After a thrilling first week of Rugby Championship action, the premier southern hemisphere competition returns this weekend with all four nations in action.
Argentina produced an impressive display as they stunned reigning champions New Zealand 38-30 in Wellington in round one, with Gloucester fly-half Santiago Carreras kicking a perfect seven from seven.
World champions South Africa also got off to a winning start in more emphatic fashion as two tries from winger Kurt-Lee Arendse helped the Springboks to a dominant 33-7 victory over Australia in Brisbane.
Matchweek two sees a repeat of the opening weekend fixtures and both the All Blacks and the Wallabies will be hoping for better results in front of their own fans.
- NEW ZEALAND TO WIN BY 13+ POINTS
- SOUTH AFRICA TO WIN BY 21-30 POINTS
- MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI TO SCORE A TRY ANYTIME
Bet On The Rugby Championship
All Blacks To Claim Revenge
New Zealand may have fallen to a shock defeat to Argentina last time out but, if history is anything to go by, they may hit back with a bang in their second meeting in Auckland.
The Pumas have beaten the All Blacks in two previous Rugby Championships and each of these victories were followed by heavy losses in the following meetings with the Kiwis - 38-0 in 2020 and 53-3 in 2022.
Scott Robertson’s men will be out for blood in this fixture and need a win to keep their hopes of another Rugby Championship title alive.
With 16 wins from their 18 total home meetings with Argentina, expect the All Blacks to be firing on all cylinders on Saturday.
NEW ZEALAND TO WIN BY 13+ POINTS
Springboks To Storm To Victory Again
South Africa are the likeliest challengers to New Zealand’s Rugby Championship crown and the world champions can ease to another victory against Australia when they meet in Perth.
The Springboks have won each of their last three meetings with the Wallabies and have enjoyed their recent travels to Australia, winning both of their last two visits by at least 16 points.
Australia have not registered more than 12 points in any of their last three head-to-heads with the Boks and they may struggle to get many points on the board on Saturday, while the visitors will be confident that they can replicate their 26-point winning margin of last weekend.
SOUTH AFRICA TO WIN BY 21-30 POINTS
Mapimpi Can Shine For South Africa
After being rested for the tournament opener last weekend, South African winger Makazole Mapimpi will be champing at the bit to return to the field and he could make his mark on the contest.
The 34-year-old scored a hat-trick -n his last international appearance - a 64-21 thumping of minnows Portugal in July - and the Sharks star also has seven Rugby Championship tries to his name.
Rassie Erasmus will be expected to make plenty of changes to his starting XV and Mapimpi could benefit from this. Should he appear, it would be a surprise if the veteran does not get his name on the scoresheet.
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI TO SCORE A TRY ANYTIME
