2012 Rugby Championship Explained

2012 Rugby Championship
Matches:	12
Countries:
Tries:	44
Top Scorer:	Dan Carter (58)
Most Tries:	Bryan Habana (7)
Champion:	New Zealand
Count:	11
Preceded By:	2011
Succeeded By:	2013
Champdest:	1

The 2012 Rugby Championship was the inaugural annual rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Argentina.^[1] For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship in Australia and The Personal Rugby Championship in Argentina.

The 2012 Rugby Championship kicked off on 18 August with New Zealand defeating Australia and finished on 6 October. Each team played the other twice on a home and away basis. The inaugural Championship was won by New Zealand, which was their 11th Southern Hemisphere title including the Tri Nations.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Standings

Place	Nation	Games				Points			Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Table points
		Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
1		6	6	0	0	177	66	+111	2	0	26
2		6	3	0	3	101	137	−36	0	0	12
3		6	2	1	3	120	109	+11	1	1	12
4		6	0	1	5	80	166	−86	0	2	4

Fixtures

Round 1

FB 15 Kurtley Beale RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 Rob Horne IC 12 Anthony Fainga'a LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Berrick Barnes SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Scott Higginbotham OF 7 David Pocock (c) BF 6 RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 James Slipper LK 18 FL 19 FL 20 Michael Hooper SH 21 Nick Phipps WG 22 Drew Mitchell Coach: Robbie Deans

FB 15 Israel Dagg RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 Ma'a Nonu IC 12 Sonny Bill Williams LW 11 Hosea Gear FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Liam Messam RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 Victor Vito SH 20 FH 21 Aaron Cruden FB 22 Ben Smith Coach: Steve Hansen

Man of the Match
Israel Dagg (New Zealand)

Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia)----

FB 15 Zane Kirchner RW 14 OC 13 Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12 François Steyn LW 11 FH 10 Morné Steyn SH 9 Francois Hougaard N8 8 OF 7 Willem Alberts BF 6 Marcell Coetzee RL 5 LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 Patrick Lambie CE 22 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 Lucas González Amorosino RW 14 Gonzalo Camacho OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 LW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 Juan Martín Hernández SH 9 N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Manuel Carizza TP 3 HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Bruno Postiglioni PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 Coach: Santiago Phelan

Man of the Match
Morné Steyn (South Africa)

Touch judges:
Jérôme Garcès (France)
John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official:
Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)----

Round 2

FB 15 RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 IC 12 Sonny Bill Williams LW 11 Hosea Gear FH 10 Dan Carter SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 FB 22 Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 Berrick Barnes LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Quade Cooper SH 9 Will Genia (c) N8 8 OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 Sitaleki Timani TP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 James Slipper FL 18 FL 19 SH 20 Nick Phipps CE 21 FB 22 Kurtley Beale Coach: Robbie Deans

Man of the Match:
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)^[5]

Touch judges:
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official:
Ben Skeen (New Zealand)----

FB 15 Martín Rodríguez RW 14 Gonzalo Camacho OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 Santiago Fernández LW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Manuel Carizza TP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Bruno Postiglioni PR 17 N8 18 FL 19 SH 20 FB 21 WG 22 Juan Imhoff Coach: Santiago Phelan

FB 15 Zane Kirchner RW 14 OC 13 Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12 François Steyn LW 11 Lwazi Mvovo FH 10 Morné Steyn SH 9 Francois Hougaard N8 8 Willem Alberts OF 7 Jacques Potgieter BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 N8 19 SH 20 FH 21 Patrick Lambie CE 22 JJ Engelbrecht Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Man of the Match
Rodrigo Roncero (Argentina)

Touch judges:
Jérôme Garcès (France)
John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official:
Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)----

Round 3

FB 15 Israel Dagg RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 IC 12 Ma'a Nonu LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Luke Romano TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 FB 22 Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 RW 14 Gonzalo Camacho OC 13 IC 12 Santiago Fernández LW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 Juan Martín Hernández SH 9 Nicolás Vergallo N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Manuel Carizza TP 3 HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Agustín Creevy PR 17 PR 18 N8 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 Coach: Santiago Phelan

Man of the Match
Marcelo Bosch (Argentina)

Touch judges:
George Clancy (Ireland)
James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand)----

