Australia vs. New Zealand Rugby: 3 Things to Know Before The Perth Showdown
Australia vs. New Zealand Rugby: 3 Things to Know Before The Perth Showdown
Get key insight before Australia faces New Zealand in Perth, with streaks, pressure points and players to watch in The Rugby Championship Round 6 clash.
The Australia Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks face off this Saturday (Oct. 4) for the sixth, and final, round of The Rugby Championship.
This follows their first tournament matchup last week, which ended in a 33-24 victory for New Zealand.
The game kicks off at 5:45 a.m. ET at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. Here's what to know before the action:
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The All Blacks hold a commanding 10-game winning streak over the Wallabies, with their last loss to Australia coming in November 2020.
Interestingly, New Zealand has scored exactly 33 points in each of its last two meetings with Australia.
The All Blacks also are on a four-match winning run on Australian soil, their best stretch since a remarkable 15-game streak between 1938 and 1974.
This upcoming clash in Perth will be the third test between the sides in the city, with each team claiming one win previously.
Pressure For Both Sides
Australia enters Round 6 looking to halt a two-game losing skid, hoping to avoid three straight defeats for the first time since September 2024.
Despite their losses, the Wallabies have stayed competitive, with each of their last six defeats coming by fewer than 10 points.
For New Zealand, a win by at least six points is critical to finishing The Rugby Championship without a negative points differential, something the team has only achieved once before in 2019.
Defensive lapses remain a concern, as the All Blacks have conceded over 27 points per game this tournament.
Key Players To Watch
Set-piece dominance could play a decisive role.
New Zealand has scored 14 tries from line-outs this tournament, including seven across its last two tests against Australia.
Caleb Clarke continues to torment the Wallabies with a four-game try streak against them.
On the Australian side, Carlo Tizzano’s tackling perfection and recent try-scoring touch highlight the forward pack’s importance in this rivalry.
What Is The Rugby Championship?
The Rugby Championship is an annual tournament featuring the four highest-ranked Southern Hemisphere teams: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
Each team plays the others twice, earning points based on wins, draws, tries scored and point margins.
The current format includes two consecutive matches against the same opponent before moving on to the next. After six rounds, the team with the most points is crowned champion.
The Rugby Championship 2025 Schedule
Aug. 16
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Sept. 6
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Sept. 27
Oct. 4
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