The Rugby Championship Round 2 Betting: New Zealand, South Africa Lead Odds

While bettors in North America are starting to focus on the start of the NFL season, with Week 1 betting lines now posted at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, down in the Southern Hemisphere it's rugby action that is getting a large amount of attention.

As was to be expected this year's Rugby Championship began with a bang, as New Zealand demolished Australia in a six try to one victory while South Africa left it late to claim a narrow seven-point win over a luckless Argentina.

The second round sees the same matchups albeit with the home venues reversed as Wellington and Salta host the action.

New Zealand will return home brimming with confidence after their performance in Sydney. Despite numerous injury worries they still outplayed and outclassed their opponents on the field. They will undoubtedly be confident of another win on home soil and the odds are in their favour at $1.07, according to website AustralianGambling.

Australia's failings extend back to a dismal June series against England. With injuries depleting their already suffering squad, it is hard to see them being able to overturn significant odds of $8.50.

Australia needs to win this match to have any hope of winning the competition within a competition that sees New Zealand and Australia battle it out for the historic Bledisloe Cup.

Argentina has continued to improve ever since their introduction to The Rugby Championship but have failed to truly leave their mark on the scoreboard, which is where it counts the most. Close losses like the one to South Africa can only spur Argentina on to secure those much-needed wins.

Argentina will start this match as an underdog priced at $2.25 with the South Africans favorites at $1.65. South Africa is currently in a transition phase following the Rugby World Cup and those narrow victories will be vital for the new coach, although supporters will begin to demand better performances than the one witnessed in the first round.

The beginning of The Rugby Championship often starts with New Zealand as the favorite to win the tournament, with this year being no exception as the No. 1-ranked rugby team in the world continues to dominate all set before them.

An upset win for Australia would throw the whole tournament wide open but at present it appears South Africa may be the only ones capable of challenging the All Blacks.