2022 Rugby Championship Explained

2022 Rugby Championship
Matches:	12
Countries:
Top Scorer:	Emiliano Boffelli (71) Richie Mo'unga (71)
Most Tries:	Samisoni Taukei'aho (5)
Champion:	New Zealand
Count:	19
Preceded By:	2021
Succeeded By:	2023

The 2022 Rugby Championship was the tenth edition of the annual southern hemisphere competition, involving Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The tournament returned to being staged across all competing nations after the disruption from COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

The competition is operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions, and known for sponsorship reasons as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship in New Zealand,^[1] The eToro Rugby Championship in Australia, and The Zurich Rugby Championship in Argentina.^[2]

The tournament was restructured for the first time since Argentina joined the competition, with each team playing their games both home and away. Each country hosted three games, but not evenly across the competing nations.^[3] Argentina hosted Australia twice and South Africa once; Australia hosted South Africa twice and New Zealand once; New Zealand hosted Argentina twice and Australia once; and South Africa hosted New Zealand twice and Argentina once.

Table

Place	Nation	Games				Points			Try bonus	Losing bonus	Table points
Place	Nation	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against		Try bonus	Losing bonus	Table points
1		6	4	0	2	195	128	+67	2	1	19
2		6	4	0	2	164	119	+45	2	0	18
3		6	2	0	4	142	194	–52	1	1	10
4		6	2	0	4	143	203	–60	1	0	9

Fixtures

Round 1


FB	15	Damian Willemse
RW	14
OC	13
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11	Makazole Mapimpi
FH	10	Handré Pollard
SH	9
N8	8	Jasper Wiese
BF	7
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
LK	20
FL	21
SH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber


FB	15
RW	14	Will Jordan
OC	13	Rieko Ioane
IC	12	David Havili
LW	11	Caleb Clarke
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Ardie Savea
OF	7	Sam Cane (c)
BF	6
RL	5
LL	4	Sam Whitelock
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Ian Foster

Player of the Match:
Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Luke Pearce (England)
Christophe Ridley (England)
Television match official:
Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

Malcolm Marx (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap.
South Africa win back-to-back matches over New Zealand for the first time since 2009.
This was South Africa's first home victory over New Zealand since 4 October 2014.
With this loss, New Zealand lose more than two consecutive games for the first time since 1998.
As a result of this loss, New Zealand drop to fifth in the World Rugby Rankings, their lowest ranking ever.
New Zealand lose their opening match of the Rugby Championship/Tri Nations for the first time since 2005.
It was South Africa's biggest win over New Zealand since 30 June 1928, when South Africa won 17–0 in Kingsmead, Durban.

----


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14
OC	13
IC	12	Jerónimo de la Fuente
LW	11	Emiliano Boffelli
FH	10	Santiago Carreras
SH	9
N8	8	Pablo Matera
OF	7	Marcos Kremer
BF	6
RL	5	Tomás Lavanini
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
FL	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika


FB	15	Tom Wright
RW	14	Jordan Petaia
OC	13	Len Ikitau
IC	12	Hunter Paisami
LW	11	Marika Koroibete
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Rob Valetini
OF	7
BF	6
RL	5
LL	4	Darcy Swain
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
FL	21
SH	22
FB	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie

Player of the Match:
Rob Valetini (Australia)

Assistant referees:
Karl Dickson (England)
Chris Busby (Ireland)
Television match official:
Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Notes:

Michael Hooper (Australia) had been named to start and captain, but withdrew from the team the day before the game and returned to Australia for personal reasons. Fraser McReight replaced him in the starting XV with James Slipper becoming captain.
Tomás Albornoz (Argentina) and Matt Gibbon and Jed Holloway (both Australia) made their international debuts.
Australia retain the Puma Trophy.

Round 2


FB	15
RW	14
OC	13	Lukhanyo Am
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11	Makazole Mapimpi
FH	10	Handré Pollard
SH	9
N8	8
BF	7	Pieter-Steph du Toit
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5
LL	4	Eben Etzebeth
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
N8	20
FL	21
SH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber


FB	15	Jordie Barrett
RW	14	Will Jordan
OC	13
IC	12	David Havili
LW	11
FH	10	Richie Mo'unga
SH	9
N8	8	Ardie Savea
OF	7	Sam Cane (c)
BF	6
RL	5	Scott Barrett
LL	4	Sam Whitelock
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Ian Foster

Player of the Match:
Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

Assistant referees:
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Christophe Ridley (England)
Television match official:
Brett Cronan (Australia)

Notes:

Bongi Mbonambi (South Africa) had been named to start but withdrew days before the game and was replaced by Joseph Dweba.
Frans Malherbe (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap.
Fletcher Newell (New Zealand) made his international debut.
New Zealand retain the Freedom Cup.

