It’s all to play for as we hit the third round of action in the 2024 Rugby Championship this weekend.
As the four leading Southern Hemisphere rugby nations click back into gear following the bye week, there’s the mouthwatering prospect of South Africa’s Springboks facing the New Zealand All Blacks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Their crunch clash is followed by another with plenty riding on it, as Australia seek a first win of their campaign having made the journey to Argentina.
*All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
South Africa vs New Zealand – 9.05, Saturday 31 August
One of the most momentous contests in world sport takes centre stage in the 2024 Rugby Championship on Saturday, as South Africa and New Zealand collide at the iconic Ellis Park.
The pair meet at altitude in Johannesburg in the first of back-to-back epics, with this and next week’s Cape Town clash likely to go a long way to deciding the destination of this year’s title.
It’s the Springboks who have a perfect record after their first two fixtures, both on tour Down Under in Australia.
A brace of similarly comprehensive victories has been the reward for the efforts of Rassie Erasmus and his charges, who opened up with a 30-12 win in Brisbane before notching a 33-7 success in Perth.
The All Blacks were stunned by Argentina in their own back yard in round one, crashing to a 30-38 defeat.
But coach Scott Robertson’s side restored order a fortnight ago when they roused themselves to a 42-10 win, although it leaves them needing positive results on the African continent if they are to retain their Southern Hemisphere crown.
Erasmus always has a plan up his South African sleeve, this time making nine changes from their last outing in Western Australia.
Jasper Wiese makes a return to the run-on side, while Aphelele Fassi is also restored to the full-back role amid a swathe of Springboks injuries.
Captain Scott Barrett makes his comeback for the All Blacks in the locks, as former skipper Sam Cane starts for the first time since the World Cup final between the pair nearly a year ago.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 – Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a.
Argentina vs Australia – 0.00, Sunday 1 September
There’s plenty at stake in the Rugby Championship on Saturday, as Argentina and Australia face off in round three in Buenos Aires.
Both appear to be in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon as we head to the midway point of the 2024 competition, albeit with the hosts having the upper hand as they play at home for the first time.
That’s because they came home from a brace of fixtures in New Zealand having claimed a famous, 38-30 victory in the first round to stun the All Blacks and the rugby world.
A 42-10 reverse in round two a fortnight ago brought Los Pumas back down to earth, but they nevertheless have four points on the board.
That’s more than can be said for the Wallabies, who have jetted to South America off the back of a brace of humbling losses on home turf in the opening rounds.
Joe Schmidt’s bid to move his side on from the disastrous reign of Eddie Jones took a hit at the hands of back-to-back World Cup winners South Africa, losing 30-12 in their Brisbane curtain-raiser.
It was 33-7 in the second round in Perth, leaving the Wallabies with no room to spare as they attempt to salvage their campaign in the Argentine capital.
And they do so with a new captain at the helm in the form of eighth man Harry Wilson, who will skipper Hamish Stewart as he makes his debut at inside centre.
Taniela Tupou and Nick Frost both make their returns to Schmidt’s run-on side on tour.
The home side have shuffled the positional pack, with Joel Sclavi restored to a front row that endured a difficult time in the second round of action.
Santiago Cordero replaces Matias Moroni, meanwhile, in the only backline alteration.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Tomas Albarnoz.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.
Rugby Championship Predictions for this weekend
South Africa- 62.3%
New Zealand – 37.7%
Score margin: 4
Argentina – 79.9%
Australia – 20.1%
Score margin: 11