the Match: Matt To'omua (Australia)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Paul Williams (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) made his international debut. Australia retain the Mandela Challenge Plate.
Round 4
FB 15Jordie Barrett RW 14Ben SmithOC 13Anton Lienert-Brown IC 12Ryan CrottyLW 11Rieko IoaneFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran Read (c)OF 7 Sam Cane BF 6 Liam Squire RL 5 Scott BarrettLL 4 Sam WhitelockTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe Replacements:HK 16Liam Coltman PR 17Tim Perry PR 18Ofa Tu'ungafasi LK 19Patrick Tuipulotu FL 20Ardie Savea SH 21TJ Perenara CE 22Jack Goodhue FH 23Damian McKenzie Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Willie le Roux RW 14Jesse KrielOC 13Lukhanyo Am IC 12Damian de Allende LW 11Aphiwe DyantyiFH 10Handré PollardSH 9 Faf de KlerkN8 8 Warren WhiteleyOF 7 Pieter-Steph du ToitBF 6 Siya Kolisi (c) RL 5 Franco MostertLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Steven Kitshoff Replacements:HK 16Bongi Mbonambi PR 17Tendai Mtawarira PR 18Wilco Louw LK 19RG Snyman LK 20Francois Louw SH 21Ross CronjéCE 22Elton Jantjies FB 23Cheslin Kolbe Coach: Rassie Erasmus Man of the Match: Handré Pollard (South Africa)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Nic Berry (Australia) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) South Africa recorded their first win against New Zealand in New Zealand since their 32–29 win in 2009.
FB 15Dane Haylett-PettyRW 14Israel FolauOC 13Reece HodgeIC 12Matt To'omua LW 11Marika Koroibete FH 10Kurtley BealeSH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Pete Samu OF 7 David Pocock (c)BF 6 Lukhan TuiRL 5 Izack Rodda LL 4 Rory Arnold TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Sekope Kepu PR 18Taniela Tupou LK 19Adam Coleman FL 20Ned Hanigan SH 21Nick Phipps FH 22Bernard Foley WG 23Jack Maddocks Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Emiliano Boffelli RW 14Bautista DelguyOC 13Matías MoroniIC 12Jerónimo de la Fuente LW 11Ramiro Moyano FH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Gonzalo BertranouN8 8 Javier Ortega DesioOF 7 Marcos Kremer BF 6 Pablo MateraRL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Santiago Medrano HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Santiago García Botta PR 18Juan Pablo Zeiss LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Juan Manuel Leguizamón SH 21Martín LandajoCE 22Bautista Ezcurra FB 23Juan Cruz Mallia Coach: Mario Ledesma Man of the Match: Nicolás Sánchez (Argentina)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Paul Williams (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Argentina recorded their first win against Australia in Australia since their 18–3 win in 1983. This win saw Argentina achieved two wins in a single Rugby Championship for the first time.