The Rugby Championship: Round Three predictions and teams for Saturday 6 September 2025

It’s all up for grabs in The Rugby Championship this weekend, as the Southern Hemisphere showdown reaches the halfway mark off the back of a precious rest week.

All four nations are locked on a win and a defeat apiece after the opening two rounds, leaving everything to play for in a fascinating 2026 edition.

The attention shifts Down Under, too, with the contest between Australia and Argentina paving the way for the sport’s ultimate showdown as New Zealand collide with South Africa at Eden Park.

*All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)

Australia vs Argentina – Kick Off 6.30

Australia and Argentina kick off the third round of The Rugby Championship on Saturday, as they go head-to-head in Townsville.

The Wallabies have a spring in their step as they return to home soil in Queensland with a South African scalp added to their collection.

Back-to-back games in the reigning Rugby World Cup champions’ back yard yielded a stunning, 38-22 opening round victory for the Aussies inside Johannesburg’s Ellis Park cauldron.

While they went on to slip to a 30-22 reverse in Cape Town a fortnight ago, there are plenty of grounds for optimism for coach Joe Schmidt and Co amid his long-term rebuild after Eddie Jones’s tumultuous reign.

The same is true for Los Pumas, who also came out of their home double against New Zealand with a famous win.

A 24-41 opening round loss was a competitive effort – and it paved the way for a 29-23 success in round two that more than hints at the South American nation’s ability to push all the way.

Julian Montoya captains an Argentine side packed with international pedigree.

Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer add plenty of that further back in the pack, with Bautista Delguy and Juan Cruz Mallia among those expected to spark the backline.

Boris Wenger and Geronimo Prisciantelli, meanwhile, come in at the other end of the scale as they prepare to earn their first Test caps from the replacements’ bench.

The Wallabies are boosted by the return of captain Harry Wilson for their homecoming, after the eighth man missed out with knee trouble at the Cape Town Stadium.

Andrew Kellaway has been given the nod to start at full-back for the hosts, with Tom Wright crocked for the long-term with an ACL tear.

Tom Lynagh is preferred at fly-half by coach Schmidt, alongside the familiar face of Nic White in the nine jersey.

Australia vs Argentina – Teams and Prediction

Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson.

Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu.

Argentina Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquin Oviedo, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.

New Zealand vs South Africa – Kick Off 9.05

It’s the biggest game in world rugby this Saturday, as New Zealand and South Africa go to war at Eden Park in The Rugby Championship.

The pair are first and second in the World Rugby rankings and their latest meeting is a mouthwatering prospect in Auckland, not to mention it being the first of a double-header as the circus rolls on to Wellington next week.

Only two bonus points separate the duo following their opening two rounds, as all four of the Southern Hemisphere’s top nations shared the spoils.

The All Blacks opened up with a just-about-comfortable 41-24 win in Argentina, before Los Pumas roared back to stun Scott Robertson’s men 29-23 two weeks ago.

It was quite the reverse on home turf for the Springboks.

They had to recover their composure sharpish to seal a 30-22 victory over Australia in Cape Town last time out, having been rocked by the Wallabies in Johannesburg for a 22-38 first round defeat.

Rassie Erasmus’s reigning back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions now face the ultimate touring test – and they do so with the return of talisman Siya Kolisi at eighth man.

The regular captain and South African icon has been pressed into his comeback from a knee injury earlier than desired, though, with Jean-Luc du Preez having gone down lame in the build up.

It also means Jesse Kriel will keep the captain’s armband in Auckland having led the Boks in Kolisi’s absense a fortnight ago.

And there’s always the return of record appearance maker Eben Etzebeth and former World Player of The Year Pieter-Steph du Toit if the tourists were feeling at all underpowered.

Finlay Christie is hailed from the international wilderness by All Blacks coach Robertson, who had been left scratching round at scrum-half by injuries, meaning rookie Kyle Preston is also in line for a first cap off the bench.

Wallace Sititi also comes back into the international fold, in a home side that sees Emoni Narawa in on the wing for Sevu Reece.

New Zealand vs South Africa – Teams and Prediction

New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie.

South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.