The Rugby Championship 2022 Champions Decided: New Zealand Crowned Champions
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SANZAAR has confirmed that New Zealand has won The Rugby Championship 2022 (TRC). This was confirmed by results in the last round of the tournament highlighted by the All Blacks' big 40-14 bonus point victory over the Wallabies in Auckland.
It was the closest tournament for several years with the title only being decided by the result of the twelfth and last match of the tournament in Durban between South Africa and Argentina. South Africa had to win with a bonus point and by a margin of 39 points. The 38-21 win without a bonus point was not enough in the end.
The All Blacks and Springboks went into the last and sixth round tied on 14 points each, with Australia on 10 points and Argentina on 9 points. Mathematically all teams still had an outside chance of lifting the trophy depending on the results of the final round.
It all came down to bonus points in the end as both New Zealand and South Africa won four matches in the series. New Zealand finished the championship with 19 points, courtesy of that bonus point win in Auckland, to South Africa's 18.
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris stated, "We witnessed a wonderful tournament this year in front of full stadiums and an environment free from the pandemic. It allowed the teams to fully prepare unencumbered and we witnessed world-class rugby across the entire tournament. The introduction of the mini-tour concept this year also proved incredibly popular with the fans and our broadcasters."
"It was tremendously exciting that the outcome of the tournament was not decided until the twelfth and very last match. Going into the last round all teams were still in the hunt for the title. Our sincere congratulations go to all teams for the rugby they produced on the field this year and of course to the eventual champions New Zealand."
It is New Zealand's ninth title since the inception of The Rugby Championship in 2012.
Due to the All Blacks and Springboks being tied on points going into the last round and the fact that their last matches were in Auckland and Durban respectively, the trophy was not presented due to the uncertainty as to who would triumph and the huge distances between the two venues. The trophy will be presented to the winning union in due course.
