The Rugby Championship returns for Round 5, featuring the year's opening Bledisloe Cup tie between Australia and New Zealand, while South Africa can win the tournament with a game to spare by beating Argentina.
- NEW ZEALAND -14
- ARGENTINA +10
Australia vs All Blacks
Australia and New Zealand meet in Sydney, aiming to put a tough fortnight behind them by winning the Bledisloe Cup opener.
Both are relatively early into their new eras, with the Wallabies making an encouraging start under Joe Schmidt by beating Wales and Georgia before twice being outclassed by South Africa.
They then won in Argentina 20-19, sparking hope of a revival under Schmidt but followed that performance with a walloping by the Pumas, losing 67-27.
There has been more soul-searching over the last fortnight but what better way to bounce back than against their great Antipodean rivals, who are also under the microscope?
New Kiwi boss Scott Robertson enjoyed a decent start but has since overseen a win and a defeat to Argentina and then two losses to South Africa. However, there is still potential for the team to improve, with Will Jordan gaining fitness all the time - and in his preferred position at full-back - and with caveats to their defeats to the Springboks due to Damian McKenzie's waywardness with the boot.
Beauden Barrett could replace McKenzie at fly-half but both have the ability to tear Australia's defence apart, especially with the All Blacks forwards possessing the power to provide a suitable platform.
New Zealand won 38-7 on their 2023 trip across the Tasman 38-7 and having been the 43-5 visitors on their most recent visit to Sydney in 2020, they can rebuild confidence with a big victory before doing something similar in next weekend's return match in Wellington.
Australia vs All Blacks Teams
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Bench: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Bench: 16 Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sevu Reece
Argentina vs Springboks
South Africa are four from four in this competition and, although other permutations exist, a victory against Argentina in Santiago del Estero will ensure they win the tournament for the first time since 2019.
Their winning run is more incredible when you consider they have rotated throughout the Rugby Championship and coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes from the team that beat New Zealand 18-12 on September 7.
Lock Salmaan Moerat will captain the side also featuring the returning Eben Etzebeth, while Handre Pollard starts at number 10.
Something the Springboks have done so well is settling into their new combinations early in games, which will be necessary against Argentina, who have fluctuated in this tournament and retain a penchant for heroic failure.
The Pumas' pack is among the best in the world and with Tomas Albornoz at fly-half, they also look better balanced with the ball in hand in their big win over the Wallabies.
Albornoz will look to put width on the ball but must wrestle control from his opposite number, Pollard.
Argentina have the quality to go close and are undoubtedly worth backing with a 10-point start, but the Boks' nous and know-how should see them record another victory.
Argentina vs Springboks Teams
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo
Bench: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Gudio Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok
