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The match dates and venues have been finalized for the 2021 Rugby Championship. Los Pumas will play their first and second round matches against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. The remaining matches will exclusively be played in Australia and New Zealand; however, matches in New Zealand may yet be moved to Australia.
Los Pumas are to face the Springboks in away test matches on August 14 and 21. Argentina and South Africa will then travel east. The South Americans are scheduled to play away against the All Blacks in Auckland and Wellington. The third stage of the tournament will see Los Pumas facing the Wallabies in Eastern Australia. Game one against the Wallabies will be on September 25 in Newcastle and the second will take place in Canberra on October 02.
It means consecutive years of no home test matches for Argentina. Los Pumas played against Australia and New Zealand in Sydney and Newcastle in 2020. The South Americans completed an historic first ever win over New Zealand in Sydney. They then lost against the All Blacks in Newcastle in addition to competing to a draw against the Wallabies in Newcastle and then in Sydney.
The 2020 Rugby Championship was especially rebranded as the Tri Nations. This was a result of South Africa pulling-out of the tournament. Argentina committed to competing but had to give up home matches; the same applies to the 2021 competition.
Argentina’s on-field preparations for the Rugby Championship took the form of a three match tour of Europe this month. Los Pumas defeated Romania in Bucharest and completed a 1-0 test series victory over Wales in Cardiff.
Argentina’s roster is forthcoming. A 32-man squad was selected for the July Internationals. Little change is expected for the Rugby Championship; notwithstanding, a larger tour party is likely.
2021 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
Saturday, August 07
New Zealand vs Australia, Eden Park, Auckland*
Saturday, August 14
South Africa vs Argentina, Port Elizabeth
Saturday, August 21
Australia vs New Zealand, Optus Stadium, Perth
South Africa vs Argentina, Port Elizabeth
Saturday, August 28
New Zealand vs Australia, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday, September 11
New Zealand vs Argentina, Eden Park, Auckland
Sunday, September 12
Australia vs South Africa, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Saturday, September 18
New Zealand vs Argentina, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Australia vs South Africa, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, September 25
New Zealand vs South Africa, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Australia vs Argentina, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Saturday, October 02
New Zealand vs South Africa, Eden Park, Auckland
Australia vs Argentina, GIO Stadium, Canberra
*Only Bledisloe Cup
