[10][11] These results and their 11-match winning streak leading into the tournament made New Zealand firm favourites to secure their fourth Rugby Championship title since it expanded to include Argentina five years ago.

In the first half Ryan Crotty, Jerome Kaino, Waisake Naholo and man of the match Beauden Barrett scored tries for New Zealand, while Australia only managed a solitary penalty through Bernard Foley.

South Africa took the lead for the first time in the match with six minutes left when Pieter-Steph du Toit scored a try and then Morne Steyn landed a penalty.

Argentina were able to defended strongly to prevent South Africa scoring any more points, before Gonzalez Iglesias landed a match winning penalty in the 77th minute.

Whiteley and Goosen had scored tries early for South Africa to give them the lead, while an Adam Coleman try and two Foley penalties brought Australia to within one point.

Early in the second half South African lock Eben Etzebeth was sin binned for a dangerous challenge and Foley kicked the resulting penalty to give Australia a slight lead.

[17] In the fourth round New Zealand continued their winning form, downing South Africa 41–13 in Christchurch, while Argentina fell to a 36–20 defeat in Australia.

Quade Cooper then set up a decisive try for Michael Hooper to give Australia a 20-point lead, with Argentina only managing a late consolation try to Facundo Isa.

[40] 1 On 10 August 2016, Felipe Arregui, replacing Santiago García Botta, was named in Argentina's 26-man travelling squad for the opening match against South Africa.

[43] 1 On 4 September, Rory Arnold, Kyle Godwin, Luke Morahan, Sefa Naivalu and Henry Speight were called up to the squad as injury replacements and cover for Adam Ashley-Cooper (returned to France), Matt Giteau and Rob Horne (ruled out for remainder of Championship) and Ben McCalman and Matt To'omua (still recovering from injury sustained in Round 1).

[48] 1 On 11 August, Anton Lienert-Brown was called up to replace Sonny Bill Williams who was injured during the 2016 Summer Olympics rugby sevens tournament.

[49] 2 On 14 August, Kane Hames and Matt Todd were added to the squad for the first match of the Championship as injury cover for Joe Moody and Sam Cane.

[50] 3 On 22 August, Liam Coltman, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie, James Parsons and Seta Tamanivalu were called up to the squad as injury cover for Ryan Crotty, Nathan Harris, George Moala, Waisake Naholo and Codie Taylor.

[51] Head coach Allister Coetzee named the following 31-man training squad for the 2016 Rugby Championship on 6 August 2016:[52] 1 Trevor Nyakane was initially included pending medical clearance.