The 2024 Rugby Championship is here in one of the most hotly contested tournaments on record as the best of the southern hemisphere face off.
For the first time since the Rugby World Cup, the four nations will play two away games against one country, two home games against another, and finally both a home and away clash against their closet region rival in a 12-game schedule for the tournament.
The teams are in as we breakdown the opening round and the best bets for the weekend ahead.
Test match rugby heads to Brisbane as Suncorp Stadium hosts a Saturday afternoon prime time encounter. The recipe is set for a blockbuster when these two sides meet in round one action.
It’s been an unbeaten start to 2024 for the Wallabies under new coach Joe Schmidt and are set for their biggest test thus far.
Noah Lolesio will step back into the 10 jersey with powerful flanker Carlo Tizzano set for his Australian debut replacing the injured Fraser Mcreight. The bash brothers of Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau will again link up in the centres and will have to set the tone from the kick off to match it with the Springboks.
Meanwhile the world champion Springboks arrive to Brisbane after a intense 1-1 series draw with Ireland after going down by just one point in their last start.
Brisbane hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for South Africa having not defeated the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium since 2013 but the visitors have named a commanding team with electric wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe ready to shine.
The springboks will have a new chief playmaker with youngster Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu set for his starting debut with veteran Handre Pollard named on the bench.
It should be another thriller and expected to see plenty of points with the Wallabies to push South Africa all the way.
In the new Scott Robertson era, the All Blacks have continued the momentum taking down the English in the July series, but they didn’t have it all their own way.
Remarkably New Zealand haven’t won in Wellington since 2018 but have named a lethal side looking to break the drought with Damien Mackenzie keeping the reins at flyhalf with Beauden Barrett named at fullback.
Livewire wingers Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a will link up once again having combined for four tries in the opening three tests and will be hungry for further points.
Similarity Argentina have a new coach in the top job with legendary flyhalf Felipe Contepomi recording his first win in charge with the Pumas defeating France 33-25 in their last start.
But they will have their work cut out for them with the All Blacks defeating Argentina by a minimum of 20 points in the last 6 of 7 clashes.