The All
Blacks' sole meaningful home Test in the Rugby Championship next year
will be against Argentina in Christchurch on a Friday night. A shortened
championship schedule has been announced to allow for the Rugby World
Cup later in the year.
Each of the four Rugby Championship sides - New Zealand, Australia,
South Africa and Argentina - will play each other just once. The All
Blacks' Friday night match will give them more time to travel to South
Africa for their match the following weekend, at a venue which is yet to
be confirmed.
It will be their first Friday Test for 12 years.
Argentina have played only once before in Christchurch, losing 67-19 to the All Blacks in 2001.
The Rugby Championship winner will be known following the final round on August 8, when New Zealand face Australia in Sydney.
Another non-competition round will be played the following week, with
the All Blacks meeting the Wallabies in Auckland five weeks out from
their World Cup opener against Argentina in London.
Ten of Australia's last 16 Tests in New Zealand have been at Eden Park.
The All Blacks' open their season with a historic Test against Samoa in Apia on July 8, four days after the Super Rugby final.
THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW FOR 2015
ROUND 1 Friday 17 July: New Zealand v Argentina - AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 18 July: Australia v South Africa - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
ROUND 2 Saturday 25 July: South Africa v New Zealand - Venue TBC
Saturday 25 July: Argentina v Australia - Venue TBC
ROUND 3 Saturday 8 August: Australia v New Zealand - ANZ Stadium, Sydney Saturday 8 August: South Africa v Argentina - Venue TBC
ADDITIONAL WEEK (not for competition points): Saturday 15 August: New Zealand v Australia - Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday 15 August: Argentina v South Africa - Venue TBC.
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