The Autumn rugby internationals continue to light up the Northern Hemisphere this weekend, with another bumper set of fixtures between the planet’s leading nations.
South Africa’s Springboks are at Twickenham to tackle England on Saturday night, in a showdown followed immediately by the battle between France and New Zealand in Paris.
It kicks off between Ireland and Argentina on Friday while Wales and Australia meet to wrap up the programme on Sunday, while Scotland host Rugby World Cup darlings Portugal and Italy play Georgia.
All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
Ireland vs Argentina – Friday 15 November, kick off 22.10
Ireland set out to return to winning ways on Friday night, as they welcome Argentina to kick off the second full round of Autumn rugby internationals.
The men from the Emerald isle were toppled on home turf by New Zealand last week, with the boot of Damian McKenzie proving the difference in a 13-23 reverse despite a home try from Josh van der Flier.
It saw them usurped at the top of the World Rugby rankings and meant a third loss in five Tests for Any Farrell’s charges.
Los Pumas, by contrast, are on the up and started their European campaign in fine style last week by battering Italy 50-18 in their own back yard.
Coach Felipe Contepomi tinkers around the edges for the trip to Dublin with three changes, including the return of one-time captain Pablo Matera.
Matias Moroni is back in the centres, while Guido Petti is restored to grab the attention at lock.
Bundee Aki is the only Irish player to pay the price for defeat, as Farrell brings in Robbie Henshaw as the only starting change in Dublin.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Jamie Osborne.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.
Scotland vs Portugal – Saturday 16 November, kick off 17.10
Scotland meet Portugal for an intriguing contest in the Autumn rugby internationals in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The pair meet at Murrayfield with both having a point to prove, not least with the hosts having pushed hard before being brushed aside 32-15 by reigning World Cup champions South Africa last weekend.
Os Lobos opened up in low key fashion a week ago, losing 17-21 to the USA in Coimbra in an under-the-radar contest.
Stafford McDowall is handed the captaincy by Scottish coach Gregor Townsend, with returning Rory Hutchinson joining him in the centre pairing.
There are starting debuts, meanwhile, for Ben Muncaster and Alex Samuel, as well as a return from concussion for Darcy Graham.
Their opponents, meanwhile, are continuing their attempt to gain a foothold at the top table of the global game, having captured hearts and minds at last year’s World Cup.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Aaron Reed, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ben Muncaster, 6 Luke Crosbie (vice captain), 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Ewan Johnson, 20 Freddie Douglas, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Matt Currie, 23 Kyle Rowe.
Portugal Starting XV: 15 Simao Bento, 14 Raffaele Storti, 13 Jose Lima, 12 Tomas Appleton (captain), 11 Lucas Martins, 10 Domingos Cabral, 9 Samuel Marques, 8 Frederico Couto, 7 Nicolas Martins, 6 Andre Cunha, 5 Duarte Torgal, 4 Jose Madeira, 3 Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 2 Luka Begic, 1 David Costa.
Replacements: 16 Abel Cunha, 17 Pedro Vicente, 18 Antonio Prim, 19 Antonio R.Andrade, 20 Vasco Baptista, 21 Antonio Campos, 22 Hugo Aubry, 23 Manuel Cardoso Pinto.
England vs South Africa – Saturday 16 November, kick off 19.40
One of the biggest clashes in global rugby lights up Saturday night in London, as England host South Africa in the second full round of Autumn internationals at Twickenham.
It’s an old rivalry that runs deep, not least thanks to the breathtaking, 16-15 win for the Springboks over the English in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final little over a year ago.
While the Red Rose have been in transition in the 12 months since, the Boks have rumbled on to win the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship, twice knocking over the All Blacks in the process.
And coach Rassie Erasmus watched his side scrap past Scotland in their Autumn opener a week ago, with two tries from Makazole Mapimpi and one each for Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese enough for a 32-15 success.
