Rugby Championship 2013: Can't-Miss Matches in Remaining Schedule

Now coming up to the halfway stage of the tournament, the Rugby Championship standings are beginning to take shape, with not too many surprises thus far.

New Zealand and South Africa are living up to their tags as competition favourites after the opening exchanges, giving us a good idea of just which fixtures will prove most pivotal in the next month.

Although rugby of this standard is never to be missed, the following encounters promise to be particularly exciting spectacles that promise to tip the silverware scales.

 

New Zealand vs. South Africa

When: September 14, 2013

Where: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand

Time: 7:35 p.m. NZST/8:35 a.m. BST/3:35 a.m. ET

Viewing Info: Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (AUS)

Featuring the two teams who look most likely to be competing for the Rugby Championship title come October, this is the fixture everyone will be waiting for.

New Zealand are simply indomitable when playing on home territory, showcased very evidently in their 2011 World Cup triumph when they were host nation.

Therefore, it will be intriguing to see if Heyneke Meyer’s side are capable of pulling off a shock win in Auckland in order to take a much-needed advantage back to Johannesburg.

This is the same Springboks side that struggled to claim victory in Argentina several weeks ago, although a trip to New Zealand is far less of a foreign notion.

 

South Africa vs. Australia

When: September 28, 2013

Where: Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa

Time: 5 p.m. SAST/4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET

Viewing Info: Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (AUS)

Although Australia have had a rough start to their summer tournament, Ewen McKenzie’s men couldn’t have been handed a much tougher way to commence their Rugby Championship.

The Wallabies, currently in a state of transition under their new coach, may be more hopeful of turning things around against South Africa, though.

If the Wallabies can manage an upset win in Cape Town, it will put a sizeable spanner in the works of Meyer and his men, as well as keeping the slimmest hopes open for Australia still to win the tournament.

South Africa vs. New Zealand

When: October 5, 2013

Where: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

Time: 5 p.m. SAST/4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET

Viewing Info: Sky Sports (UK), Fox Sports (AUS)

As far as the neutral is concerned, this final fixture will be the one that decides who wins this year’s southern hemisphere accolade.

If all goes to plan, someone will be able to pull off a big enough shock so that these two come to Johannesburg on the final day of competition level on points and with everything to play for.

Undoubtedly two of the most in-form teams in international rugby, the crops of talent currently within New Zealand and South Africa’s respective squads are among the best in the world, making for an almighty climax to the Rugby Championship.