With two years remaining until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the 2025 Rugby Championship offers an early insight into the plans and progress of the southern hemisphere’s powerhouses as they begin shaping their squads for the global stage.
Defending world and Rugby Championship title-holders South Africa host Australia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday to launch this year’s campaign, while Argentina welcome New Zealand to Cordoba later the same day for the other round one clash.
The Springboks, who cruised through July with convincing wins over Italy (twice) and Georgia, remain the team to beat. However, a two-test tour of New Zealand looms large, including a daunting return to Eden Park in Auckland, where South Africa have not won since 1937.
Coach Rassie Erasmus, already known for tactical innovation, has overseen a side that many believe has evolved significantly since their 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs. With attack coach Tony Brown adding flair to their play, the Springboks look sharper than ever. Yet, Erasmus acknowledged the team’s lack of recent high-pressure match experience.
“You can look at battle-readiness in two ways,” he said. “We haven’t lost a player to injury, which bodes well for the Rugby Championship, but none of the matches we played were close. We weren’t challenged tactically, but they were physical.”
New Zealand, under new coach Scott Robertson, swept a three-match series against an under-strength France, but remain a work in progress. The All Blacks are buoyed by the return of Beauden Barrett from injury, while flyhalf remains a competitive position with Damian McKenzie and the eventual return of Richie Mo’unga in the mix.
“You’ve got an Aussie team that played some great footy at the back of their Test series,” said Robertson. “You’ve got the South Africans. We know how strong they are and the Argentinians on their day are so creative. It’s a hell of a competition, very tight and just what we need.”
Australia, under Joe Schmidt, will be hoping to build on their gritty series win over the British & Irish Lions. Schmidt is set to hand over to Les Kiss in 2026 but will first aim to re-establish the Wallabies as serious contenders. Injury concerns persist, but loose-forward Rob Valetini, lock Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou are expected to be fit for Saturday’s opener. Tom Lynagh and Allan Alaalatoa remain sidelined.
Argentina, meanwhile, enter as underdogs once again. Despite a disappointing 2-0 July series defeat to an under-strength England, they regain key players including Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Chocobares, Marcos Kremer, Bautista Delguy, Mateo Carreras and Ignacio Ruiz. Consistency remains the challenge for a side capable of brilliance on their day.
With the new Rugby Nations Championship set to debut in 2026, this will be the final full-format Rugby Championship before the 2027 World Cup. A shortened version is expected next year, making the 2025 edition a key measuring stick for each team’s trajectory.