This weekend’s hosts, meanwhile, require a backlash having collapsed to a shock defeat at the hands of Australia a week ago.
Coach Steve Borthwick makes four changes for the men in white.
Jack van Poortvliet comes in at scrum half while Freddie Steward is restored to the full back role, with Ollie Sleightholme making his starting debut on the wing.
Tom Curry’s absence with concussion means a return for Sam Underhill on the flank.
Captain Siya Kolisi returns to lead the Springboks, who make an ominous 12 changes for the showdown.
Front row pair Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi, as well as Eben Etzebeth, are the only three to retain their starting places from Murrayfield.
England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Alex Dombrandt; 21 Harry Randall, 22 George Ford, 23 Tom Roebuck.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
France vs New Zealand – Saturday 16 November, kick off 22.10
A massive contest between France and New Zealand polishes off Saturday’s action in the Autumn rugby internationals in Paris.
It’s a rerun of the 2023 Rugby World Cup curtain raiser between the pair and the hosts will be desperate for a repeat performance, having won 27-13 on that opening night en route to a perfect pool phase.
But they face the challenge of an All Blacks side coming back into form after a difficult post-World Cup slump.
They’ve done the business in Europe so far, seeing off England 24-22 at Twickenham a fortnight ago.
Six Damian McKenzie penalties and a solitary Will Jordan try last weekend, meanwhile, were enough to propel them past Ireland in Dublin to make it two from two as they head to the Stade de France.
Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett are both fit to return to the starting line up for coach Scott Robertson, who also recalls Sevu Reece to the wing in the absence of Mark Tele’a.
Les Bleus make a quartet of changes from their opening 52-12 demolition of Japan a week ago.
Gael Fickou is restored to the midfield with Gabin Villiere and Paul Boudehent also included, while there’s an international debut at full back for Romain Buros.
France Starting XV: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Gabin Villiere, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Charles Ollivon, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevy Reece, 13 Reiko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Talor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Italy vs Georgia – Sunday 17 November, kick off 15.40
It’s a chance for Italy to strike back in the Autumn rugby internationals this weekend, as they play host to Georgia on Sunday.
The Azzurri were thumped by Argentina in their opening match a week ago, with an 18-50 reverse representing an awful start for an otherwise improving nation.
Their visitors have been nearly-but-not-quite since they failed to win a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France just over a year ago.
A 40-29 loss to Australia offered encouragement for the second tier nation in July, with their most recent victory coming a week earlier, 25-23 against Japan.
Italy Starting XV: TBC
Replacements: TBC
Georgia Starting XV: TBC
Replacements: TBC
Wales vs Australia – Sunday 17 November, kick off 18.10
The pressure is all on Wales this Sunday as they attempt to jumpstart their Autumn rugby international campaign at home to Australia.
A spring is definitely in the step of the Wallabies after they overthrew old enemies England at Twickenham for a famous win a week ago.
Max Jorgensen was the hero with a last-gasp try, as the Aussies edged a helter-skelter contest 42-37.
No such luck for Welsh coach Warren Gatland, who watched on stony faced as his side continued their miserable losing run, capitulating to a 19-24 reverse against Fiji.
He makes four changes as he tries to arrest the slump.
James Botham and Jac Morgan come into the pack, while Tom Rogers gets the nod on the wing and Ellis Bevan at scrum half for the Principality Stadium contest.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jack Morgan, 6 James Botham, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Eddie James.
Australia Starting XV: TBC
Replacements: TBC
| TEAMS | %Chance | SCORE prediction |
| Ireland | 72% | 29 |
| Argentina | 26% | 16 |
| Spain | 13% | 9 |
| Fiji | 86% | 34 |
| Scotland | 97% | 42 |
| Portugal | 3% | 5 |
| USA | 60% | 23 |
| Tonga | 38% | 22 |
| England | 33% | 16 |
| South Africa | 65% | 27 |
| France | 48% | 18 |
| New Zealand | 48% | 23 |