The Rugby Championship is the Southern Hemisphere’s answer to the Six Nations, only with less teams. However, it compensates for that by making the four teams play each other twice. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina are, of course, more geographically spread out than the British Isles, France and Italy but there is a bigger gap between fixtures and everyone will be surprised if the outcome isn’t the same as it has been in five of the last six years – namely, a New Zealand win
Rugby Championship Fixtures 2018
(All kick-off times are UK & Ireland)
| Date | Time | Teams | Venue |
| 18 Aug | 10.45am | Wallabies vs All Blacks | ANZ Stadium, Sydney |
| 18 Aug | 4.05pm | South Africa vs Argentina | Kings Park, Durban |
| 25 Aug | 8.35am | All Blacks vs Wallabies | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 25 Aug | 8.10pm | Argentina vs South Africa | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza |
| 8 Sep | 8.35am | All Blacks vs Argentina | Trafalgar Park, Nelson |
| 8 Sep | 11am | Wallabies vs Springboks | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 15 Sep | 8.35am | All Blacks vs South Africa | Westpac Stadium, Wellington |
| 15 Sep | 11am | Wallabies vs Argentina | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast |
| 29 Sep | 4.05pm | South Africa vs Wallabies | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 29 Sep | 11.40pm | Argentina vs All Blacks | Estadio Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires |
| 6 Oct | 4.05pm | South Africa vs All Blacks | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria |
| 6 Oct | 11.40pm | Argentina vs Wallabies | Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta |
NEW ZEALAND
The world’s top-ranked team have amazing strength-in-depth and only complacency is likely to prevent the world champions winning a sixth title since the format was extended to four teams in 2012. Steve Hansen’s side have just completed a 3-0 whitewash of France and Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles and Sonny Bill Williams are back from injury. The All Blacks are no bigger than 2/11 with Betway to win the 2018 Rugby Championship but may have a hiccup somewhere down the line, probably against the Wallabies, so the general 6/4 for New Zealand to win five of their six matches could be a decent bet.
AUSTRALIA
Australia are a team in transition and they showed their inexperience when losing a recent home series with Ireland having won the opening Test. Coach Michael Cheika will be under pressure to give the All Blacks a run for their money in the Rugby Championship but they don’t have the forwards at present to do that and, indeed, may struggle to hold off South Africa for second place, though should improve as the tournament progresses. The Wallabies are 6/4 with Unibet to finish second in the 2018 Rugby Championship.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Springboks have narrowly beaten England in a Test series this summer but lost a one-off match against Wales earlier suggesting that Rassie Erasmus still has work to do with his squad before they can be competitive against New Zealand. They should can the boost of a couple of victories against Argentina before they face the Wallabies and the All Blacks on consecutive weekends in September but haven’t beaten either of those teams since late 2016 and Eben Etzebeth and Warren Whiteley are still recovering from injury. South Africa are a best 9/5 to finish second in the Rugby Championship.
ARGENTINA
Argentina have only avoided defeat on four occasions since becoming regulars in the Rugby Championship in 2012. In those 33 matches, they’ve conceded an average of 33 points and recent evidence suggests they will struggle again. The Pumas have lost two home matches against Wales this year and one against an under-strength Scotland. Coach Daniel Hourcade resigned following the June Tests to be replaced by Mario Ledesma but he’s inherited a team that is short in attacking ideas and probably not as strong among the forwards as in recent years. It is no surprise that Argentina are only a best 1/3 to finish bottom of the pile again.
