The Autumn rugby internationals are in full swing this weekend, with six fixtures across Europe and all nations up to full strength as they do battle throughout November.
All roads lead to Paris and the collision between France and South Africa on Saturday night, after England host Fiji, Scotland play New Zealand and Australia travel to Italy.
Ireland and Japan kick off the weekend in Dublin, while Wales and Argentina must wait until Sunday for their opening encounter.
All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
Fixtures on Saturday 8 November
Ireland vs Japan – Kick off 14.40
Ireland are seeking an instant return to winning ways when they continue their Autumn international rugby campaign against Japan at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The pair meet in Dublin as the men in green return from a chastening trip across the pond.
New Zealand ran out 26-13 winners at Chicago’s Soldier Field a week ago, with the Irish unable to repeat their historic maiden success over the All Blacks in the USA nine years ago.
Their opponents also need a pick-me-up after being put to the sword 61-7 by South Africa at Wembley Stadium in London last weekend.
It made it losses on successive Saturdays for Eddie Jones and his Brave Blossoms, who were also bested a fortnight ago in Tokyo by Australia before flying west to European shores.
Captain Caelan Doris is restored to the starting line up having made it as far as the bench last weekend.
Youth and experience is the name of the game in the centres, meanwhile, as veteran Robbie Henshaw is joined for the first time by debutant Tom Farrell.
Jones makes three changes to his Japan side, with captain Michael Leitch dropping to the bench to be replaced by Faulua Makisi.
Naoto Saito earns a start at scrum-half, while Epineri Uluiviti comes into the locks.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Cian Prendergast, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Jimmy O’Brien.
Japan Starting XV: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley (vice-captain), 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Seung-sin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns (captain), 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Kenji Sato, 1 Kenta Kobayashi.
Replacements: 16 Shodai Hirao, 17 Ryosuke Iwaihara, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Jack Cornelsen, 20 Micheal Leitch, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Shinya Komura, 23 Yuya Hirose.
Prediction: Ireland by 36
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 46 | 90 |
| Japan | 10 | 10 |
| Predicted margin | Ireland by 36 |
Scotland vs New Zealand – Kick off 17.10
Scotland face the tantalising prospect of a home date with New Zealand on Saturday, as the Autumn rugby internationals hit full swing in Edinburgh.
The All Blacks found instant form in the Northern Hemisphere a week ago, seeing off Ireland 26-13.
But they did have to achieve it all the way across in the USA, travelling back from Chicago to begin the European leg of their year-ending adventure.
They may have passed the Stars and Stripes making their own sorry way back from Murrayfield, thanks to an 85-0 tonking that saw hat-tricks for Darcy Graham and Jamie Dobie.
Coach Scott Robertson makes a trio of New Zealand changes, with brothers Scott and Jordie Barrett both ruled out by injury.
Josh Lord and Leicester Fainga’anuku replace the siblings, while Quinn Tupaea also comes into the run on side.
Kyle Steyn is restored to the Scotland side in place of fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe, who is dropped after making his 50th international appearance last weekend.
Rory Hutchinson is also among those promoted into the starting team, as coach Gregor Townsend makes 11 changes from their USA cakewalk.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben While, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Prediction: New Zealand by 9
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 28 | 75 |
| Scotland | 19 | 25 |
| Predicted margin | New Zealand by 9 |
England vs Fiji – Kick off 19.40
It’s time for the fireworks at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on Saturday night, as England welcome Fiji in the Autumn rugby international series.
The Red Rose opened their campaign in solid style a week ago, seeing off old rivals Australia 25-7 in what proved to be an ultimately comfortable victory in London.
And now the Fijians arrive to pose their unique threat, having pushed Steve Borthwick’s men so close in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France two years ago.
Borthwick makes seven changes to the side that dispatched the Wallabies, with co-captain Maro Itoje lurking on the bench alongside the likes of veteran Jamie George and tyro Henry Pollock.
Marcus Smith comes in from the cold to start at full-back, as Fin Smith takes the fly-half jersey.
The Fijians have an England-based quartet to choose from in Saracens prop Eroni Mawi, Northampton lock Temo Mayanavanua and Bristol duo Viliame Mata and Kalaveti Ravouvou.
Josua Tuisova is a popular face among the centres for the tourists.
England Starting XV: 15 Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Maro Itoje (co-captain), 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Henry Arundell.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo; 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simi Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 6 Kitione Salawa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila; 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Hereiti Hetet, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Motikai Murray, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala.
