The two rugby hemispheres are back together for the first time since the Rugby World Cup, with a bumper Test calendar set to play out across the globe in July.

World champions South Africa welcome Ireland to the Republic for a showdown that has already had quite the build-up, while Scott Robertson’s first assignment as All Blacks coach comes against England.

Meanwhile, Australia and Wales do battle with both nations looking for a reversal in recent fortunes, while France are in Argentina and Scotland head to North America.

It really is a tantalising few weeks of rugby.

Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it comes to hand, plus our match previews and the odds.

Saturday, July 6

Samoa vs. Italy, Apia Park, Apia, 5:00pm [2:00pm AEST, 5:00am BST]

Samoa: TBA

Italy: TBA

Team news:

Prediction:

New Zealand vs. England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:05pm [5:05pm AEST, 8:05am BST]

New Zealand: TBA

England: George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (capt), Joe Marler. Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme

Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] New Zealand $1.18, -11.5 $1.90; England $4.60, +11.5 $1.90

Team news: England coach Steve Borthwick has made two changes to the starting side that defeated Japan in Tokyo a fortnight ago, with Joe Marler and Will Stuart replacing Bevan Rodd and Dan Cole at loosehead and tighthead respectively. Cole drops back to the bench while Rodd is out of the matchday 23 altogether. Meanwhile, prop Fin Baxter and winger Ollie Sleightholme are in line to make their Test debuts after being named among the replacements.

Prediction:

Australia vs. Wales, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 7:45pm [10:45am BST]

Australia: TBA

Wales: TBA

Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Australia $1.15, -12.5 $1.90; Wales $5.20, +12.5 $1.90

Team news:

Prediction:

South Africa vs. Ireland, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 5:00pm [1:00am Sun AEST, 4:00pm BST]

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk,Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Salmaan Moerat, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Ireland: TBA

Odds: [tab.com.au, Aus only] South Africa $1.42 -5.5 $1.85; Ireland $2.80, +5.5 $1.95

Team news: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named 12 players that started in their 2023 World Cup final victory, including scrum-half Faf de Klerk who was under an injury cloud. Handre Pollard returns to the side at fly-half after missing the 41-13 victory over Wales last month. Only three players named in the squad — Gerhard Steenekamp, Salmaan Moerat and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu — did not play in last year’s final.

“We are blessed to have a lot of depth in our squad, and we are in a fortunate position to have several Rugby World Cup-winners in our ranks who know what it takes to perform at the highest level,” Erasmus said.

Prediction: