Rugby Championship predictions & betting tips: Springboks have the edge in tight showdown

Where to watch South Africa vs New Zealand

You can watch South Africa vs New Zealand on Sky Sports Action at 4pm on Saturday

Match prediction & best bet

South Africa to win by one to 12 points
1pt 8-5 bet365

South Africa vs New Zealand predictions

South Africa have opened the Rugby Championship with two convincing wins in Australia and are back on home soil for this repeat of last autumn's Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks.

The Springboks won that clash by a single point playing against 14 men for 50 minutes, and this contest could be equally hard-fought.

New Zealand opened their campaign with an error-strewn defeat to Argentina but they bounced back with a big win a week later and may have an edge now that they have had to dig deep.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made ten changes to his team to face Australia from matchday one to two, and although they have close to a first-choice line-up on show, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at fly-half having made his first start a fortnight ago, and he has a new partner at nine in Cobus Reinach.

New Zealand looked like their old attacking selves in round two and they have grabbed the first try inside 20 minutes in all of their five Tests this year. But South Africa look to hold the advantage in defence and the set piece, and their powerful bench could make the difference as the game wears on.

Where to watch Argentina vs Australia

You can watch Argentina vs Australia on Sky Sports Action at 11pm on Saturday

Match prediction & best bet

Argentina -7
1pt Evs bet365

Argentina vs Australia predictions

Argentina have won their last two meetings with Australia and are favourites to make it three in a row against the Wallabies for the first time.

Los Pumas got a sharp lesson from New Zealand in round two of the Rugby Championship, beaten 42-10 by the All Blacks in Auckland just a week after a famous 38-30 victory in Wellington.

They felt the wrath of a stung New Zealand side in the second match having been helped by their opponents' shoddy performance in the first, but Saturday's match in La Plata will be all about home pride and giving a winning send-off to a legend.

Pumas hooker Agustin Creevy is on the bench for his final Test having racked up 109 caps, and his teammates are sure to give their all for him.

Australia have rung the changes again - number eight Harry Wilson is the new captain while Hamish Stewart makes his debut at inside centre, and this team is unlikely to get time to gel against an onslaught from Argentina's forwards.

A rainy forecast adds to the conviction that the Pumas' pack and kicking game will be key to posting a decent home victory.

Click for more free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.