After a week’s break the Rugby Championship is back with plenty still on the line.
In case you need a reminder of what we last saw, the Springboks came from behind again to make it four straight wins against the All Blacks, while the Wallabies were smashed by the Pumas in Argentina to fall to a record loss.
This week the Springboks hit the road and take on the Pumas for a battle to secure the Rugby Championship, while it’s a fight in Sydney for the losers to avoid the wooden spoon and — the Bledisloe Cup is also on the line, too.
Read on as we bring you the latest team news below and look ahead to the Round 5 clashes.
Saturday, September 21
Australia vs. New Zealand, Accor Stadium, 3:45pm AEST [5:45 NZT, 7:45am SAST, 2:45am ARG]
Australia:
Replacements:
New Zealand:
Replacements:
Team news:
Prediction:
Argentina vs. South Africa, Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero, 8pm ARG [9am Sun NZT, 7am Sun AEST, 11pm SAST]
Argentina:
Replacements:
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok.
Team news: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has taken the chance to rest some of his frontline stars after a torrid two-Test battle with the All Blacks, after he spared several players the trip to South America.
This week’s lineup sees Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Cobus Reinach all named in the starting backline, while Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Salmaan Moerat, Thomas du Toit and Malcolm Marx are all news faces in the run-on pack.
The team will be captained by Moerat with Siya Kolisi set to take up a position in the coach’s box this weekend.
Prediction: