Pumas get first crack at Kiwis
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History will be made when the condensed Rugby Championship kicks off next year as the Pumas take on New Zealand in the first game of the 2015 tournament.
Another first in the tournament will be that the initial game between the Pumas and the All Blacks will take place on a Friday, July 17, in Christchurch
This will serve as AMI Stadium's debut match in The Rugby Championship, although the temporary Addington, Christchurch venue has previously hosted the All Blacks on two prior occasions (a 22-19 victory over Ireland in 2012 and a 30-0 whitewash of France in 2013).
The other game of Round One sees the Springboks travelling to Australia for a match against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Brisbane meanwhile has proven a happy hunting ground for Australia with the Wallabies beating the Springboks on seven of eight occasions at Suncorp Stadium with their only blemish being a 12-38 defeat to the South Africans in September 2013.
The condensed three-round championship sees teams face each other once, with a champion to be crowned on August 8, before a stand-alone round serves as final preparation for September's much-anticipated World Cup.
SANZAR Chief Executive Greg Peters said, "The Rugby Championship continues to be one of the game's greatest tests, pitting the world's elite rugby nations against one another.
"The intense rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa has risen to lofty new heights in recent years and subsequently evolved into one of sport's 'must watch' events, captivating crowds in stadiums, bars and living rooms around the world.
"Argentina recently returned to the IRB's Top 10 and will seek to build on their inaugural victory in the championship while the Wallabies and All Blacks renew another rivalry steeped in history and tradition with clashes in Sydney and Auckland."
The Rugby Championship commences a fortnight after the Super Rugby Final on 4 July with the last round of matches concluding on August 15, giving teams just over a month before launching their World Cup campaigns.
Round One:
Friday, July 17: New Zealand v Argentina – AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday, July 18: Australia v South Africa – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Round Two
Saturday, July 25: South Africa v New Zealand – Venue TBC
Saturday, July 25: Argentina v Australia – Venue TBC
Round Three
Saturday, August 8: Australia v New Zealand – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, August 8: South Africa v Argentina – Venue TBC
Additional week: (not for competition points)
Saturday, August 15: New Zealand v Australia – Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, August 15: Argentina v South Africa – Venue TBC
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