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Rugby Championship Round 3 Live Updates & Team News - Get live updates and team news for the Rugby Championship

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 27 Jul 2023

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Ralph Staniforth 27 Jul 2023

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The final round of the Rugby Championship is on 29 July 2023
Victory for the All Blacks will secure the title
Springboks expected to make changes

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New Zealand set to claim Rugby Championship title (Getty Images)

Rugby Championship Round 3

The final round of the 2023 Rugby Championship kicks off on 29 July 2023 when Australia host New Zealand at 11:45 SAST. Later that afternoon South Africa host Argentina in the final game of this year’s competition.

Rugby Championship Round 3
Australia vs New Zealand
South Africa vs Argentina

New Zealand have won their opening two matches against Argentina and South Africa. Victory against Australia, who have lost both of their fixtures, will secure the title for the All Blacks.

While the race for the Rugby Championship title looks all but over, South Africa and Argentina still have plenty to play for with the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Australia vs New Zealand

Kick Off: Saturday, 29 July @11:45 SAST

Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Australia have lost their opening two games of the Rugby Championship. In round one they were hammered by South Africa before going down to Argentina on home soil last time out. This has put huge pressure on Eddie Jones and the rest of his coaching staff.

Turning it around against an in-form All Blacks side will be even more difficult for the Wallabies. New Zealand thrashed Argentina in the opening round before a 20-minute blitz saw off the Springboks in Auckland a fortnight ago.

Regardless of the form, it is the first Test of the Bledisloe Cup and Australia will almost certainly up their game against their rivals.

Australia Team News

Eddie Jones has made a number of changes as he continues to search for the right combinations ahead of the World Cup.

Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Izaia Perese.

New Zealand Team News

The All Blacks have suffered a blow with Sam Cane ruled out for this clash. Other changes have also been made.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Caleb Clarke.

Odds

New Zealand are clear favourites with bet.co.za at 1.18. Australia are paying 4.75 for the win. However, the value is in the handicap market with the handicap set at 12 points with odds of 1.90 at Sportingbet.

Given the results in the first two rounds, it would seem the bookies are giving the Wallabies far more credit than they’ve earned. It might be played in Australia, but if the results this year are anything to go by, the All Blacks to cover will be my bet.

Read our preview for Australia vs New Zealand Bledisloe Cup fixture here.

South Africa vs Argentina

Kick Off: Saturday, 29 July @ 17:00 SAST

Where: Emirates Airline Park

South Africa blew Australia away at Loftus Versfeld in round one with a largely second-string side. With 13 players sent to New Zealand early, it was a risk that didn’t pay off a week later.

The Springboks were the talk of the town but a sublime opening 20 minutes in Auckland by the hosts saw the South Africans playing catch up for the next 60 minutes.

While the men in green got back into the game in the second half, the All Blacks had more than enough quality to win with ease.

Argentina started the Rugby Championship slowly, losing comfortably at home against the dominant All Blacks. However, Los Pumas have a history of starting slowly and steadily progressing in performance.

That showed two weeks ago when they beat Australia away from home. It was a fine performance by Argentina, but they will have to be even better against South Africa this time around.

South Africa Team News

Jacques Nienaber has continued the rotation of his side ahead of the final Rugby Championship fixture as was expected. Much of the feared 'bomb squad' starts this encounter.

South Africa Starting Line-up

15 – Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, 13 – Jesse Kriel, 12 – Damian de Allende, 11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 – Manie Libbok, 9 – Grant Williams, 8 – Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 – Marco van Staden, 5 – Marvin Orie, 4 – Eben Etzebeth, 3 – Frans Malherbe, 2 – Malcolm Marx, 1 – Steven Kitshoff

Replacements:

16 – Bongi Mbonambi, 17 – Trevor Nyakane, 18 – Vincent Koch, 19 – Kwagga Smith, 20 – RG Snyman, 21 – Faf de Klerk, 22 – Lukhanyo Am, 23 – Damian Willemse.

Argentina Team News

Argentina will announce their side later this week.

Odds

There is no value on a South Africa win at 1.07 while Argentina are paying 8.00 for an upset. However, the handicap is set at 18 points with betway, something I feel the Los Pumas will fancy.

If, as expected, the Springboks make wholesale changes, it will be another fresh set of players. And Argentina will be up for the fight, so I feel the visitors will get within that margin.

Read our preview for South Africa vs Argentina here.