It’s time for the Northern Hemisphere to take centre stage in the rugby world once again, with a swathe of eye-catching fixtures as the Autumn internationals kick off this weekend.
Reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa wrap up the action on Saturday night in Scotland, while it all begins on Friday evening in Dublin with a fascinating tie between Ireland and New Zealand.
Old enemies England and Australia renew hostilities at Twickenham on Saturday, as France take on Japan, Italy host Argentina and Wales meet Fiji on Sunday to fire the starting gun on three huge weeks of international rugby.
All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
Ireland vs New Zealand – Friday 8 November, kick off 22.10
The Autumn rugby internationals fly straight into the full swing of things on Friday night in Dublin, thanks to an almighty contest between Ireland and New Zealand.
Revenge is on the minds of the home nation, as they meet the All Blacks for the first time since their 24-28 quarter-final heartbreak at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France a year ago.
But it’s the Irish who top the World Rugby rankings and boast an incredible 19-game winning streak at their Aviva Stadium HQ.
The All Blacks are battle-hardened having edged out England at Twickenham a week ago – but at a cost.
Experienced duo Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor have both failed head injury assessments, meaning recalls for Damian McKenzie at fly-half and hooker Asafo Aumua.
Coach Andy Farrell puts his trust in a host of familiar faces for the men in green, who will be led by captain Caelan Doris from the back of the pack in a fascinating contest.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14, Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadgh Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Reiko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Stephen Perofeta.
England vs Australia – Saturday 9 November, kick off 17.10
One of international sport’s deepest rivalries sees its next chapter unfold in London on Saturday, when Australia roll into town to kick off their Autumn international rugby campaign against England.
It’s been a lopsided affair over the last decade, with the Red Rose winning ten of the last 11 Test matches between the old enemies.
But both come into this Twickenham challenge looking to avoid registering a fourth international defeat on the bounce, with the hosts unable to see off New Zealand a week ago at the newly branded Allianz Stadium.
Coach Steve Borthwick has responded to that 22-24 reverse to the All Blacks by naming an unchanged side to tackle the men in green and gold.
The only tinkering from the off sees Ollie Lawrence switch to outside centre as experienced Henry Slade takes the number 12 jersey.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii makes a sensational debut for the Wallabies.
The 21-year-old plays the first senior professional game of rugby union in his life, having made the code switch from rugby league and his budding career with the Sydney Roosters in NRL.
Len Ikitau partners the rangy rookie in the centres, in the absence of the injured Hunter Paisami.
England Starting XV: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 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 Ollie Sleightholme.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suallii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermot, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.
Italy vs Argentina – Saturday 9 November, kick off 19.40
It’s an intriguing start to the Autumn rugby internationals in the northern city of Udine on Saturday night, as Italy go up against Argentina.
The pair are looking for a nudge up the World Rugby rankings, where they sit eighth and sixth respectively, in what promises to be a competitive outing on European soil.
It’s Los Pumas, though, that have the recent edge, having secured eight victories in a row over their hosts.
But they are far from full strength since being pipped to the Rugby Championship title in a decider by South Africa’s reigning World Cup champion Springboks.
Santiago Chocobares and Santiago Carreras are among those sidelined by injury for coach Felipe Contepomi.
Italy Starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Marco Zanon.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Matias Alemmano, 20 Bautista Pedemonte, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.
France vs Japan – Saturday 9 November, kick off 22.10
France kick off their Autumn rugby international campaign on Saturday night with the visit of Japan.
And they have a national hero returning to the scene of his Olympic Games glory, with Antoine Dupont restored as captain, four months on from winning rugby sevens gold for the French on the same Stade de France turf.
Coach Fabian Galthie has such strength in numbers that he can even afford to leave Dupont’s regular half-back partner Matthieu Jalibert on the bench, with Thomas Ramos preferred at fly half.
The Brave Blossoms start as massive underdogs under Australian coach Eddie Jones.
But they have been handed a boost by the return of two France-based stars in the shape of Naoto Saito and Tevita Tatafu, with matches against Uruguay and England to follow later in the month.
