The final week of the Rugby Championship is here, and it will take a mighty effort for the Springboks to wrestle the All Blacks from the top of the table.

SOUTH AFRICA vs NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, October 5, 15:00 GMT, Johannesburg

The All Blacks all but clinched the top of the table last week with their bonus point victory, but they will very much want to finish undefeated against a very tough opponent. Injury to Owen Franks means that Charlie Faumuina gets the start, but captain Richie McCaw returns just in time for the big match. Sam Cane slides to the bench, where he joins Ben Franks and Dane Coles, recalled in place of Keven Mealamu.

South Africa have made two changes, with Bismarck du Plessis rotated back into the lineup and Juandre Kruger replacing suspended Flip van der Merwe. J.J. Engelbrecht is questionable for the weekend, and if he misses out Jan Serfontein will start with Juan de Jongh taking his place among the reserves.

This should be a real thriller, and possibly the best game of the tournament. The Springboks need to score a bonus point win and a lead of at least 7 points to take the title. They will relish playing at altitude in storied Ellis Park, a very unwelcome place for New Zealand teams in the past. That said a four try victory is highly improbable against the men in black. Expect this to be a titanic tussle, with the All Blacks just scraping home victory by 3.

SOUTH AFRICA
Zane Kirchner; Willie le Roux, J.J. Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt.), Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. RES: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, Patrick Lambie, Jan Serfontein.

NEW ZEALAND
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Charlie Faumuina; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (capt.), Kieran Read. RES: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.

ARGENTINA vs AUSTRALIA
Saturday, October 5, 22:40 GMT, Rosario

Opportunity knocks once again for the Pumas as they seek their first victory in the Rugby Championship. Felipe Contepomi has been handed a start in probably his final test (take 3) and in doing so becomes the most capped player of all time for Argentina, surpassing his former captain Lisandro Arbizu. On the wing Bath’s Horacio Agulla returns, and he is joined by clubmate Juan Pablo Orlandi, in at tighthead to replace injured Juan Figallo.

Ewen McKenzie has resisted wholesale changes but recalled Will Genia, who was so outstanding as a reserve against the Springboks. The only other change to the match day squad sees uncapped Bernard Foley step in for last week’s debutant Chris Feauai-Sautia.

Will this finally be the hour for Argentine glory? Can Felipe Contepomi get his fairy tale send off? Do the Wallabies have anything left in the tank? This should be a passionate match from whistle to whistle, but once again the pick has to be Argentina, who will play above themselves in front of the raucous crowd at the wonderfully named Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. Take the Pumas to win at last by 2.

ARGENTINA
Juan Martin Hernandez; Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Pablo Orlandi; Julio Farias Cabello, Patricio Albacete; Juan Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon. RES: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Matias Diaz, Manuel Carizza, Benjamin Macome, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

AUSTRALIA
Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Rob Simmons, James Horwill (capt.); Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen. RES: Saia Fainga’a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Nic White, Matt To’omua, Bernard Foley.