Rugby Championship Odds: Springboks 4/6 favourites for first title since 2019

The 2024 Rugby Championship begins on Saturday, with South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina set to do battle in their annual tournament.

The Kiwis have won the last four editions but South Africa, who they lost to in last year's World Cup final, are the favourites and their back-to-back games in rounds three and four could decide the tournament.

Argentina and Australia are the underdogs and look to be the two teams with the most work to do.

Rugby Championship odds

(Odds will display when market is available)

South Africa

South Africa are the most settled of the Southern Hemisphere sides and are the favourites to win the title for the first time since 2019.

They have reshuffled their backroom staff after winning last year's World Cup, but have replaced them well and for all the controversy he courts, Rassie Erasmus is an incredible coach and could enjoy more influence following Jacques Nienaber's departure.

Meanwhile, attack coach Tony Brown will press his players to play flat to the opposition's defensive line, while on the other side of the ball, new defence boss Jerry Flannery will set them up to smash those who dare get close to theirs.

South Africa played with more ambition in beating Wales at Twickenham in June, before drawing a series against Ireland, winning well in Pretoria before conceding two late Ciaran Frawley drop goals in Durban.

As against Wales, Erasmus then rotated for the win over Portugal.

The Springboks begin with back-to-back away games against Australia, but the tournament will be decided during their two home matches against New Zealand.

Even if the two share their series, the Boks then face Argentina twice, the second at home in the final game of the competition, so they will know what is required should it go to the final round.

However, they should have the competition wrapped up by then and could use those matches to demonstrate their new attacking ambition.

New Zealand

Scott Robinson is finding his way as All Blacks head coach, but despite doubts over selection and performances, he is still three from three in the role.

New Zealand edged a brilliant series against England and experimented for an impressive win over Fiji.

After a fabulous Super Rugby campaign, Robertson seems determined to push forward with Damian McKenzie at fly-half.

With 'Razor' stating his preference for fielding Will Jordan at full-back, the position he starred in for the boss during their time together at the Crusaders, a spot on the bench beckons for Beauden Barrett, although he will surely be pushing for more than a super sub role.

Barrett's brother, skipper Scott, will miss the opening round with a finger issue and might be held back for the two matches against South Africa.

There are certainly questions surrounding this All Blacks side after losing, among others, Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga.

However, it is worth remembering that they have won the last four editions of the tournament and 10 of the 12 renewals since it was expanded to include Argentina.

They were also written off ahead of last year's RWC but still reached the final, in which, despite being reduced to 14 men in the first half, they missed kicks to win the tournament and were arguably the better side in Saint-Denis.

Argentina

Argentina are another team who have changed their coach, with national hero Felipe Contepomi taking over from Michael Cheika, who led them to fourth at the World Cup.

The Pumas were the favourites heading into July's series with France but flopped the first time out, before winning the second Test to salvage a 1-1 draw.

An impressive win over Uruguay will have boosted confidence, but the draw has been unkind to Contepomi's side, as they play New Zealand in Wellington and Auckland in their first two matches and close with a double-header against South Africa.

Rounds three and four against Australia look like they could settle the wooden spoon and Argentina should have the advantage, with the pair's meetings taking place in La Plata and Santa Fe.

Australia

After Eddie Jones' controversial second spell in charge, 'winning' the wooden spoon in this competition before crashing out in the pool stages of the World Cup, there is fresh optimism around the Australian camp under new boss Joe Schmidt.

The Kiwi is a details man and that keen eye will be crucial in reinvigorating a national side battling domestic strife and falling playing numbers.

Back-to-back wins over Wales marked a positive start and the Wallabies backed it up by avoiding another banana skin against Georgia.

Rob Valentini and a couple of others aside, a lack of big carriers means Schmidt looks to be building his around moving the ball away from contact as quickly as possible, while Noah Lolesio finally looks to have developed the game management skills to run the side from fly-half.

Australia were at the bottom when they crashed out of the World Cup in France and Schmidt is undertaking a major rebuild, not just of who he selects in the squad, but also how they approach the game.

With the British & Irish Lions visiting next summer and a home World Cup in 2027, this tournament might be about performances rather than results.