The Rugby Championship

The stage is set for the Rugby Championship 2014, featuring four of the best teams in the world of rugby playing each other home and away.

Ben Smith has been given the nod at full-back ahead of Israel Dagg for New Zealand's opening Rugby Championship encounter against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

As the curtain draws on the 2014 Super Rugby competition, the second southern hemisphere tournament of the season - the Rugby Championship - is ready to spark into life.

There have been some intense sports events this northern hemisphere summer, the football World Cup in Brazil, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and currently the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup in France.

The All Blacks selectors have named their team for The Rugby Championship 2014 with three changes from the June Internationals team.

Talking Rugby Union’s very own man down-under, Scotty Donaldson, in his latest article looks past international frequency and picks his Rugby Championship teams, based purely on Super Rugby form.

Despite making a prolific start to his New Zealand career on the wing with 12 tries in 21 matches including eight in the 2013 Rugby Championship, Ben Smith is set to play the rest of the season at outside centre. But is this the right way for the All Blacks to go?

The final round of the 2013 Rugby Championship produced a superb advert for the game of rugby with New Zealand beating South Africa 38-27 in Johannesburg.

Watch as coaches Heyneke Meyer and Steve Hansen give their view on New Zealand's 38-27 win over South Africa in the final game of the 2013 Rugby Championship in Johannesburg.

Returning New Zealand captain Richie McCaw says the All Blacks are excited ahead of this weekend's 2013 Rugby Championship decider in Johannesburg.

The 2013 Rugby Championship title is up for grabs when New Zealand meet South Africa at Johannesburg's Ellis Park this weekend.

1995 World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar says this weekend's Rugby Championship decider could be the biggest game Ellis Park has ever hosted.

The Rugby Championship's penultimate round saw favourites New Zealand and South Africa both take convincing victories.

South Africa forwards coach Johann van Graan says that his side will have to be 'very clever and very clinical' if they are to beat New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby Championship decider on Saturday.

Argentina and New Zealand are stepping up their preparations for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in La Plata.

In the fourth and pivotal round of the 2013 Rugby Championship it was a case that South Africa won the battle but lost the war in a hugely physical competition at Eden Park on Saturday.

Watch as South Africa captain Jean de Villiers says he is 'excited' ahead of his side's crunch Rugby Championship 2013 clash against New Zealand this weekend.

Watch as Ben Mowen, who will captain Australia against Argentina in their fourth Rugby Championship 2013, talks about leading the side.

The fourth round of the 2013 Rugby Championship boasts a virtual final between New Zealand and South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland.

It was South Africa who made the biggest statement of the third round of the 2013 Rugby Championship with an emphatic 38-12 crushing of Australia.