2015 Rugby Championship draw

[TRF_stormer2010]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9515721,00.html

Round One:
Friday 17 July: New Zealand v Argentina - AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 18 July: Australia v South Africa - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Round Two:
Saturday 25 July: South Africa v New Zealand - Venue TBC
Saturday 25 July: Argentina v Australia - Venue TBC

Round Three:
Saturday 8 August: Australia v New Zealand - ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Saturday 8 August: South Africa v Argentina - Venue TBC

Additional week (not for competition points):
Saturday 15 August: New Zealand v Australia - Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday 15 August: Argentina v South Africa - Venue TBC

I highlighted the last paragraph as looking quickly it seems like SA faces Arg twice and Aus and NZ face off twice for the ***le but that is not the case. Still, a very handy draw for SA facing NZ and Arg at home. NZ have a tough draw having to face both SA and Aus away after what will probably be a bruising opening encounter against los Pumas. Can't say the draw seems fair but you won't find me complaining and SA better take advantage or face being laughed at IMO.

 

[Tony Manx]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9515721,00.html



I highlighted the last paragraph as looking quickly it seems like SA faces Arg twice and Aus and NZ face off twice for the ***le but that is not the case. Still, a very handy draw for SA facing NZ and Arg at home. NZ have a tough draw having to face both SA and Aus away after what will probably be a bruising opening encounter against los Pumas. Can't say the draw seems fair but you won't find me complaining and SA better take advantage or face being laughed at IMO.

Blimey the Pumas have some traveling to on that basis!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Blimey the Pumas have some traveling to on that basis!!

Yes, Aus and NZ do have the slight benefit of starting the tournament at home. Argentina have a rough touring schedule and have to face both the ABs and Bokke on the road in the competition proper. Aussie have both those sides at home and start off at home so I'd say Aussie has the best draw, SA just 2nd best draw, NZ a distant 3rd and Argentina sadly the worst.

 

[Tony Manx]

It would be better to follow this years travel and just reverse the fixtures or some other order ? That way Pumas could go to NZ and sa on just the one trip!

 

[marianodan]

At least they should have given us one more week of rest between R1 and R2.

 

[Horacito]

I guess they have taken in count our relatively comfortable RWC schedule. In the bad side, it takes away our chance to make a big impact and maybe a victory against some teams who do not expect it.

 

[ianw16]

Haha. Had to laugh at the SA v NZ -Venue TBC! It'll be Joburg. No chance they'll play the Blacks at sea level, unless they want to get in some practice for the WC, where they may well have to play them at 0 feet altitude.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Haha. Had to laugh at the SA v NZ -Venue TBC! It'll be Joburg. No chance they'll play the Blacks at sea level, unless they want to get in some practice for the WC, where they may well have to play them at 0 feet altitude.

From a Bok POV Ellis Park and Loftus make the most sense but there is a lot of clamoring and 'political pressure' for it to be held elsewhere, particularly from the WPRU so i wouldn't be surprised to see it moved elsewhere which is fair enough as we'll have to be able to be beat your guys elsewhere if we are going to get close to our aspirations of getting to no.1 and stay there.