Four Nations: Early Preview, Viewing Info, Odds, Prediction

With less than a fortnight to go until one of the most anticipated rugby events of any year gets underway, attention now turns to just who will come out on top of the Rugby Championship.

Last year saw New Zealand dominate the field, which included an Argentina side entering into the Southern Hemisphere competition for the first time.

Although the South American debutants may not have fared as successfully as they may have liked, the introduction of a fourth team in one of rugby’s fiercest tournaments is undoubtedly only a benefit to those watching and the sport as a whole.

For the All Blacks, it looks like nowhere but down after Steve Hansen’s men won all six of their encounters, while the Pumas were left waiting for their first Rugby Championship win.

With the British and Irish Lions tour now behind us, another display of rugby magnificence makes its way to the Southern Hemisphere later this month, and not a moment is to be missed.

Preview

Australia

First and second in last year’s competition, respectively, where better to look than New Zealand and Australia for a pair that are likely to challenge for honours once more this time around?

For the Wallabies, the summer of 2013 marks a massive stage of transition. Following on from the 2-1 series loss against the British and Irish Lions, Robbie Deans has been replaced in his head coach mantle by Ewen McKenzie, the former Queensland Reds boss who is bound to enact change.

One of the more prominent orders of business on McKenzie’s behalf so far is the decision to bring Quade Cooper back into the international fold.

The fly-half was quick to show his appreciation for the selection via Twitter:

Cooper’s omission from the Aussies’ squad for the Lions tests was a controversial one by Deans, and the Rugby Championship promises to tell just how much better, or worse, the team is with the Red back in their line-up and James O’Connor shifting elsewhere.

New Zealand

The All Blacks have a welcome back party of their own this summer, though. New Zealand legend Richie McCaw recently made a return from his seven-month rugby sabbatical to lend Crusaders a hand in their final 2013 Super Rugby challenges and will look to reassert himself under Steve Hansen too.

With the Chiefs winning the Super XV title in the end, it would seem New Zealand’s rugby isn’t in bad shape on the franchise level, but will the international setup be as fruitful this summer?

Argentina

Someone who’ll be looking to upset that particular boat is Sir Graham Henry, the former New Zealand coach and 2011 World Cup winner, now in a directorial capacity with Argentina.

Although the Christchurch native was with the Pumas last summer, his involvement with the South Americans has increased since then. Argentina’s home defeat to England several weeks ago won’t have been too encouraging, however, and after going winless in six games 12 months ago, a maiden Four Nations victory still looks difficult to come by.

Felipe Contepomi, soon to retire from the sport, has been recalled to the Argentine team for six final opportunities to make an impact on the game and help the Pumas team that he has helped to progress so much in the last decade or so.

South Africa

Last but not least, South Africa face the easiest possible start they could hope for in this season’s competition, firstly welcoming Argentina to Johannesburg on August 17 before then heading to Mendoza for the away fixture a week later.

Out of the three previous components of the Tri Nations, the Springboks have the lowest winning percentage and currently stand as being very finely poised in the world rankings, less than one point ahead of Australia, who sit in third.

One man who is set to have a great impact on South African matters is Bryan Habana, soon to join Toulon from the Stormers, who recently raced a plane—and won.

Last year, Heyneke Meyer’s men were the only team to surrender even a point to Argentina, but one would find it hard to argue that the nation haven’t improved since then with its teams performing admirably, for the most part, in Super Rugby.

Led by captain Jean de Villiers, the Boks enter this year’s competition with a squad boasting more than a few faces now plying their trade in France’s Top 14, as well as the familiar face of Fourie Du Preez, now playing in Japan.

Viewing Information

Australia: Fox Sports 1 (HD) and 2 (HD)

United Kingdom: Sky Sports 3 (HD) and Sky Sports 4 (HD), Sky Go

Canada: Sportsnet World

Asia: Setanta Plus Asia

Middle East and North Africa: OSN Sports

 

Complete Schedule List

Round	Kickoff Date	Match	Venue	Kickoff Time
One	Saturday August, 17	Australia vs. New Zealand	ANZ Stadium, Sydney	20:05 p.m. AEST/11:05 a.m. BST/06:05 a.m. ET
One	Saturday August, 17	South Africa vs. Argentina	Free State Stadium,  Bloemfontein	17:00 p.m. SAST/16:00 p.m. BST/11:00 a.m. ET
Two	Saturday August, 24	New Zealand vs. Australia	Westpac Stadium, Wellington	19:35 p.m. NZST/08:35 a.m. BST/03:35 a.m. ET
Two	Saturday August, 24	Argentina vs. South Africa	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas	16:10 p.m. AST/18:10 p.m. BST/13:10 p.m. ET
Three	Saturday September, 7	New Zealand vs. Argentina	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton	19:35 p.m. NZST/08:35 a.m. BST/03:35 a.m. ET
Three	Saturday September, 7	Australia vs. South Africa	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane	20:05 p.m. AEST/11:05 a.m. BST/06:05 a.m. ET
Four	Saturday September, 14	New Zealand vs. South  Africa	Eden Park, Auckland	19:35 p.m. NZST/08:35 a.m. BST/03:35 a.m. ET
Four	Saturday September, 14	Australia vs. Argentina	Subiaco Oval, Perth	18:05 p.m. AWST/11:05 a.m. BST/06:05 a.m. ET
Five	Saturday September, 28	South Africa vs. Australia	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town	17:00 p.m. SAST/16:00 p.m. BST/11:00 a.m. ET
Five	Saturday September, 28	Argentina vs. New Zealand	Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La  Plata	19:40 p.m. AST/21:40 p.m. BST/16:40 p.m. ET
Six	Saturday October, 5	South Africa vs. New  Zealand	Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg	17:00 p.m. SAST/16:00 p.m. BST/11:00 a.m. ET
Six	Saturday October, 5	Argentina vs. Australia	Estadio Gigante de Arroyito,  Rosario	19:40 p.m. AST/21:40 p.m. BST/16:40 p.m. ET

Odds and Prediction

Maintaining the dominant trait of 2011, New Zealand head for this tournament as firm favourites to retain their Rugby Championship title, and by some margin at that.

On average, Oddschecker.com list the All Blacks as 4-11 favourites, while on the opposite end lies Argentina, currently listed as 200-1 underdogs to emerge victorious.

Somewhere in the middle of that pair (although leaning to one side more than the other), South Africa and Australia factor in as the dark horses, but are two very powerful rugby nations on their day nonetheless.

The Springboks just about beat their Wallaby rivals as 6-1 outsiders to win their first Rugby Championship, while Ewen Mckenzie stands at 7-1 to get off to a very bright start as Australia head coach.

As things stand however, an interesting bet might be the 21-10 shot one can find on Australia upsetting the odds and beating New Zealand in their opening fixture at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Given the fact that they have more Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship titles than all their opponents combined, New Zealand simply can’t be looked past for this meeting of some of world rugby’s giants.

The Super Rugby semi-final between the Chiefs and Crusaders was an incredible advertisement of just how strong the attacking game is in that part of the world right now, with defence perhaps just one of the smallest concerns.

South Africa will pose the biggest threat and may manage to grind out a victory over the All Blacks in October, but the championship will already be decided by that point.

Prediction: New Zealand to win a second consecutive Rugby Championship with a 5-1 record.

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