----


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14	Emiliano Boffelli
OC	13	Matías Moroni
IC	12
LW	11	Juan Imhoff
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8
OF	7
BF	6	Juan Martín González
RL	5	Tomás Lavanini
LL	4	Matías Alemanno
TP	3
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
N8	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika


FB	15
RW	14	Jordan Petaia
OC	13	Len Ikitau
IC	12
LW	11	Marika Koroibete
FH	10	James O'Connor
SH	9
N8	8	Rob Valetini
OF	7
BF	6
RL	5	Darcy Swain
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
CE	22
FB	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie

Player of the Match:
Thomas Gallo (Argentina)

Assistant referees:
Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Chris Busby (Ireland)
Television match official:
Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Notes:

Folau Fainga'a (Australia) had been named to start but withdraw a day before the test due to injury. Lachlan Lonergan replaced him in the starting XV, with Billy Pollard joining on the bench.
Pone Fa'amausili and Billy Pollard (both Australia) made their international debuts.
This was Argentina's biggest win over Australia, surpassing their 18–3 win in 1983.

Round 3


FB	15	Reece Hodge
RW	14
OC	13	Len Ikitau
IC	12	Hunter Paisami
LW	11
FH	10	Noah Lolesio
SH	9
N8	8
OF	7
BF	6
RL	5	Matt Philip
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
FL	21
SH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie


FB	15
RW	14
OC	13	Lukhanyo Am
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11	Makazole Mapimpi
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8
BF	7
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5	Lood de Jager
LL	4	Eben Etzebeth
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
FB	23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber

Player of the Match:
Fraser McReight (Australia)

Assistant referees:
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Tual Trainini (France)
Television match official:
Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Notes:

This was the first rugby test match hosted at Adelaide Oval since 2004.
With this win Australia retained the Mandela Challenge Plate.

----


FB	15
RW	14	Will Jordan
OC	13
IC	12	David Havili
LW	11	Caleb Clarke
FH	10	Richie Mo'unga
SH	9
N8	8	Ardie Savea
OF	7	Sam Cane (c)
BF	6
RL	5	Scott Barrett
LL	4	Sam Whitelock
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19	Tupou Vaa'i
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Ian Foster


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14	Emiliano Boffelli
OC	13	Matías Moroni
IC	12	Matías Orlando
LW	11
FH	10	Santiago Carreras
SH	9
N8	8	Pablo Matera
OF	7	Marcos Kremer
BF	6
RL	5	Tomás Lavanini
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22	Tomás Albornoz
WG	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika

Player of the Match:
Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)

Assistant referees:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Damon Murphy (Australia)
Television match official:
Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Notes:

Marcos Kremer (Argentina) earned his 50th cap.
This was Argentina's first away win against New Zealand, as well as the first time Argentina has won two games in a row in the Rugby Championship.
Michael Cheika became the second coach to beat New Zealand with two teams (Australia and Argentina). Eddie Jones did so with Australia and England.
This was the first time that New Zealand lost 3 consecutive home games, and 3 home games in a calendar year.

Round 4


FB	15	Jordie Barrett
RW	14	Will Jordan
OC	13	Rieko Ioane
IC	12
LW	11	Caleb Clarke
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Ardie Savea
OF	7	Sam Cane (c)
BF	6
RL	5	Scott Barrett
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Ian Foster


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14	Emiliano Boffelli
OC	13	Matías Moroni
IC	12	Matías Orlando
LW	11
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Pablo Matera
OF	7	Marcos Kremer
BF	6
RL	5
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika

Assistant referees:
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Jordan Way (Australia)
Television match official:
Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Notes:

This was New Zealand's biggest win over Argentina since 28 June 1997, also in Hamilton, where they won 62–10.

