Both the Springboks and Argentina will be eying redemption this weekend in the wake of tough home losses to the Wallabies and the All Blacks, respectively, on matchday one.
South Africa welcome Australia to Cape Town as the hosts look to right the wrongs of a historical collapse at Ellis Park last time out, before New Zealand attempt a clean sweep of Los Pumas in Buenos Aires, having beaten head coach Felipe Contepomi’s side in Córdoba.
South Africa vs Australia
The two teams have had to deal with a few injuries ahead of the second game, with captains Siya Kolisi and Harry Wilson amongst the absentees and replaced by Jesse Kriel and Fraser McReight in their roles, respectively.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has also brought in double World Cup–winner Handré Pollard for Manie Libbok, and Springbok legend Victor Matfield believes that the Bulls star will bring much-needed calmness to a must-win clash.
“Not having him [Pollard] among the replacements [at Ellis Park] was a mistake. Your best players, like Handré, must always be involved in the big games,” the 127-Test lock claimed, according to Supersport.
“We are not so far ahead of everyone else that we can take these chances in big Test matches – we need our best players out there.”
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, meanwhile, is anticipating a hard-fought encounter in the Mother City after the tourists’ sensational win in Johannesburg.
“The squad as a whole has recovered pretty well from what was a very draining and physical test match on the Highveld last week,” he told reporters.
“We struggled to contain a powerhouse Springbok start last weekend, and we know that we have to improve leading into what’s likely to be a bruising encounter in Cape Town on Saturday night.”
South Africa – Starting: Aphelele Fassi, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handré Pollard, Grant Williams, Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortjé, RG Snyman, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché. Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Australia – Starting: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Akuso Suaali, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, James O’Connor, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight (captain), Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggar, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway.
READ MORE: Rising F1 star Oscar Piastri gets grandstand tribute at Australian GP
Argentina vs New Zealand
After nearly pulling off a comeback of their own last week, Argentina will seek to build on that promise in the capital, with Los Pumas captain Julian Montoya calling for more focus at the Estadio José Amalfitani.
“Our discipline cost us a lot of unforced errors, which gave them position and penalties. We shot ourselves in the foot with the penalties we were conceding, so when we look back on it, it hurts a lot,” the hooker explained to local media.
“After all that, credit to New Zealand. They’re a good team who took advantage of every opportunity they had, and in the final minutes of each half, they scored very easily.
“So, those minutes are where we clearly have to do better. Last year, it was the early part of each half when they scored very easily against us. This time, it was the other way around.
“Clearly, the maul defence wasn’t up to par. We have to improve, but we win together, we lose together, so we have to regroup, recover, look inward, and we’ll come back.”
For the All Blacks, hooker Codie Taylor is set to earn his 100th cap while flanker Simon Parker will make his debut from the get-go, and head coach Scott Robertson is confident in both player’s ability to complete the task at hand.
“Codie is a great All Black. The way he carries himself and the example he sets are testament to him as a person and he will front this week in the same way he has for the past 99 tests,” Robertson said in a statement naming the team.
“Equally, it’s a special day for Simon and his family. He’s earned his selection through performance and consistency. He’s a big, physical man, and he’s ready to make an impact.
“All of the players who have come into the squad have worked really hard and earned their place at training, and it’s great to have Tamaiti [Williams] and Wallace [Sititi] back in the mix. Our bench will bring energy and impact to the battle.”
Argentina – Starting: Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Delguy, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Joaquin Oviedo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Pedro Delgado, Julian Montoya (captain), Mayco Vivas. Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer, Simon Benítez Cruz, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.
New Zealand – Starting: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Cortez Ratima, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett (captain), Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Finlay Christie, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cricket news: England skipper Harry Brook excited by Jacob Bethell’s captaincy ‘potential’
Adam Peaker 
Hyacinth Estrada 
Ian Trinidad