The stage is set.

The door is set to officially open for South Africa to replace Japan in the Eight Nations later this year with New Zealand Rugby preparing for All Blacks tests to be limited to Bledisloe Cup matches this year.

Newshub are reporting that the Rugby Championship will likely not go ahead in New Zealand this year, with the government set to make a final decision on Friday.

This leaves South Africa and Argentina out in the cold with the Wallabies and the All Blacks set to battle it out instead in a series of Tests.

Starting mid-October, two of those would be in Australia – likely in Brisbane or the Gold Coast – before two return tests in New Zealand.

The Boks though are reportedly in talks to replace Japan in the Eight Nations, a tournament that will also include the Six Nations and Fiji, and is set to take place in November/December.

“The Japanese will not come to Europe, ” World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte told Le Progress in France last week.

“We are looking for a nation to replace them. We are in advanced talks with South Africa. It would be great to be able to face the Springboks, world champions, in the title, but it’s not yet done,” 

It certainly going to be an interesting few weeks as details began to get finalised on both competitions.