The Rugby Championship by the Numbers: Ranking Permutations and Historical Head to Head Records
Round 5 of the Rugby Championship kicks off early Thursday morning on the west coast, 2:40am PT with Australia v NZ. The Argentina v South Africa games is on Saturday at 12pm PT. Both games are streamed live on TSN.
The competition is the closest it has been in years. All teams have 2-2 records with NZ on top with an extra bonus point.
New Zealand 10
South Africa 9
Australia 9
Argentina 9
The world rankings will change based on results, currently South Africa are 3rd, New Zealand 4th, Argentina 6th and Australia 8th. We have the permutations listed below along with the historical head to head record.
HEAD TO HEAD
Australia v New Zealand
Played: 173 New Zealand leads 120-45 with eight draws
Points for: Australia 2,485 / New Zealand 3,788 (avg. score: 14-22)
Highest score: Australia 47 (47-26 on 10 August, 2019) / New Zealand 57 (57-22 on 14 August, 2021)
Biggest winning margin: Australia 21 (47-26 on 10 August, 2019 and 28-7 on 28 August, 1999) / New Zealand 38 (43-5 on 31 October, 2020)
First met: 15 August, 1903 New Zealand 22-3 Australia Sydney
Last met: 5 September, 2021 New Zealand 38-21 Australia Optus Stadium, Perth
Argentina v South Africa
Played: 32 South Africa leads 28-3 with one draw
Points for: Argentina 616 / South Africa 1,119 (avg. score: 19-35)
Highest score: Argentina 37 (37-25 on 8 August, 2015) / South Africa 73 (73-13 on 17 August, 2013)
Biggest winning margin: Argentina 13 (32-19 on 25 August 2018) / South Africa 60 (73-13 on 17 August, 2013)
First met: 6 November, 1993 South Africa 29-26 Argentina Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires
Last met: 21 August, 2022 South Africa 29-10 Argentina Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
RANKING PERMUTATIONS
AUSTRALIA (8) 81.54 v NEW ZEALAND (4) 86.41
Australia win by 15 points or less Australia 82.72, New Zealand 85.22
Australia win by more than 15 points Australia 83.32, New Zealand 84.63
Draw Australia 81.72, New Zealand 86.22
New Zealand win by 15 points or less Australia 80.72, New Zealand 87.22
New Zealand win by more than 15 points Australia 80.32, New Zealand 87.63
ARGENTINA (6) 82.32 v SOUTH AFRICA (3) 87.89
Argentina win by 15 points or less Argentina 83.58, South Africa 86.63
Argentina win by more than 15 points Argentina 84.21, South Africa 86.00
Draw Argentina 82.58, South Africa 87.63
South Africa win by 15 points or less Argentina 81.58, South Africa 88.63
South Africa win by more than 15 points Argentina 81.21, South Africa 89.00
MATCH OFFICIALS
Mathieu Raynal (France) takes charge of his first Rugby Championship match since Argentina v New Zealand in September 2018
James Doleman (New Zealand) will make his Rugby Championship debut in Buenos Aires and take charge of South Africa for the first time
NOTES
– Australia welcome back Bernard Foley for the first time since Rugby World Cup 2019 after Noah Lolesio was ruled out, while winger Marika Koroibete will play his 50th test in the Wallabies jersey in Melbourne
– New Zealand’s only changes to the starting line-up are enforced with Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea unavailable. Brodie Retallick returns in the second row with Scott Barrett shifting back to blindside and number eight Hoskins Sotutu earning a first appearance of 2022
– Argentina are yet to name their match-day squad for Saturday’s match
– South Africa have named an unchanged starting line-up for a match that will Siya Kolisi captain the Springboks for the 40th time in his 70th test. The only changes come on bench with the selection of Elrigh Louw, Faf de Klerk and Andre Esterhuizen