The Rugby Championship usually has a couple of surprises each year, but the first two matchweeks of this year's competition have been especially unique.

The first instance of the new "mini-tour" system earlier this month brought competitive rugby in both weeks and sees all four participating teams (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina) sitting with identical 1-0-1 records a third of the way through the tournament.

It's truly anyone's Rugby Championship to win (or lose) as the weeks go along, but the second mini-tour of this year's competition almost certainly will lay down the framework for the finish to come. 

With that in mind, there's no better time to catch up with all that's going down.

Here's a look at what's to come for Round 3 of The Rugby Championship, with every play of the action being streamed live on FloRugby.

NOTE: All kickoff times are listed in Eastern Time and are subject to change.

Where Things Stand

Argentina dominated Australia and shockingly sit at the top of The Rugby Championship table after two matchweeks, while New Zealand slowed down a brutal skid with an impressive win over South Africa in Johannesburg. 

For further breakdowns of the Round 2 tests, click here for FloRugby's previously-published recap.

Standings (After Round 2)

1. Argentina (1-0-1, +16 point differential) - 5 points (one bonus)
2. Australia (1-0-1, -16) - 5 points (one bonus)
3. South Africa (1-0-1, +4) - 4 points (zero bonus)
4. New Zealand (1-0-1, -4) - 4 points (zero bonus)

Try leaders

1. Three tied (Juan Martin Gonzalez, Thomas Gallo, Len Ikitau) - 2
2. Multiple tied - 1

Points leaders

1. Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina) - 34
2. Handre Pollard (South Africa) - 29
3. Richie Mo'unga (New Zealand) - 17
4. Three tied (Juan Martin Gonzalez, Thomas Gallo, Len Ikitau) - 10

Australia Vs. South Africa

When: 1:30 a.m. Saturday

Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia

The lowdown: The Australian defense got torched against Argentina, allowing 71 points in two games, with only a bonus point saving the Wallabies from being anchored to last in the current Rugby Championship table. 

As a result, defense coach Matt Taylor stepped down following the Argentina defeat, but it really wasn't entirely the coaching staff's fault. 

Australia also has had some brutal luck when it comes to recent injuries and player availability. 

After two weeks to rest, the Wallabies will be looking forward to having some familiar names back. 

Captain Michael Cooper (who left the team prior to the Argentina mini-tour for personal reasons) wasn't named to coach Dave Rennie's 35-man squad to face the Springboks, but fly-half Bernard Foley - capped 71 times by his country but with no appearances for the Wallabies in three years - was selected.

He replaces Queensland Reds man James O'Connor, and Rennie will seek a replacement for Quade Cooper in the No. 10 role, after he suffered a serious Achilles injury in the second half of the opening test against Argentina. 

? A big 24 hours in #Wallabies camp for first time squad member, Langi Gleeson.

? Saturday 27 August, 3:00pm ACST
? @TheAdelaideOval, Adelaide
?️ https://t.co/WhF2arwRqO
? @Stan Sport & @Channel9@eToroAU #TRC2022 #RSAvAUS pic.twitter.com/fYXf4WiuaJ

— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 22, 2022

For South Africa, meanwhile, it's likely kicking itself knowing it had a golden opportunity to go unbeaten at home against a wounded New Zealand side, but the Springboks probably still are the competition favorites, as long as they can get the job done against Australia. 

However, that's easier said than done, especially considering that the Wallabies are on a seven-game unbeaten run against South Africa in the Land Down Under, dating back to 2014. 

But the defending world champions are exactly that for a reason, and with heavy hitters like fly-half Handre Pollard, lock Eben Etzebeth and prop Frans Malherbe (who earned his 50th cap in the second New Zealand test), South Africa will be a threat against every opponent it plays. 

New Zealand Vs. Argentina

When: 3:45 a.m. Saturday

Where: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand

The lowdown: Following a stunning rout of Australia in Round 2, just one week after a late Wallabies comeback spoiled it from going 2-for-2 to start this year's competition, Argentina is in an unfamiliar position after two weeks of this year's edition The Rugby Championship: first. 

Just how long can Los Pumas keep the pace up? The next two weekends are almost certainly going to provide a definitive answer. 

Normally the tournament's whipping boy, having finished last in every competition held except one since it joined the field in 2012, Argentina has looked revitalized under new head coach, Michael Cheika, who followed up a debut test series win over Scotland with the country's biggest win over Australia - a 48-17 demolition of the Wallabies on Aug. 13 in San Juan. 

Winger Emiliano Boffelli probably is the player of the competition at the moment, leading The Rugby Championship in points, and adding in a try against Australia last time out for good measure, but fellow contributors, including prop Thomas Gallo, No. 8 Pablo Matera and others, also have been spectacular for Los Pumas. 

Argentina may feel like it's close to the top of the world at the moment, but how it performs against New Zealand - even with its shaky recent form - will provide a gauge to how actually close Los Pumas are to the top of the world. 

The All Blacks badly needed a win against South Africa to slow a slide that featured five losses in their prior six matches, and coach Ian Foster's side got the result it needed with a 35-23 triumph over the Springboks in their own backyard, letting fans (and Foster, who was dangerously close to getting the sack) breathe a sigh of relief. 

Foster now has the unequivocal backing from his rugby union through at least the 2023 Rugby World Cup, all while his coaching staff got a massive boost with the recent appointment of attacking coach Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland boss who famously took down New Zealand in 2016 in Chicago and won the World Rugby Coach of the Year award in 2018. 

Last time we played @lospumas in Christchurch ? pic.twitter.com/aWGMlDMzVa

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 21, 2022

A series back at home against Argentina will give New Zealand a massive opportunity to get back to "normal," but the results need to come constantly with a team with as high of standards as the All Blacks. If they don't come, Foster could be right back on the chopping block.