We’re into the business end of the 2024 Rugby Championship this weekend, as the Southern Hemisphere’s leading nations do battle in round four on Saturday.
Revenge is on the minds of the All Blacks in Cape Town, when South Africa’s Springboks renew hostilities with New Zealand in a heavy duty contest.
Another growing enmity, meanwhile, pits Argentina against Australia in the second of their back-to-back fixtures in South America.
*All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
South Africa vs New Zealand – Kick off 17.00
One of world sport’s greatest rivalries creates its latest chapter in Cape Town on Saturday, when South Africa and New Zealand lock horns for the second week running in the 2024 Rugby Championship.
Destiny hasn’t quite dealt a decisive contest in the Mother City as far as the title goes, but last Saturday’s nerve-shredding victory for the Springboks in Johannesburg puts them in pole position to claim the crown for the first time in five years.
The All Blacks were left cursing the match officials as much as their luck at Ellis Park, as a 27-17 lead for the tourists evaporated to end in a 31-27 defeat – their second of the competition.
It leaves Rassie Erasmus and his charges with a perfect record, thanks also to a pair of healthy victories over Australia in the opening two rounds.
That means the visitors’ first round shock loss at home to Argentina could prove decisive, leaving them with no room for error at the Cape Town Stadium if they are to retain their crown.
Wallace Sititi comes on to the flank to replace the injured Ethan Blackadder in Scott Robertson’s run-on side.
There’s a start for Cortez Ratima at scrum-half, while Mark Te’lea and Sevu Reece are both introduced to freshen up the wings.
The Boks received a huge boost in the build up with the confirmation that captain Siya Kolisi is fit to start despite a hefty blow to the head last week.
Erasmus has shuffled his pack elsewhere, with Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse both included for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France a year ago.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett (vice captain), 11 Mark Te’lea, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea (vice captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Leinert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett.
Argentina vs Australia – Kick off 21.00
Argentina and Australia are both eyeing an opportunity in the 2024 Rugby Championship on Saturday, as they tackle the second match of their double-header in South America.
There was barely a cigarette paper between the pair in Buenos Aires a week ago.
Ben Donaldson held his nerve with the last kick of the game, slotting his penalty kick to pinch a dramatic 20-19 victory that was the first of this year’s competition for the Wallabies.
It hauled coach Joe Schmidt’s side to within a point of Los Pumas and, with New Zealand up against it in South Africa earlier in the day, both nations know a win could well take them above the All Blacks into second place in the standings.
The hosts must gather themselves and find the form that took them to victory over the Kiwis in the opening round, before a comprehensive defeat a week later brought them back down to earth.
It was a sigh of relief for the Wallabies, meanwhile, after they had been comfortably dispensed with by the Springboks in their own backyard before jetting off on tour to the Americas.
Four Australian changes include a starting debut for youngster Max Jorgensen on the wing, joined in the outside backs by the returning Andrew Kellaway.
Veteran James Slipper, meanwhile, will reach 139 Test match appearances and draw level with George Gregan’s record, provided he takes to the field from the replacements’ bench in Santa Fe.
There’s a similar landmark for Los Pumas, too, with captain and hooker Julian Montoya bringing up a century of caps for his country – the fourth Argentinian to reach the landmark.
A wealth of experience elsewhere in the pack covers the loss of legend Agustin Creevy, who has brought the curtain down on his stellar career.
Tomas Lavanini and Guido Petti both return to resume their formidable lock combination, while Tomas Albornoz gets the nod at fly half.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montyoa (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Joaquin Oviedo, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Gonzalo Garcia, 23 Santiago Carreras.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valentini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Josh Flook.
Rugby Championship Predictions for this weekend
South Africa – 72%
New Zealand – 26%
Margin: 3
Argentina – 72%
Australia – 25%
Margin – 9