The Rugby Championship Week 1 Betting Preview and Tips

Details: Written by Brent Graham; Last Updated: 16 August 2025

The Rugby Championship 2025 gets going on Saturday 16 August and in this blog we will track all things betting related including handicaps, teams news and weather and we will also offer up a bet in each game.

NO WORDS

Posted 16 Aug 19h32

What a comeback by Australia.

I somehow found a way to lose on Australia with the over 7.5 1st half points.

I am not going to chase in the next game and will sit on my Argentina win play.

BET: ARGENTINA V NEW ZEALAND

Posted 16 August 16h37

2 units Argentina win at 28/10 at WSB

The handicap has edged to +8.5 from +7.5 but the closer we get to kick off the more I am leaning Argentina.

The All Blacks will be hard to contain early but I think Argentina can stay in touch and finish strong to win the game.

Total points are 53.5 and I think this could be an overs match.

More to follow but for now a win bet on the Pumas.

BETTING UPDATE

Posted 16 August 16h16

There has not been alot of movement

SA -16.5 v Aus, Points 53.5

Argentina +8.5 v New Zealand, Points 53.5

I am about 20km from the ground and it has got cold, windy and overcast - some rain in the game is a possibility.

BET: SOUTH AFRICA V AUSTRALIA

Posted 16 August 00h16

4 units Australia over 7.5 1st half points at 0.87/1 at Betxchange

The handicap has come in slightly to -16.5 and -17.5 SA depending who you bet with.

There is also some variation in the Total Points markets with 53.5 at some bookies and 55.5 at others.

I fancy a frantic start to the match and a fast start for the visitors and I am going to back them to score 8 points or more by the break.

Total Points Lines Out

Posted 15 Aug 10:30

South Africa v Australia over/under 53.5

Argentina v New Zealand over/under 55.5

Quotes from WSB

THE HANDICAP - Rugby Chat that Matters

Posted 15 Aug 07h42

While we wait for points lines check out the Rugby Championship chat on last nights rugby betting show THE HANDICAP

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Currie Cup bets are tracked in this blog

ARGENTINA & NEW ZEALAND TEAM SHEETS

Posted 15 Aug 07h26

Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
Kick-off: 23:10 SAST
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martín González, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.

All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie.

Betting has been stable overnight

WEEK 1 WEATHER FORECASTS

Posted 14 August 16h40

A look at the weekends expected weather

South Africa v Australia - temp in mid teens, possible rain so watch closely - click here for Joburg updates

Argentina v New Zealand - temp in mid teens, clear skies, humidity in 50's - click here for Cordoba updates

Betting remains stable and I have not seen points lines yet

Wallabies Line up Confirmed

Update 14:30 14^th August

Scroll down to match info and team news section

BETTING UPDATE: MARKETS STABLE

Posted 13 August 10h31

The handicaps are stable ahead of team news on the 3 teams yet to announce.

I have not seen points lines yet.

SA -17.5 v Australia

Argentina +7.5 v New Zealand

SA v AUS: MATCH INFO AND TEAM NEWS

Posted 11 August 12h04

Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)

South Africa – revised: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse

15 Aug, 10:00, Late change for Boks, Boan Venter will be on the bench replacing Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.

Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway

OUTRIGHT BETTING AND EARLY HANDICAPS

Posted 10 August 12h25

Here are the early week 1 handicaps at Betxchange as well as the latest outright betting

Outright

New Zealand – 5/6
South Africa – 27/20
Australia – 9/1
Argentina – 25/1

Week 1 Handicaps

South Africa v Australia – South Africa -18.5
Argentina v New Zealand – Argentina +7.5

Setting the Scene – 2025 Rugby Championship

Posted 10 August 12h14

The 2025 Rugby Championship is the 14th edition of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international competition, contested by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Springboks enter as defending champions, having ended New Zealand’s reign with a dominant 2024 campaign – their first title since 2019.

2024 Recap

Champions: South Africa (5 wins, 1 loss, +94 PD)
Runner-up: New Zealand (3 wins)
3rd: Argentina (historic 3 wins, including their first over the Boks since 2018)
4th: Australia (1 win, struggled defensively)

Key moments included the Springboks’ sweep of New Zealand at home, Argentina’s record win over Australia, and New Zealand holding onto the Bledisloe Cup despite a mixed campaign.

2025 Fixtures by Team

South Africa