Boks to open with a loss - bookies

Cape Town - Heyneke Meyer's Springboks will get their 2015 Rugby Championship campaign off to a losing start against Australia - if bookmakers are to be believed.

The Boks get their international season under way in Brisbane on Saturday (kick-off at 12:05 SA time).

Leading SA bookies Sportingbet have the Wallabies as 11/20 favourites, with the Boks on offer at 6/4. The draw can be backed at 18/1. In handicap-betting odds, the home side start as four-point favourites.

Meanwhile, the No 1-ranked All Blacks are overwhelming favourites to beat Argentina in their opener in Christchurch on Friday (09:35 SA time) and take the early lead in the early standings.

The All Blacks, 25-point favourites, are on offer at 1/50, while the Pumas can be backed at 12/1 to pull off the upset.

Wales' Nigel Owens will be the referee in the Australia v South Africa clash, while Craig Joubert will handle affairs in the New Zealand v Argentina showdown.