The 2015 Rugby Championship was the fourth edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship consisting of Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
The 2015 Championship was a shorter competition than normal, with each team playing each other once, rather than twice (home and away). This was so that teams had a longer preparation time ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup which started on 18 September. However, New Zealand hosted an additional match against Australia in Auckland on 15 August which acted as the second Bledisloe Cup test and as a World Cup warm-up. Argentina hosted a second match against South Africa on the same date.
Australia won the Championship, becoming just the second team to win the tournament since 2012. However, including the previous format of the Championship, Australia claimed the title for the first time since 2011, and achieved a 100% win rate for the first time ever in either format.
South Africa finished bottom of the table. This was also the first ever year that South Africa failed to record a single win in either the Rugby Championship or Tri Nations Series.
Standings
Fixtures
Week 1
FB 15Israel DaggRW 14Waisake Naholo OC 13Ma'a Nonu IC 12Sonny Bill WilliamsLW 11Charles PiutauFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 TJ Perenara N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Brodie RetallickLL 4 Luke Romano TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Codie Taylor PR 17Wyatt Crockett PR 18Nepo Laulala LK 19Jeremy Thrush FL 20Liam Messam SH 21Andrew Ellis FH 22Colin Slade CE 23Ryan Crotty Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Joaquín Tuculet RW 14Horacio AgullaOC 13Marcelo BoschIC 12Jerónimo de la Fuente LW 11Santiago CorderoFH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Facundo IsaOF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón RL 5 Guido Petti LL 4 Manuel CarizzaTP 3 Ramiro Herrera HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Lucas Noguera Paz PR 18Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro N8 19Benjamín Macome FL 20Javier Ortega Desio SH 21Martín Landajo FH 22Santiago González Iglesias FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Waisake Naholo and Codie Taylor made their international debuts for New Zealand.
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt Giteau LW 11Rob Horne FH 10Quade Cooper SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Scott Higginbotham OF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 Rob SimmonsLL 4 Will Skelton TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c)LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-NauPR 17Scott Sio PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19James Horwill FL 20David Pocock SH 21Nick Phipps CE 22Matt To'omua WG 23Drew Mitchell Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jesse Kriel IC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Handré Pollard SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Schalk BurgerOF 7 Marcell Coetzee BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 Victor Matfield (c) LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Heinke van der Merwe PR 18Frans Malherbe LK 19Lood de Jager FL 20Oupa Mohojé SH 21Cobus Reinach FH 22Pat Lambie WG 23Lwazi Mvovo Coach: Heyneke Meyer Man of the Match: Michael Hooper (Australia)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Jesse Kriel made his international debut for South Africa. Matt Giteau, being named in the starting XV, became the first overseas based player to play for the Wallabies, by virtue of their new selection policy. Drew Mitchell also based overseas, played off the bench. Australia won the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2012. Australia earned their first ever opening fixture of the Rugby Championship.
Week 2
FB 15Willie le Roux RW 14Cornal HendricksOC 13Jesse Kriel IC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Handré Pollard SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Schalk Burger (c)OF 7 Francois Louw BF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Lood de Jager LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du PlessisLP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Vincent Koch LK 19Flip van der Merwe N8 20Warren Whiteley SH 21Cobus Reinach FH 22Pat Lambie CE 23Lionel Mapoe Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Israel Dagg RW 14Ben SmithOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a Nonu LW 11Charles PiutauFH 10Lima SopoagaSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Liam Messam RL 5 James Broadhurst LL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Codie Taylor PR 17Wyatt Crockett PR 18Ben Franks LK 19Sam Whitelock N8 20Victor Vito SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Beauden Barrett CE 23Malakai Fekitoa Coach: Steve Hansen Man of the Match: Charles Piutau (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Vincent Koch and Lionel Mapoe made their international debuts for South Africa. James Broadhurst and Lima Sopoaga made their international debuts for New Zealand. New Zealand retain the Freedom Cup. With this loss, South Africa lose three consecutive matches for the first time since 2011.
FB 15Santiago CorderoRW 14Gonzalo Camacho OC 13Matías MoroniIC 12Juan Pablo SocinoLW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Facundo Isa OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Javier Ortega DesioRL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Manuel CarizzaTP 3 Ramiro Herrera HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Santiago Iglesias Valdez PR 17Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro PR 18Matías Díaz LK 19Matías Alemanno N8 20Leonardo Senatore SH 21Tomás Cubelli FH 22Santiago González Iglesias FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt To'omua LW 11Joe Tomane FH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 Ben McCalman OF 7 David PocockBF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 Rob SimmonsLL 4 Will SkeltonTP 3 Greg Holmes HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Scott Sio PR 18Sekope Kepu LK 19Dean Mumm FL 20Michael Hooper SH 21Nic White FH 22Quade Cooper CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika Man of the Match: David Pocock (Australia)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Juan Pablo Socino made his international debut for Argentina. Kurtley Beale earned his 50th test cap for Australia. Australia win the Puma Trophy. With this win, Australia went top of the Rugby Championship table for the first ever time.
