There has been a change to the Rugby Championship fixtures. It means that the All Blacks’ Christmas wish has been granted. They will be able to travel home in time for quarantine and thus time with their families on Christmas Day.
The change brings forward the final round fixture. New Zealand were to face Australia on Saturday, December 12. The match was a double-header in Sydney following Argentina vs South Africa. Los Pumas vs the Springboks will remain on the scheduled date, but the fixture will take place in Newcastle.
The Bledisloe Cup fixture has been brought forward. It will remain in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, though now it will take place on Saturday, October 31.
The remaining 2020 Rugby Championship matches will continue unchanged. The Australia vs New Zealand match in October will officially open the tournament. It will fall one week before the original round one fixtures.
Argentina vs South Africa will be the first match for both teams. It will take place in Brisbane on Saturday, November 07. Australia vs New Zealand will also take place that day. In other words, the Christmas wish sees back-to-back Bledisloe Cup matches.