2025 Rugby Championship Preview - Battle expected between All Blacks and Springboks

That said, the 2025 Rugby Championship promises to be one of the best yet. It is near impossible to decide who will hold the trophy, so let's take a look at the teams and their odds.

The favourites are New Zealand, followed by defending Rugby World Cup and Rugby Championship winners, South Africa. Australia are a distant third while many still underestimate Argentina.

Much of the odds are decided based on who plays who and where. Everyone plays everyone twice, the key being who hosts the games.

The All Blacks are favourites mostly because they have two home games against South Africa. Perhaps the most sought-after ticket in world rugby takes place in that mini tour when the Springboks face the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland.

New Zealand have not lost at Eden Park in 50 matches. Their last defeat at that ground came against France in 1994.

Let's have a look at how the teams stack up.

As mentioned above, the All Blacks host South Africa twice this year. In 2024, South Africa won both home games against New Zealand and went on to win the trophy. While there are many other key fixtures, the winner is likely to be decided in this two-game tour.

But there are not only two teams in this tournament. New Zealand starts the Rugby Championship with two successive away matches against Argentina. This will not be straightforward for the All Blacks who may have a dominant record against Los Pumas, but they have lost to them a few times recently.

Back in 2020, Argentina beat the All Blacks in Australia before winning in Christchurch in 2022 and last season, Los Pumas won 38-30 in Wellington.

Much can go wrong on this tour for Scott Robertson's side before they even welcome South Africa. However, should they win both games in South America, it would set up a tasty clash at Eden Park in round three.

After hosting the Springboks for two games, the All Blacks will face Australia twice - once home, once away to decide the Bledisloe Cup.

Odds: 2.37 with 10bet

South Africa are the defending champions and will be full of confidence coming in the 2025 Rugby Championship. They are the envy of rugby at the moment with squad depth very few can even think about matching.

The Springboks start their title defence with two home games against Australia in rounds one and two. Last season, the Boks comfortably beat the Wallabies away from home in both fixtures, but this year, after Australia's impressive showing against the British & Irish Lions, many are more confident about the men from down under.

Those two matches will be followed by two matches in New Zealand. These are the matches everyone is waiting for, particularly the first one at Eden Park. As mentioned above, this is likely going to be the games that decide where the title goes, although, South Africa can easily slip up against the other two sides.

The Rugby Championship is ended by home and away matches against Argentina. South Africa's record in Argentina is not one that will spike too much confidence after losing to Los Pumas away last season.

Odds: 10.00 with 10bet

Australia are just starting to come out of their slump which bodes well, not only for the Rugby Championship, but for the sport as a whole. 

From not even getting out of the group stage at the 2023 Rugby World Cup to finishing bottom of the Rugby Championship last year, the Wallabies have started to show signs of light under Joe Schmidt.

Schmidt has the credentials after turning Ireland's fortunes around a number of years back. This has certainly been a challenging job for him but after coming in last season, his stamp can finally be seen on the team.

During the recent B+I Lions tour, the Wallabies surprised many after most pundits thought they'd be wiped aside 3-0. After the first Test where Australia was poor, many thought that was the outcome win waiting, but a few players returned from injury, and they suffered a narrow second test defeat before winning the third.

It is probably too early to consider the Wallabies as real challengers this year, but they certainly have a side that can cause upsets against New Zealand and South Africa. Time will tell and perhaps a tough start with two Tests in South Africa will be just the medicine they need.

Should the Wallabies get a win in one of those games against the Springboks, who knows where momentum will take them with two matches at home against Argentina to follow before the Bledisloe Cup games against New Zealand, both home and away.

Odds: 26.00 with 10bet

Argentina, along with Australia, are certainly the dark horses of the tournament. With everyone watching out for New Zealand and South Africa, Los Pumas can sneak under the radar a bit.

There is little doubt about Argentina's quality. They have world class players and have shown capability of beating anyone. Just last year they beat New Zealand away from home.

The issue for Argentina isn't their quality, it is their lack of consistency. They have developed a bad habit, and it showed last season.

After beating New Zealand in Wellington, they were played off the park a week later by the same opposition. They then lost at home to Australia in the last minute, a game they probably should have won much earlier on.

The following week, Los Pumas put 60+ points past the Wallabies. They then beat South Africa at home but again couldn't back it up the following week in South Africa.

If they can get some consistency this season, who knows where they could go. A win or even two in the first two rounds at home against the All Blacks could set a title challenge in motion.

They are more than capable of beating Australia away from home, despite the Wallabies improvement. And they have also already shown they are able to beat the Springboks on home soil. Consistency will be key for Los Pumas this season.

Despite not looking great against a weakened French side in July, the All Blacks are rightfully favourites this season. South Africa will believe they can win at least one of the two games in New Zealand, and if they do, the title will be right in the balance.

Australia and Argentina are likely to fight it out for third, but if either of them are to challenge to top two, my money would be on Argentina, especially if they can beat the All Blacks for the first time ever on home soil.