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: Duncan Paia'au, Sebastian Visinia, Alapati Leiua, Danny Toala, Nigel Ah Wong, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Jonathan Taumateine; Olajuwon Noa, Murphy Taramai, Theo McFarland, Samul Slade, Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee, Marco Fepuleai, Sama Malolo, Aki Seiuli. Replacements: Andrew Tuala, Tietie Tuimauga, Lolani Faleiva, Michael Curry, Iakopo Mapu, Melani Matavao, Afa Moleli, Stacey Ili.
Italy: Matt Gallagher, Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Ross Vintcent, Michele Lamaro, Alessandro Izekor, Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Simone Ferrari, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti. Replacements: Loris Zarantonello, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Edoardo Iachizzi, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone, Martin Page-Relo, Leonardo Marin
Team news: Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has named Matt Gallagher for his Test debut at fullback, but has otherwise stuck solid with the bulk of the squad that finished the Six Nations with a win over Wales in Cardiff. No. 8 Ross Vincent lock and Gianmarco Lucchesi are the other two new faces in the run-on side from that result.
Samoa have meanwhile named a squad that has been assembled from across the globe, but one that features eight players from the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise. There is no Lima Sopoaga however, after the former All Blacks No. 10 was drafted in ahead of the World Cup.
Prediction:
New Zealand vs. England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:05pm [5:05pm AEST, 8:05am BST]
New Zealand: Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele'a, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Samipeni Finau, Patrick Tupiulotu, Scott Barrett (c), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu'ungasfasi Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa'i, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett.
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.
First-year All Blacks Scott Robertson has meanwhile handed the fullback jersey to Blues custodian Stephen Perofeta ahead of the returning Beauden Barrett, who spent the most recent club season in Japan. Robertson otherwise named a predictable starting XV, with lock Patrick Tupiulotu deemed fit to start despite an ongoing knee injury. TJ Perenara is poised to play his first Test since 2022 after winning the No. 9 jersey ahead of Finlay Christie.
Prediction:
Australia vs. Wales, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 7:45pm [10:45am BST]
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Liam Wright (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, James Slipper. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Dylan Pietsch.
Wales: Liam Williams, Josh Hathaway, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer, Ben Thomas, Ellis Bevan; Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taine Plumtree, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Gareth Thomas. Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O'Connor, Cory Hill, James Botham, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Nick Tompkins
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Australia $1.15, -12.5 $1.90; Wales $5.20, +12.5 $1.90
Team news: The Wallabies have named an incredible seven debutants among their matchday 23, with new coach Joe Schmidt well and truly marking the start of a new era. Two of those, lock Jeremy Williams and centre Josh Flook are in the run-on side while Isaac Kailea, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Tom Lynagh and Dylan Pietsch will take their bows when or if they are introduced off the bench. Schmidt has also named a new captain, Australia's seventh in 12 months, with Queensland back-rower Liam Wright to lead the side from No. 6.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has meanwhile turned to fly-half Ben Thomas in the No. 10 jersey, the playmaker entrusted with the role of steering the team around for the first time in three years. Elsewhere, winger Josh Hathaway will make his Test debut as veteran Liam Williams switches to fullback. Dewi Lake will captain the side from hooker.
Prediction: Australia's latest chapter will finally begin under Joe Schmidt as the Kiwi looks to pick up the pieces from the rubble left by Eddie Jones last year. Incredibly, the Wallabies have been installed as $1.15 favourites, despite the fact it was Wales who walloped them 40-6 at last year's World Cup. Schmidt has entrusted the start of this new Wallabies journey to players based entirely in Australia and there will be some continuity from Super Rugby level, though not in the halves where Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio team up. The team is built around the Brumbies and Reds teams that performed strongly in Super Rugby, with a smattering of a Rebels team in key positions, particularly Taniela Tupou at tighthead prop. If the Wallabies can get on top at set-piece time, there is more than enough attacking talent in the backline to put Wales under the pump. Gatland's side, however, will relish the role as massive outsiders and have plenty of belief they can topple the Australia on their own patch for the first time since 1969. There is, of course, no Dan Biggar, Gareth Anscombe, Taulupe Faletau or George North, who were mainstays of Wales for so man years. The visitors do have the benefit of some recent rugby together, but their hammering by South Africa at Twickenham and the memory of a defeat at home to Italy still lingers. Regardless, this looks like a far closer contest than the bookmakers would have you believe. Australia by 5.
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:
Argentina vs. France, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, 4:00pm [5:00am Sun AEST, 8:00pm BST]
Argentina: TBA
France: TBA
Team news:
Prediction:
Canada vs. Scotland, TD Place, Ottawa, 5:00pm [7am Sun AEST, 10:00pm BST]
Canada: Cooper Coats, Andrew Coe, Mitch Richardson, Ben LeSage, Nic Benn, Peter Nelson, Jason Higgins, Siaki Vikilani, Lucas Rumball, Mason Flesch, Kyle Baillie, Conor Keys, Conor Young, Andrew Quattrin, Liam Murray. Replacements: Jesse Mackail, Djustice Sears-Duru, Cole Keith, James Stockwood, Siôn Parry, Brock Gallagher, Talon McMullin, Takoda McMullin
Scotland: Harry Paterson, Jamie Dobie, Matt Currie, Stafford McDowall, Arron Reed, Ross Thompson, Gus Warr, Josh Bayliss, Luke Crosbie, Gregor Brown, Glen Young, Max Williamson, Elliot Millar Mills, Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland. Replacements: Robbie Smith, Nathan McBeth, Will Hurd, Ewan Johnson, Matt Fagerson, Ben Healy, Kyle Steyn, Ross McCann
Team news: Five uncapped players were named in Scotland's starting line-up for their test against Canada in Ottawa on Saturday, plus a further five newcomers on the substitute's bench.
Gregor Brown, Matt Currie, Arron Reed, Gus Warr and Max Williamson are among 14 changes from Scotland's last game against Ireland in the Six Nations Championship.
Only Stafford McDowall, who wins a second cap, remains from the 17-13 defeat in Dublin, and he will co-captain the side along with flanker Luke Crosbie.
Loose forward Brown and lock Williamson come into the side after helping Glasgow Warriors to success in the United Rugby Championship.
Most of Scotland's regulars have been rested for their Americas tour, which also takes in tests against the U.S., Chile and Uruguay.
The most experienced player in the team is prop Rory Sutherland with 30 caps.
Prediction: While this is a vastly different looking Scotland outfit, Gregor Townsend's side should have far too much class for Canada. It affords the Scotland coach the perfect opportunity to get a look at the emerging crop of Scotland players and just how they may fit into the main squad for the autumn Test series on home soil at the end of the year. Canada's team is largely made up of players from Major League Rugby, which remains several steps below the premier competitions across the globe. Scotland by 30.