France Starting XV: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 12 Yoram Morgana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Grégory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 François Cros, 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 Mickaël Guillard, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Matthieu Jalibert, 23 Gaël Fickou.
Japan Starting XV: 15 Malo Tuitama, 14 Jone Nakiabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Siosaia Fifita, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (captain), 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faula Makisi, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Kanji Shimokawa, 5 Warner Deans, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takato Okabe.
Replacements: 16 Kenta Masuoka, 17 Yukio Morikawa, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Amato Fakatava, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Yusuke Kajimura, 23 Takuro Matsunaga.
Wales vs Fiji – Sunday 10 November, kick off 15.40
There’s plenty at stake at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, as Wales begin their home Autumn international rugby campaign with the challenge of Fiji.
Coach Warren Gatland sets out to avoid an unwanted record in Cardiff, with his side having lost nine in a row throughout the last year.
It’s a far cry from the early stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France little over a year ago, when the Welsh won four from four to top their pool in style before falling at the quarter-final stage.
The flying Fijians matched that achievement but were some way off the pace in Edinburgh a week ago.
A 57-17 reverse was far from an ideal start to a run of European fixtures for the Pacific islanders.
But there was mitigation with a bundle of big name players unavailable with the game falling outside the official international window, with the likes of Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova among those back in the fold this weekend.
Gatland hands a Test debut to Blair Murray on the wing, in a side that will be captained by hooker Dewi Lake.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 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 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra; 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani; 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavaua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Albert Tuisua, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala.
Scotland vs South Africa – Sunday 10 November, kick off 18.10
Enter South Africa to the Autumn rugby internationals, as the Springboks go up against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday night.
The back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions wrap up the first full round of Northern Hemisphere action at the atmospheric Edinburgh stadium, with tensions running high given the number of SA-born players lining up for the host nation.
You can bet Rassie Erasmus won’t be distracted by that, with the controversial coach turning the focus towards creating his lasting legacy in the build up.
A first Rugby Championship success since 2019 has set them up perfectly, with successive victories over New Zealand helping to break the All Blacks’ stranglehold on the Southern Hemisphere tournament.
The Scots clicked into gear a week ago with a 57-17 thrashing of an underpowered Fiji.
Tom Jordan makes a full Test debut at full back for the home team, with coach Gregor Townsend also able to restore the likes of Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn to the starting line up.
They face a predictably imposing task against the Boks, not least the return from injury of locks Franco Mostert and RG Snyman, with the latter starting on the bench alongside usual captain Siya Kolisi as Eben Etzebeth skippers from the off.
Kwagga Smith brings up a half-century of Test caps since his switch from the sevens format.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Jamie Ritchie, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Grant Williams.
| Kick off time | TEAMS | % Chance | Predicted score |
| Fri, 8 Nov 20:10 | Ireland | 56% | 21 |
| New Zealand | 41% | 20 | |
| Prediction: | Ireland | ||
| Sat, 9 Nov 11:45 | Spain | 57% | 23 |
| Madrid | Uruguay | 41% | 21 |
| Prediction: | Too close to call | ||
| Sat, 9 Nov 15:10 | England | 78% | 29 |
| London | Australia | 20% | 16 |
| Prediction: | England | ||
| Sat, 9 Nov 16:00 | Portugal | 67% | 25 |
| La Plata | USA | 30% | 21 |
| Prediction: | Portugal | ||
| Sat, 9 Nov 17:40 | Italy | 40% | 18 |
| Argentina | 57% | 23 | |
| Prediction: | Too close to call | ||
| Sat, 9 Nov 20:10 | France | 90% | 37 |
| Paris | Japan | 9% | 10 |
| Prediction: | France | ||
| Sun, 10 Nov 13:40 | Wales | 58% | 24 |
| Fiji | 39% | 20 | |
| Prediction | Fiji | ||
| Sun, 10 Nov 16:10 | Scotland | 35% | 15 |
| South Africa | 62% | 20 |