After a week's break, The Rugby Championship returns with a change of scenery, as Australia and New Zealand have embarked on their own mini-tours to Argentina and South Africa respectively.
Bouncing back to a thumping win over the Pumas in Round 2, the All Blacks will face their biggest task yet under new coach Scott Robertson when they take on the world champions in Johannesburg. The task has been made even more challenging with the shock departure of assistant coach Leon MacDonald on the eve of their departure.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies have made a poor start to their campaign soundly beaten twice by the Springboks in Brisbane and Perth. Joe Schmidt will be hoping he can get his attack firing when they take on the Pumas over two weeks.
Read on as we bring you the latest team news below and look ahead to the Round 3 clashes.
Saturday, August 17
South Africa vs. New Zealand, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, 1am AEST [3am NZT, 5pm RSA, 12pm ARG]
Springboks: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Ethan Blackadder, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (c), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Sam Darry, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele'a
Team news: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed Eben Etzebeth is fit to play, with the veteran lock added back to the bench after he was originally left out of the 23 because of a foot injury. Ruan Nortje and Pieter-Steph du Toit will team up in the second-row, while Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche all return to the pack. In the backs, Erasmus has stuck with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at No. 10 but recalled Cobus Reinach inside him, while Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe all return after sitting out the second Test with Australia.
The All Blacks have meanwhile handed Sam Cane a shot at redemption after he was red-carded in last year's Rugby World Cup Final defeat in Paris. Cane has been named in the No. 7 jersey ahead of Dalton Papali'i, while skipper Scott Barrett makes his return from a finger injury.
Prediction: One of the most anticipated matches of the series, the All Blacks head to the not so happy hunting ground at Ellis Park, Johannesburg to face a world champion side no doubt ready to pounce. Already we've seen mind games from Rassie Erasmus with Eben Etzebeth ruled out only to be ruled back in, while the All Blacks were hit with a bomb before their departure with their assistant coach Leon MacDonald quitting his role. Meanwhile, the Springboks have named one of their strongest teams with their bomb squad making a return to the starting line-up, but debutant fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been thrown a challenging task. Hardly pushed by the Wallabies over the opening two weeks, the Springboks will relish the opportunity to test themselves against a stronger pack after the All Blacks produced their best game under new coach Scott Robertson two weeks ago, but despite the All Blacks finding a more complete game, the Boks' powerful pack are likely to run rampant.
South Africa by 12
Argentina vs. Australia, Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata, Buenos Aires, 8am AEST [10am NZ, 12am SA, 7pm ARG]
Pumas: Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Cordero, Lucio Ciniti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: Augustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Santiago Grondona, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Albornoz
Wallabies: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hamish Stewart, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell.
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen.
Team news: Six Tests into his Wallabies tenure and Joe Schmidt has named his fourth captain and handed out another Test debut. Reds veteran Hamish Stewart will make his first Wallabies start when he runs out in the No. 12 jersey in the absence of Hunter Paisami, meanwhile his Reds teammate Harry Wilson will become the 90th Wallabies captain. Taniela Tupou will make his return after a two Test absence due to his father's death, while Jake Gordon has been given the starting halfback role ahead of Nic White, and Nick Frost returns from a head knock to bolster the second-row.
The Pumas have named a side similar to the one that downed the All Blacks three weeks ago with just three changes to their starting 15. Santiago Cordero replace Matias Moroni on the wing while Marcos Kremer returns to the back-row. Their front-row has also been bolstered with Julian Montoya while Agustin Creevy returns via the bench.
Prediction: Dealt a reality check against the Springboks two weeks ago, the Wallabies enter La Plata with the knowledge they must find a way to unlock their attacking weapons and find some muscle upfront. The return of Taniela Tupou will be a major boost for the battling forward pack, while Rob Valetini will need to return to his line-breaking best to punch through a tough Pumas pack. While they may not be on the same level as the world champion Springboks, the Pumas still present a big challenge for a building Wallabies side. A big forward pack will test the Wallabies front-row, while their kicking game could open some opportunities for their backline to test the Wallabies back three.
Argentina by 7