FB 15 RW 14 Dominic Shipperley OC 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper IC 12 LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Quade Cooper SH 9 Will Genia (c) N8 8 OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Dave Dennis RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 FL 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 CE 22 Coach: Robbie Deans

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12 François Steyn LW 11 Francois Hougaard FH 10 SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 OF 7 Willem Alberts BF 6 RL 5 Juandré Kruger LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FH 20 FH 21 WG 22 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Man of the Match
Berrick Barnes (Australia)

Touch judges:
Wayne Barnes (England)
Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia)----

Round 4

FB 15 Israel Dagg RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 Conrad Smith IC 12 Ma'a Nonu LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 Aaron Cruden SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Liam Messam RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 Victor Vito SH 20 FH 21 Beauden Barrett CE 22 Tamati Ellison Coach: Steve Hansen

FB 15 RW 14 Bryan Habana OC 13 Jean de Villiers (c) IC 12 François Steyn LW 11 Francois Hougaard FH 10 SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FH 20 CE 21 Juan de Jongh FH 22 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Man of the Match:
Israel Dagg (New Zealand)^[6]

Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France)
James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand)----

FB 15 RW 14 OC 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper IC 12 Lw 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Quade Cooper SH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 RL 5 Nathan Sharpe (c) LL 4 Kane Douglas TP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Saia Fainga'a PR 17 FL 18 FL 19 SH 20 Brett Sheehan CE 21 Anthony Fainga'a FB 22 Coach: Robbie Deans

FB 15 Lucas González Amorosino RW 14 OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 Santiago Fernández LW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 Juan Martín Hernández SH 9 N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Manuel Carizza TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 N8 18 FL 19 SH 20 FB 21 Martín Rodríguez WG 22 Coach: Santiago Phelan

Man of the Match:
Digby Ioane (Australia)^[7]

Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia)----

Round 5

FB 15 RW 14 Bryan Habana OC 13 IC 12 Jean de Villiers (c) LW 11 Francois Hougaard FH 10 SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 Andries Bekker LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FH 20 CE 21 FH 22 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 RW 14 Dominic Shipperley OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Kurtley Beale SH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Dave Dennis RL 5 Nathan Sharpe (c) LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Saia Fainga'a PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 CE 22 Coach: Robbie Deans

Man of the Match:
Bryan Habana (South Africa)^[8]

Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France)
Greg Garner (England)
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)----

FB 15 RW 14 Gonzalo Camacho OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 Santiago Fernández LW 11 FH 10 Juan Martín Hernández SH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 Julio Farías Cabello RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Rodrigo Roncero Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FB 21 WG 22 Coach: Santiago Phelan

FB 15 Israel Dagg RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 IC 12 Ma'a Nonu LW 11 Julian Savea FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Liam Messam RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 FB 22 Coach: Steve Hansen

Man of the Match:
Kieran Read (New Zealand)^[9]

Touch judges:
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Television match official:
Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)----

Round 6

FB 15 RW 14 Bryan Habana OC 13 IC 12 Jean de Villiers (c) LW 11 Francois Hougaard FH 10 SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Andries Bekker LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 FH 20 CE 21 FH 22 Coach: Heyneke Meyer

FB 15 RW 14 Cory Jane OC 13 Conrad Smith IC 12 LW 11 Hosea Gear FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Tony Woodcock Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 CE 22 Coach: Steve Hansen

Man of the Match:
Kieran Read (New Zealand)^[10]

Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France)
Greg Garner (England)
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)----

FB 15 Lucas González Amorosino RW 14 Gonzalo Camacho OC 13 Marcelo Bosch IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Manuel Carizza TP 3 HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 PR 17 N8 18 FL 19 SH 20 Nicolás Vergallo FH 21 WG 22 Coach: Santiago Phelan

FB 15 Mike Harris RW 14 Nick Cummins OC 13 Ben Tapuai IC 12 Pat McCabe LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Kurtley Beale SH 9 George Gregan (c) N8 8 OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 TP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Substitutes: HK 16 Saia Fainga'a PR 17 FL 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 WG 22 Sam Cordingley Coach: Robbie Deans

Man of the Match:
Michael Hooper (Australia)^[11]

Touch judges:
Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Television match official:
Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)

Warm up matches

On 4 August and 11 August, Argentina played two uncapped matches against a Stade Français team in Argentina.