Week 3
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt Giteau LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Bernard Foley SH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 David Pocock OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 James Horwill LL 4 Dean MummTP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Will Skelton N8 20Ben McCalman SH 21Nic White CE 22Matt To'omua CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Ben Smith RW 14Nehe Milner-SkudderOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Sonny Bill Williams LW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome Kaino RL 5 Luke Romano LL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Codie Taylor PR 17Ben Franks PR 18Nepo Laulala LK 19Sam Whitelock FL 20Sam Cane SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Beauden Barrett CE 23Malakai Fekitoa Coach: Steve Hansen Man of the Match: Michael Hooper (Australia)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Nehe Milner-Skudder made his international debut for New Zealand. Richie McCaw equalled Brian O'Driscoll's 141-cap record, as the most capped rugby player ever. Australia beat New Zealand for the first time since their 25–20 win in 2011, while earning their first win at Stadium Australia since 2011. New Zealand lose their first ever match in the Rugby Championship without claiming a losing bonus point; their last was during the 2011 Tri Nations Series.
FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Jesse KrielOC 13Jean de Villiers (c)IC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Handré Pollard SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Schalk BurgerOF 7 Marcell Coetzee BF 6 Heinrich Brüssow RL 5 Lood de JagerLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Vincent Koch HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Trevor Nyakane PR 18Marcel van der Merwe LK 19Pieter-Steph du Toit FL 20Siya Kolisi SH 21Cobus Reinach FH 22Pat Lambie WG 23Lwazi Mvovo Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Joaquín TuculetRW 14Horacio AgullaOC 13Marcelo BoschIC 12Jerónimo de la Fuente LW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Juan Martín Hernández SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Leonardo SenatoreOF 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón BF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Tomás LavaniniLL 4 Guido Petti TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Lucas Noguera Paz PR 18Matías Díaz LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Tomás Lezana SH 21Martín Landajo FH 22Santiago González Iglesias FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade Man of the Match: Juan Imhoff (Argentina)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: This was Argentina's first ever win over South Africa. Argentina claim their first ever bonus point victory, and their first away victory, since joining the Rugby Championship in 2012. With this loss, South Africa lost consecutive home Test matches for the first time since 2010–11; and lost four consecutive Test matches for the first time since 2010. Juan Imhoff scored Argentina's first hat-trick of tries in the Rugby Championship; and the first hat-trick by any player in the tournament since Israel Folau scored three for Australia against Argentina in 2013.
Squads
Summary NationMatch venuesHead coachCaptainNameCityCapacityEstadio Malvinas ArgentinasMendoza40,268 Daniel HourcadeAgustín CreevyStadium AustraliaSydney84,000 Michael CheikaStephen MooreLang ParkBrisbane53,000Rugby League ParkChristchurch18,000 Steve HansenRichie McCawEllis Park StadiumJohannesburg62,567 Heyneke MeyerVictor MatfieldSchalk BurgerJean de VilliersKings Park StadiumDurban52,000
Note: Ages, caps and domestic side are of 17 July 2015 – the starting date of the tournament.
Argentina Argentina's 36-man squad for the Championship, was announced on 26 June 2015.
On 29 March, Juan Pablo Orlandi was called up to the squad to replace the injured Ramiro Herrera.
Australia On 2 July 2015, Michael Cheika named an extended 40-man squad for the 2015 Rugby Championship. The squad included newly eligible players Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchel, both based at Toulon, France, and uncapped Fijian duo Samu Kerevi and Taqele Naiyaravoro who are eligible through residency.
On 5 July, Henry Speight withdrew from the squad due to compassionate leave, and he was replaced with Nick Cummins.
New Zealand On 21 June 2015, New Zealand named a 41-man squad for the July 8 clash with Samoa, won by the All Blacks 25–16, the 2015 Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup test on 15 August.
Nepo Laulala and Andrew Ellis are included in the squad as injury cover for Charlie Faumuina and Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
On 2 August, Patrick Osborne was added to the squad ahead the back to back clashes against Australia.
South Africa On 12 July 2015, coach Heyneke Meyer named the following 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby Championship:
On 20 July, Flip van der Merwe was added to the squad as injury cover for the second row. Heinrich Brüssow and Cornal Hendricks were also included in the squad to face in their second Rugby Championship match.