----


FB	15	Reece Hodge
RW	14	Tom Wright
OC	13	Len Ikitau
IC	12
LW	11	Marika Koroibete
FH	10
SH	9	Nic White
N8	8	Rob Valetini
OF	7
BF	6	Jed Holloway
RL	5
LL	4
TP	3	Allan Alaalatoa
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18	Taniela Tupou
LK	19
FL	20
FL	21
SH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie


FB	15
RW	14	Canan Moodie
OC	13
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11
FH	10	Damian Willemse
SH	9
N8	8
BF	7	Franco Mostert
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5
LL	4	Eben Etzebeth
TP	3
HK	2	Malcolm Marx
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
FL	19
N8	20
SH	21
FB	22
FB	23	Warrick Gelant
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber

Assistant referees:
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Tual Trainini (France)
Television match official:
Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Notes:

Taniela Tupou (Australia) was not used as a sub after suffering an injury in a warm-up during the game.
This was the first test match at the newly opened Sydney Football Stadium.
This was the first test match that South Africa had won in Australia since 2013.
Canan Moodie (South Africa) made his international debut and scored a try.

Round 5


FB	15	Andrew Kellaway
RW	14
OC	13
IC	12	Lalakai Foketi
LW	11	Marika Koroibete
FH	10	Bernard Foley
SH	9
N8	8	Rob Valetini
OF	7	Pete Samu
BF	6
RL	5
LL	4	Jed Holloway
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FB	22	Reece Hodge
CE	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie


FB	15	Jordie Barrett
RW	14	Will Jordan
OC	13	Rieko Ioane
IC	12
LW	11	Caleb Clarke
FH	10	Richie Mo'unga
SH	9
N8	8
OF	7	Sam Cane (c)
BF	6	Scott Barrett
RL	5	Sam Whitelock
LL	4	Brodie Retallick
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
FK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Ian Foster

Player of the Match:
Samisoni Taukei'aho (New Zealand)

Assistant referees:
Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Pierre Brousset (France)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

Marika Koroibete (Australia) earned his 50th test cap.
New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup.

----


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14	Emiliano Boffelli
OC	13	Matías Orlando
IC	12	Jerónimo de la Fuente
LW	11
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Pablo Matera
OF	7	Marcos Kremer
BF	6
RL	5	Tomás Lavanini
LL	4
TP	3	Eduardo Bello]
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
CE	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika


FB	15
RW	14	Canan Moodie
OC	13
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11	Makazole Mapimpi
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8
BF	7	Franco Mostert
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5
LL	4	Eben Etzebeth
TP	3
HK	2	Malcolm Marx
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
FL	19
FL	20
SH	21
CE	22
FB	23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber

Player of the Match:
Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Damon Murphy (Australia)
Craig Evans (Wales)
Television match official:
Chris Hart (New Zealand)

Notes:

It was the first international rugby match at the Estadio Libertadores de América. The game was originally scheduled for the Estadio José Amalfitani, Argentina's usual Buenos Aires ground, but a failed pitch inspection forced a move to la Doble Visera, the home of soccer giants Club Atlético Independiente.
Siya Kolisi (South Africa) earnt his 70th cap.
Agustín Creevy (Argentina) earnt his 95th cap, becoming the most capped Argentina player.

Round 6


FB	15	Beauden Barrett
RW	14
OC	13	Rieko Ioane
IC	12	Jordie Barrett
LW	11	Caleb Clarke
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8	Ardie Savea
OF	7	Dalton Papalii
BF	6
RL	5	Sam Whitelock (c)
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Ian Foster


FB	15
RW	14	Tom Wright
OC	13	Len Ikitau
IC	12
LW	11	Marika Koroibete
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8
OF	7	Pete Samu
BF	6	Rob Valetini
RL	5	Cadeyrn Neville
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1	James Slipper (c)
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20
SH	21
FB	22
CE	23
Coach:
Dave Rennie

Player of the Match:
Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)

Assistant referees:
Mathieu Raynal (France)
Pierre Brousset (France)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

Fletcher Newell (New Zealand) had been named on the bench but withdrew ahead of the game and was replaced by Nepo Laulala.
With this loss for Australia, the Wallabies drop to 9th in the World Rugby Rankings, their lowest ever ranking.

----


FB	15
RW	14	Canan Moodie
OC	13	Jesse Kriel
IC	12	Damian de Allende
LW	11	Makazole Mapimpi
FH	10	François Steyn
SH	9
N8	8
BF	7
OF	6	Siya Kolisi (c)
RL	5
LL	4
TP	3
HK	2
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
N8	20
FL	21
SH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber


FB	15	Juan Cruz Mallía
RW	14	Emiliano Boffelli
OC	13	Matías Moroni
IC	12
LW	11
FH	10
SH	9
N8	8
OF	7
BF	6
RL	5	Tomás Lavanini
LL	4	Matías Alemanno
TP	3
HK	2	Julián Montoya (c)
LP	1
Replacements:
HK	16
PR	17
PR	18
LK	19
FL	20	Pedro Rubiolo
SH	21
FH	22
WG	23
Coach:
Michael Cheika