Prediction: England by 14
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| England | 31 | 80 |
| Fiji | 17 | 20 |
| Predicted margin | England by 14 |
Italy vs Australia – Kick off 19.40
Australia will be wary of an upset as they head to the continent to play unpredictable Italy in the Autumn rugby internationals on Saturday night.
The Wallabies kicked off the European leg of their Northern Hemisphere campaign in London last weekend, going down 25-7 to a robust England team.
Now brings the chance for Joe Schmidt and his charges to match their efforts of a fortnight ago, when they were made to work all the way for their 19-15 stopover success against Japan in Tokyo.
The lesser-spotted Carter Gordon makes his first appearance at fly-half since the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the Australians, while hooker Matt Faessler makes his return from injury.
Tom Hooper also earns a recall on the flank for the Wallabies.
The Azzurri are coming into their first match of the Autumn internationals and, under coach Gonzalo Quesada, are hunting a repeat of their one-point victory over the Aussies on home turf three years ago.
Italy Starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynach, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Martin Page-Relo, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Leonardo Marin.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Corey Toole, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Rob Valetini, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
Prediction: Australia by 6
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 27 | 60 |
| Italy | 21 | 40 |
| Predicted margin | Australia by 6 |
France vs South Africa – Kick off 22.10
A repeat of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter final sees world champions South Africa on a collision course with France in their own back yard on Saturday night.
The Springboks saw off the challenge of Les Bleus at the same Stade de France venue in Paris two years ago and are desperate to lay down a Northern Hemisphere marker less than two years out from the next global showpiece.
It’s a first outing for the French since their whitewash in New Zealand back in July, while the Boks are fresh from their 61-7 demolition of Japan in London last Saturday.
Coach Rassie Erasmus makes five starting changes to the side that saw off the Brave Blossoms, on the occasion of captain Siya Kolisi’s 100th cap in the famous green and gold.
Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian Willemse headling the imposing set of returnees, with props Thomas du Toit and Boan Venter also included from the off.
Gael Fickou captains Les Bleus on their first outing of the Autumn internationals, with plenty more firepower besides in the backline thanks to the likes of Romain Ntamack, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damien Penaud.
France Starting XV: 15 Tomas Ramos, 14 Damien Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Mickaël Guillard, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Régis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortère.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
Prediction: South Africa by 4
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 26 | 55 |
| France | 22 | 45 |
| Predicted margin | South Africa by 4 |
Sunday 9 November
Wales vs Argentina – Kick off 17.10
Wales and Argentina wrap up the first full weekend of Autumn rugby internationals when they go head-to-head on Sunday in Cardiff.
The pair kick off their respective campaigns at the Principality Stadium with Los Pumas hunting consistency, while the hosts could do with any kind of positive whatsoever.
What the Welsh do have up their sleeve is a returning hero, as far as the bench at least, as Louis Rees-Zammit makes his comeback from a stint in the NFL.
It’s a fresh start as coach Steve Tandy steps into the shoes of Warren Gatland – and he’ll be thankful for the experience of the likes of Dewi Lake, captain Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright as he attempts to plot a course back to winning ways in the valleys.
Los Pumas are a dangerous foe, though, not least with a pack boasting second row pair Guido Petti and Marcos Kremer, captained from hooker by Julian Montoya.
There’s plenty of experience in the backline, too, including back three Mateo Carreras, Bautista Delguy and Santiago Carreras at full back.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Cruz Benitez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera (vice-captain), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Tomas Rapetti, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Rodrigo Isgro.
Prediction: Argentina by 8
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 26 | 65 |
| Wales | 18 | 35 |
| Predicted margin | Argentina by 8 |
World Rugby Rankings Permutations – 8–9 November 2025
- South Africa stay top with a win or draw against France. A loss could see them drop to second if New Zealand beat Scotland.
- France climb to second if they beat South Africa by more than 15 points and New Zealand lose.
- New Zealand reclaim number one if they beat Scotland and South Africa lose.
- Scotland move into Band 1 (top six) for the RWC 2027 draw if they beat New Zealand and either Australia or Argentina lose.
- Fiji break into the top six for the first time ever if they beat England and both Australia and Argentina lose.
- Argentina drop out of Band 1 if they lose to Wales and other results go against them.
- Wales move up to 11th with a draw or win over Argentina, potentially pushing Georgia down.