Squads

Summary

Nation	Match venues			Head coach	Captain
	Name	City	Capacity
	Estadio Ciudad de La Plata	La Plata	53,000	Santiago Phelan	Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
	Estadio Gigante de Arroyito	Rosario	41,654
	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas	Mendoza	40,268
	ANZ Stadium	Sydney	84,000	Robbie Deans	David Pocock Will Genia Nathan Sharpe
	Patersons Stadium	Perth	43,500
	Skilled Park	Gold Coast	27,400
	Eden Park	Auckland	50,000	Steve Hansen	Richie McCaw
	Westpac Stadium	Wellington	36,000
	Forsyth Barr Stadium	Dunedin	30,748
	FNB Stadium	Johannesburg	94,736	Heyneke Meyer	Jean de Villiers
	Newlands Stadium	Cape Town	51,900
	Loftus Versfeld	Pretoria	51,762

Note: Ages are as of 18 August 2012 – the starting date of the tournament.

Argentina

Head coach: Santiago Phelan

Australia

Head coach: Robbie Deans

New Zealand

• Head coach: Steve Hansen
• Caps Updated 24/06/2012

South Africa

Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Statistics

Try scorers

Pos	Name	Team	Tries
1	Bryan Habana		7
2	Cory Jane		5
3	Aaron Smith		3
	Israel Dagg
	Julian Savea
6	Digby Ioane		2
	Ma'a Nonu
	Zane Kirchner
9	Ben Alexander		1
	Conrad Smith
	Francois Louw
	François Steyn
	Gonzalo Camacho
	Julio Farías Cabello
	Juan Imhoff
	Mike Harris
	Marcell Coetzee
	Martín Landajo
	Nathan Sharpe
	Pat McCabe
	Rodrigo Roncero
	Sam Whitelock
	Santiago Fernández
	Scott Higginbotham
	Tomás Leonardi

Points scorers

Pos	Name	Team	Pts
1	Dan Carter		58
2	Berrick Barnes		40
3	Bryan Habana		35
4	Morné Steyn		34
5	Aaron Cruden		29
	Juan Martín Hernández
7	Cory Jane		25
	Mike Harris
9	Aaron Smith		15
	Israel Dagg
	Julian Savea

See also

• History of rugby union matches between Argentina and Australia
• History of rugby union matches between Argentina and New Zealand
• History of rugby union matches between Argentina and South Africa
• History of rugby union matches between Australia and South Africa
• History of rugby union matches between Australia and New Zealand
• History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and South Africa

External links

• Argentina 2012 Rugby Championship website
• Australia 2012 Rugby Championship website
• New Zealand 2012 Rugby Championship website
  • 2012 Rugby Championship at ESPN Scrum

Notes and References

1. Web site: Springboks to meet Pumas. sport24.co.za. 8 November 2011. 8 November 2011.
2. Web site: New Zealand win inaugural title. 30 September 2012. BBC Sport. 9 October 2012 .
3. Web site: McCaw hails comeback for landmark win. 6 October 2012. ESPN. 9 October 2012 .
4. Web site: New Zealand wins Rugby Championship in style, beating Argentina 54-15. 30 September 2012. Daily Telegraph. 9 October 2012 .
5. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7550950/Conrad-Smith-to-make-All-Blacks-return Conrad Smith to make All Blacks return
6. Web site: iafrica.com All Blacks deny Springboks. iAfrica.com. 2012-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129091335/http://sport.iafrica.com/rugby/news/816721.html. 2014-11-29. dead.
7. Web site: Full Time: Qantas Wallabies 23 v Argentina Pumas 19.
8. Web site: Planet Rugby - Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures - Springboks rule at Loftus. 2012-09-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20121001224454/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8120995,00.html. 2012-10-01. dead.
9. Web site: Planet Rugby - Rugby Union News - All Blacks outclass Argentina. 2012-09-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20121003001535/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8123375,00.html. 2012-10-03. dead.
10. Web site: Rugby Championship 2012 Results: Score and Recap of South Africa vs. New Zealand. Matt Fitzgerald. Bleacher Report.
11. Web site: Green and Gold Rugby Player Ratings: Wallabies v. Los Pumas II 2012 - Green and Gold Rugby. Green and Gold Rugby. 7 October 2012 .