Roles Reversed, The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Matchup Is Still Happening On Sept. 6
Roles Reversed, The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Matchup Is Still Happening On Sept. 6
South Africa arrived in New Zealand this week for a No. 1-No. 2 showdown. But the other matchup, Los Pumas vs. Wallabies, is just as intriguing.
The first two rounds of The Rugby Championship are in the books, and to much surprise, every team claimed one win to make this year’s tournament one of the tightest yet heading into Round 3.
A devastating opening week for the former No. 1 South Africa Springboks saw the Australia Wallabies slam 38 unanswered points in the second half for the win.
Meanwhile, New Zealand overpowered Argentina 41-24 to take over the top spot in the world rankings.
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The following week, the script flipped for both the Springboks and Los Pumas.
South Africa led the way with a 30-22 victory over the Wallabies, and Argentina handed the new No. 1 team in the world, the All Blacks, a loss in Buenos Aires for the first time in program history, sealing a 29-23 win.
Rounds 3 and 4 look to bring out the best of the best in each squad and help further determine who is primed to take it all.
The Rugby Championship Rounds 3 & 4 Outlook
No. 2 South Africa will face off against No. 1 New Zealand in what could potentially be a historic series where the Springboks defeat the All Blacks on their home turf in Eden Park for the first time - ever.
Having a contest between two of the best international rugby teams, FloRugby expert Philip Bendon believes it’ll be a tied series, with even more pressure on the Springboks to overcome the massive feat that is winning at Eden Park.
“I do think they will split the series," Bendon said. "That, for me, doesn't relieve the fears that the Springboks are on the wrong side of where they need to be in terms of their peak. I think that they have to figure out a rebuild."
Australia ✅
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 27, 2025
Next up: two tough clashes against the old enemy 🇳🇿#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/zbbZQxuogm
Australia and Argentina initially entered The Rugby Championship as the underdogs, but they certainly have proven that neither of them should be counted out of this competition.
The Wallabies and the Pumas will put their talents to the test for a chance to run with the top teams, and Bendon believes Australia has the confidence to take the series.
“I actually think the Wallabies sweep the series," Bendon said. "The only issue I could see for the Wallabies will be the injury toll, which is still ramping up after that really physical trip to South Africa. This Wallabies side, provided they aren't massively hit with the injury bug, will be pretty tough to beat at home.”
Rugby World Rankings Entering Round 3
The updated world rankings have New Zealand still at No. 1, while South Africa’s win over Australia seemingly propelled the Springboks from No. 3 to No. 2 with Ireland idle since July.
Australia and Argentina remain at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, making for two series rugby fans have been anticipating all season.
Although there’s plenty of rugby to be played, it’s never too early to throw out predictions, seeing how the competition already has gone astray from most expectations.
“If [the Wallabies] sweep the series, they'll win The Rugby Championship. I think if the All Blacks sweep the series, they’ll win The Rugby Championship,” Bendon said. “I really thought it was the Springboks who would go on to have beaten the Wallabies twice, split a series with the All Blacks, then beat the Pumas. But from what I've seen with the Boks recently, I just don't have confidence they won't have another slip-up in them.”
Tune in to the third round of The Rugby Championship live on FloRugby, beginning with the Australia Wallabies taking on the Argentina Los Pumas down under at 12:30 a.m. ET On Sept. 6 and New Zealand vs. South Africa at 3 a.m. ET.
Men's World Rugby Rankings Top 25
- New Zealand - 90.72
- South Africa - 90.01
- Ireland - 89.83
- France - 87.82
- England - 87.64
- Australia - 84.85
- Argentina - 83.40
- Scotland - 81.57
- Fiji - 80.50
- Italy - 77.77
- Georgia - 74.69
- Wales - 74.05
- Japan - 72.29
- Samoa - 71.08
- Spain - 69.12
- Uruguay - 67.52
- Tonga - 66.87
- USA - 66.68
- Portugal - 66.44
- Chile - 63.83
- Romania - 62.67
- Belgium - 61.20
- Hong Kong China - 59.98
- Canada - 59.52
- Zimbabwe - 58.80
The Rugby Championship 2025 Schedule
Aug. 16
Aug. 23
Sept. 6
Sept. 13
Sept. 27
Oct. 4
How To Watch The Rugby Championship 2025
In the United States, rugby fans can watch The Rugby Championship 2025 on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.