Event of the Day: Australia v New Zealand

Our event of the day...

is the opening game of the 2017 Rugby Championship between Australia and New Zealand at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. A poor run in form has seen the Wallabies lose three of their last five matches, defeats against Scotland, Ireland and England and the two wins against Fiji and Italy, and they will therefore be hoping to get the championship underway with an impressive performance against the All Blacks.

Australian coach Michael Cheika has called upon Rugby League convert Curtis Rona to make his international debut on the left wing, whilst also bringing back Kurtley Beale to make his first start at inside centre, in what will be his first game for the Wallabies since their loss to the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup Final. The All Blacks recall Sonny Bill Williams who has finished serving a four-match suspension, and is one of six changes made by Steve Hansen since his side drew 15-15 with the British and Irish Lions back in July. The Wallabies have lost all five of their last five matches against the All Blacks – a win at home against their southern hemisphere rivals would be a significant upset and would be a thrilling start to the Rugby Championship.

Honourable mentions...

around the globe go to the Vuelta a España, which is the final Grand Tour race of the 2017 season. The three-week race will begin in Nîmes, France and finish in Madrid, Spain. If successful, Chris Froome will become the third cyclist in history to win both the Tour De France and the Vuelta a España in the same year.

The 2017/18 Premiership season continues with seven fixtures today - our pick of the day being Stoke City versus Arsenal at the bet365 Stadium. Day three of the day-night test being played between England and the West Indies continues at Edgbaston. South Africa host Argentina in the 2017 Rugby Championship. It is day two of the Solheim Cup at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. The Western and Southern Open continues in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

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