While 'Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry' has taken centre stage on the international calendar over the last few weeks, it has meant the 2026 schedule has gone without The Rugby Championship.
With the Springboks and All Blacks set to face off in the second Test in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon, another tier-one international takes place in San Salvador de Jujuy, where Argentina host Australia in the first of a two-match series.
The Wallabies are going through a period of change following Joe Schmidt’s departure after the opening block of fixtures in the inaugural Nations Championship.
It was announced last year that Reds head coach Les Kiss would replace Schmidt ahead of the remaining summer fixtures.
Schmidt’s final three games in charge ended with a thumping 57-10 win over Italy, with Australia bouncing back following defeats to Ireland and France.
Kiss’s first games came against Eddie Jones’s Japan earlier this month. Australia avoided a shock defeat in the first Test with a 35-32 victory in Osaka before capitalising on a tired Japanese side in the second Test, running out 56-17 winners in Townsville in what was one of their most promising performances in recent times.
Los Pumas, meanwhile, will be hoping to build a run of consistent form, something which has almost evaded them under Felipe Contepomi.
They have claimed some notable wins over the last 12 months, including victories against world champions South Africa, the All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions,
But 2026 has not been as fruitful in terms of results, with Argentina winning just one of their four matches - a 35-21 home victory over Wales in July.
However, there was reason for optimism when they pushed the Springboks close in a one-off Test earlier this month, eventually losing 17-10.
So, how do the two teams stack up, and how much could the series help both sides as they look towards the remainder of the calendar year as well as the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
Argentina almost claiming another win over the ‘top three’
Despite the narrow defeat to the world champions three weeks ago, there was plenty to like about Argentina’s display.
They made steady progress in attack, recording more post-contact metres than their opponents despite making 19 fewer carries, while wing Ignacio Mendy completed three line breaks.
They almost created an opportunity to level the scores with the final play after flanker Pablo Matera produced a 50/22.
Following several steady phases from the resulting lineout, Argentina were able to spin the ball wide, only for experienced centre Matias Moroni to drop the ball with a try seemingly within reach.
There was, however, one major concern from the Test: Argentina failed to score after Santiago Carreras’s ninth-minute conversion.
Throughout the contest, though, they were able to match the physicality of a powerful Springboks side, led by an impressive performance from Ignacio Ruiz, who is beginning to look like a capable replacement for captain Julian Montoya.
Ruiz and number eight Joaquin Moro made 24 tackles between them, while the influential Matera added 10 carries and 15 tackles alongside his 50/22.
With a game plan seemingly built around using the forwards effectively and a useful kicking game, the next few months will be intriguing as Argentina look to evolve heading into 2027, with their remaining Nations Championship matches against France, Ireland and Italy still to come.
Wallabies hoping for momentum ahead of home World Cup
The two Test matches against Japan could easily have been a banana skin for Kiss in his first official days in the job, but there were signs of resilience during their first win before Australia opened up in the second.
In their 56-17 victory, it was a day to be a forward, with six of the eight tries coming from the front row, alongside scores from Harry Wilson and Charlie Cale.
Taniela Tupou scored twice in the first half before Angus Bell crossed at the start of the second, while debutant Mattius De Lutiis also scored as he became the 1,000th player to represent the Wallabies.
One player who impressed during the second Test was flanker Cale, who has been a major force for the Brumbies throughout Super Rugby Pacific.
The 25-year-old could not stop scoring until injury struck in Round Nine. In his first seven games for the Brumbies this year, he scored nine tries from number eight.
For the national side, however, he is being used at blindside flanker and combined with openside Carlo Tizzano to win four breakdown turnovers between them.
The centre combination of Hunter Paisami and Issac Henry also worked well, with fly-half Carter Gordon pulling the strings.
While much of the focus in Test rugby will remain on the battles between Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie’s sides, this intriguing series between Los Pumas and Australia could shape both teams ahead of the remaining games in the Nations Championship.
