Australia and NZ shoot for Rugby C’ship silverware in Perth finale

Australia and New Zealand meet again at a sold-out Perth Stadium on Saturday, a week after a bruising battle at Eden Park, hoping to lay claim to the Rugby Championship trophy, if only temporarily.

- 

The champagne will be on ice for the victors, though, with South Africa in the box seat to secure back-to-back titles with a win over Argentina at Twickenham a few hours later.

That prospect should do nothing to dampen the intensity of the showdown in Perth, where the much-improved hosts will look to give prop James Slipper the sendoff he deserves in his I5ist and final international.

Scott Robertson's All Blacks, meanwhile, will be desperate to preserve their traditional dominance over their trans-Tasman rivals.

New Zealand already locked away the bilateral Bledisloe Cup with a 33-24 win at Eden Park but will want to sign off on a high note from the Rugby Championship after what has at times been a sobering campaign.