2024 Rugby Championship
The 2024 Rugby Championship was the thirteenth edition of the annual Southern Hemisphere rugby union competition, involving Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. New Zealand was the defending champion.
On 28 September, South Africa won the championship for the first time since 2019 after a 48–7 win against Argentina.
Table
Fixtures
Round 1
Notes:- Carlo Tizzano and Luke Reimer made their international debuts.
- RG Snyman was initially named at lock in the South Africa team, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He was replaced by Pieter-Steph du Toit, with Ben-Jason Dixon replacing du Toit at blindside flanker and Salmaan Moerat taking Dixon's place among the substitutes.
- South Africa retained the Mandela Challenge Plate.
Notes:
- Efraín Elías made his international debut.
- Argentina scored their most points against New Zealand, surpassing the 25 points scored in 2022.
- New Zealand conceded their most points in a home test match since conceding 36 against South Africa in 2018.
Round 2
- This was New Zealand's 50th test match without losing at Eden Park.
Notes:
- Seru Uru and Max Jorgensen made their international debuts.
Round 3
- South Africa win 3 consecutive matches against New Zealand for the first time since 2009.
Notes:
- Hamish Stewart ) made his international debut.
Round 4
- South Africa reclaim the Freedom Cup.
- South Africa records a 4th consecutive victory over New Zealand for the first time since 1949.
- This is South Africa's longest winning streak against New Zealand in the professional era.
- This was the first time since November 2018 that New Zealand have failed to score a try in a test match.
Notes:
- Julián Montoya became the fourth Argentine to earn his 100th test cap.
- Josh Canham made his international debut.
- James Slipper earned his 139th international cap, equalling George Gregan's record as Australia's most capped player.
- Argentina's 67 points was the most they have scored against Australia, and the 40-point margin is the largest they achieved over Australia, surpassing their previous high of 31 points set in 2022.
- This was Australia's record for points conceded in a test match, and their second-largest defeat by margin.
- Argentina retain the Puma Trophy.
Round 5
- Beauden Barrett was initially named at full-back in the New Zealand team, but was forced to withdraw shortly before the match due to illness. He was replaced by Sevu Reece, who came onto the wing, with Will Jordan moving to fullback. Harry Plummer replaced Reece on the bench.
- James Slipper won his 140th cap for Australia, overtaking George Gregan as the Wallabies' most capped player.
- Harry Plummer made his international debut.
- New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 22nd straight year, dating back to 2003.
Notes
- Eben Etzebeth equals Victor Matfield's record as most capped player for South Africa.
- Argentina beat South Africa for the first time since 2018.
- Argentina win 3 matches in one Rugby Championship for the first time.
- With this win, Argentina get at least one win over each nation in the Championship for the first time ever.
- This was Argentina's first victory against a No. 1 ranked side since the onset of the IRB/World Rugby rankings in 2003.
- Julián Montoya became the first Argentinian captain to have won Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and ninth overall after England's John Pullin, Will Carling, Martin Johnson, Owen Farrell, Ireland's Rory Best and France's Fabien Pelous, Thierry Dusautoir and Antoine Dupont.
Round 6
- Sam Cane became just the 8th All Blacks forward and the 13th New Zealander to earn his 100th test cap.
Notes:
- Eben Etzebeth won his 128th cap for South Africa, overtaking Victor Matfield as the Springboks' most capped player.
Statistics