2017 Rugby Championship squads and fixtures

NEW ZEALAND

World ranking: 1

Coach: Steve Hansen

Captain: Kieran Read

Titles: 14 (1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)

Forwards: Kieran Read, Liam Squire, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris.

Backs: Ben Smith, David Havili, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Rieko Ioane, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Damian McKenzie, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

AUSTRALIA

World ranking: 4

Coach: Michael Cheika

Captain: Michael Hooper

Titles: Four (2000, 2001, 2011, 2015)

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Jack Dempsey, Kane Douglas, Tetera Faulkner, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Adam Korczyk, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Lopeti Timani, Jordan Uelese.

Backs: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Billy Meakes, Izaia Perese, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona, Henry Speight.

SOUTH AFRICA

World ranking: 5

Coach: Allister Coetzee

Captain: Eben Etzebeth

Titles: Three (1998, 2004, 2009)

Forwards: Dan du Preez, Uzair Cassiem, Jean-Luc du Preez, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Oupa Mohoje, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Lizo Gqoboka, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Chiliboy Ralepelle.

Backs: Andries Coetzee, Warrick Gelant, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule, Courtnall Skosan, Jan Serfontein, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Francois Venter, Curwin Bosch, Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Ross Cronje, Francois Hougaard, Rudy Paige.

ARGENTINA

World ranking: 9

Coach: Daniel Hourcade

Captain: Agustin Creevy

Titles: None

Forwards: Agustin Creevy, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Santiago Garcia Botta, Lucas Noguera Paz, Ramiro Herrera, Enrique Pieretto, Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Lezana, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Benjamin Macome, Rodrigo Baez, Leonardo Senatore.

Backs: Martin Landajo, Tomas Cubelli, Gonzalo Bertranou, Nicolas Sanchez, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Bautista Ezcurra, Juan Martin Hernandez, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Manuel Montero, Ramiro Moyano, Santiago Cordero, Joaquin Tuculet, Emiliano Boffelli.

FIXTURES (kickoffs GMT) Aug. 19 Australia v New Zealand, Sydney (1000)

South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth (1505) Aug. 26 New Zealand v Australia, Dunedin (0735)

Argentina v South Africa, Salta (1730) Sept. 9 New Zealand v Argentina, New Plymouth (0735)

Australia v South Africa, Perth (1000) Sept. 16 New Zealand v South Africa, Auckland (0735)

Australia v Argentina, Canberra (1000) Oct. 1 South Africa v Australia, Bloemfontein (1505)

Argentina v New Zealand, Buenos Aires (2230) Oct. 8 South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town (1505)

Argentina v Australia, Mendoza (2230)

* Titles includes Tri-Nations, which ran from 1996 to 2011 before the addition of Argentina. (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by John O'Brien)