Assistant referees:
Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television match official:
Chris Hart (New Zealand)

Statistics

Points scorers

align=center width="35"		Name	Team	align=center width="35"
1	Emiliano Boffelli		71
1	Richie Mo'unga		71
3	Handré Pollard		32
4	Samisoni Taukei'aho		25
5	Juan Martín González		20
6	Jordie Barrett		17
7	Bernard Foley		16
8	Fraser McReight		15
8	François Steyn		15
10	Noah Lolesio		13

Try scorers

align=center width="35"		Name	Team	align=center width="35"
1	Samisoni Taukei'aho		5
2	Juan Martín González		4
3	Fraser McReight		3
4	Kurt-Lee Arendse		2
	Jordie Barrett
	Caleb Clarke
	Damian de Allende
	Folau Fainga'a
	Thomas Gallo
	Len Ikitau
	Will Jordan
	Andrew Kellaway
	Makazole Mapimpi
	Malcolm Marx
	Matías Moroni
	Jordan Petaia
	Pete Samu
	Kwagga Smith

Squads

Summary

Nation	Match venues			Head coach	Captain
Nation	Name	City	Capacity	Head coach	Captain
	Libertadores de América Stadium	Buenos Aires	42,069	Michael Cheika	Julián Montoya
	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas	Mendoza	42,000
	Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario	San Juan	25,286
	Adelaide Oval	Adelaide	53,500	Dave Rennie	Michael Hooper James Slipper
	Marvel Stadium	Melbourne	53,343
	Allianz Stadium	Sydney	45,000
	Eden Park	Auckland	50,000	Ian Foster	Sam Cane Sam Whitelock (acting)
	FMG Stadium Waikato	Hamilton	25,800
	Orangetheory Stadium	Christchurch	18,000
	Emirates Airline Park	Johannesburg	62,567	Jacques Nienaber	Siya Kolisi
	Hollywoodbets Kings Park	Durban	52,000
	Mbombela Stadium	Mbombela	40,929

Note: Ages, caps and clubs/franchises are of 6 August 2022 – the starting date of the tournament

Argentina

On 21 July, Argentina announced a 34-man squad for the Rugby Championship.

On 14 August, Eduardo Bello, Bautista Delguy, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino joined the squad ahead of their tour to New Zealand in rounds 3 & 4.

On 20 August, Mateo Carreras was a late addition to the travelling squad to New Zealand.

On 7 September, Michael Cheika named a revised squad for the final 2 matches against South Africa.

Australia

On 21 July, Dave Rennie confirmed a 36-player squad for the opening 2 rounds of the Rugby Championship.^[4]

Scott Sio has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury, Tom Robertson was called into the squad as his replacement.

Dave Porecki was ruled out of the Argentine tour due to injury and Billy Pollard was called up to replace him on tour.

On 18 August, Bernard Foley and Langi Gleeson was added to the squad for Australia's round three and four matches against South Africa.

On 8 September, Kurtley Beale and Cadeyrn Neville were called up for the Bledisloe Cup series in rounds five and six.

New Zealand

On 26 July, Fletcher Newell was called into the squad as a replacement for Ofa Tu'ungafasi who suffered a neck injury after the Steinlager Series.

On 5 September, Braydon Ennor and Luke Jacobson were added to the squad for New Zealand's round 5 clash against Australia.

South Africa

On 23 July, head coach Jacques Nienaber named a 41-man squad for the 2022 Rugby Championship.^[5]

On 8 August, Canan Moodie was called up to the squad following injury to Kurt-Lee Arendse in the opening round of the Championship.

Head coach: Jacques Nienaber

Notes and References

Web site: 8 October 2021 . Taisho Pharmaceutical joins the New Zealand Rugby family . allblacks.com . .
https://uar.com.ar/2021/08/13/uar-y-zurich-extienden-su-acuerdo-hasta-2023/ UAR y Zurich extienden su acuerdo hasta 2023
Web site: Boks' home Test schedule for 2022 confirmed. SA Rugby. 23 February 2022.
Web site: 21 July 2022 . Williamson . Nathan . Wallabies confirm squad for Argentina tour . rugby.com.au . Rugby Australia.
https://www.sarugby.co.za/news-features/articles/2022/07/23/vermeulen-and-steyn-back-in-the-mix-for-castle-lager-rugby-championship/ Vermeulen, Steyn back in the mix for Rugby Champs