International rugby union competition
Rugby union tournament
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
New Zealand
6
6
0
0
177
66
+111
2
0
26
2
Australia
6
3
0
3
101
137
−36
0
0
12
3
South Africa
6
2
1
3
120
109
+11
1
1
12
4
Argentina
6
0
1
5
80
166
−86
0
2
4
Fixtures
Round 1
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 )
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
Man of the Match:
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)[ 11]
Touch judges:
Alain Rolland (Ireland )
Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa )
Television match official:
Ben Skeen (New Zealand )
Man of the Match
Rodrigo Roncero (Argentina)
Touch judges:
Jérôme Garcès (France )
John Lacey (Ireland )
Television match official:
Francisco Pastrana (Argentina )
Round 3
Man of the Match
Marcelo Bosch (Argentina)
Touch judges:
George Clancy (Ireland )
James Leckie (Australia )
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand )
Man of the Match
Berrick Barnes (Australia)
Touch judges:
Wayne Barnes (England )
Glen Jackson (New Zealand )
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia )
Round 4
Man of the Match:
Israel Dagg (New Zealand)[ 17]
Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France )
James Leckie (Australia )
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand )
Man of the Match:
Digby Ioane (Australia)[ 19]
Touch judges:
Nigel Owens (Wales )
Glen Jackson (New Zealand )
Television match official:
Matt Goddard (Australia )
Round 5
Man of the Match:
Bryan Habana (South Africa)[ 21]
Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France )
Greg Garner (England )
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa )
Man of the Match:
Kieran Read (New Zealand)[ 23]
Touch judges:
Craig Joubert (South Africa )
Pascal Gaüzère (France )
Television match official:
Francisco Pastrana (Argentina )
Round 6
Man of the Match:
Kieran Read (New Zealand)[ 25]
Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France )
Greg Garner (England )
Television match official:
Shaun Veldsman (South Africa )
Man of the Match:
Michael Hooper (Australia)[ 27]
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
Argentina
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
Australia
ANZ Stadium
Sydney
84,000
Robbie Deans
David Pocock Will Genia Nathan Sharpe [ N 1]
Patersons Stadium
Perth
43,500
Skilled Park
Gold Coast
27,400
New Zealand
Eden Park
Auckland
50,000
Steve Hansen
Richie McCaw
Westpac Stadium
Wellington
36,000
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Dunedin
30,748
South Africa
FNB Stadium
Johannesburg
94,736
Heyneke Meyer
Jean de Villiers
Newlands Stadium
Cape Town
51,900
Loftus Versfeld
Pretoria
51,762
^ An injury sustained by original captain David Pocock meant he was ruled out of the championship after round 1. This thus made scrum-half Will Genia captain from round 2 onwards. However, an injury to his leg in round 3 meant he was unable to continue to play in the championship. Nathan Sharpe was named captain for the remaining round of the tournament.
Note: Ages are as of 18 August 2012 – the starting date of the tournament.
Argentina
Head coach : Santiago Phelan
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby .
Australia
Head coach' : Robbie Deans
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby .
New Zealand
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby .
South Africa
Head Coach:' Heyneke Meyer
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby .
Statistics
Try scorers
Points scorers
See also
References
External links
Teams Tri Nations Rugby Championship