It’s Test match time in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend as the international rugby window hits full swing across Europe.
South Africa’s Springboks face an awkward assignment against improving Scotland, old enemies England and Australia face off at Twickenham and New Zealand’s All Blacks contest a humdinger with Ireland in Dublin.
France face Georgia in Bordeaux, Wales play host to Fiji and Italy go up against Argentina in Treviso.
International Rugby: Scotland vs South Africa
South Africa’s Springboks have a battle on their hands at Murrayfield on Saturday, with Scotland standing in their way on home turf in Edinburgh.
The Boks have brought Elton Jantjies and Willie le Roux into their starting backline, while Franco Mostert earns his 50th cap from the off in the locks.
They will be going up against familiar faces in the form of Pierre Schoeman, in the rookie stage of his international career, as well as British & Irish Lions tourist Duhan van der Merwe.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Stuart Hogg (Captain), 14 Rufus McLean, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Nick Haining, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nch?.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handr? Pollard, 23 Frans Steyn.
International Rugby: England vs Australia
Best of enemies England and Australia do battle in the thick of the Northern Hemisphere rugby Autumn internationals at Twickenham on Saturday.
Red Rose coach Eddie Jones has been true to form in springing a selection surprise, with the uncompromising form of Manu Tuilagi lining up on the wing for the home side.
The Wallabies have had to cobble a front row together for their London date, while Kurtley Beale also gets the nod from chief Dave Rennie to start at full-back.
England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Trevor Davison, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Max Malins.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tom Wright, 10 James O?Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Rob Leota, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 James Slipper, 2 Folau Fainga?a, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Izaia Perese.
International Rugby: Ireland vs New Zealand
New Zealand’s All Blacks are in Dublin this weekend to tackle the stiff test of Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Coach Ian Foster has opted for TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett from the off in the half-backs, with Sevu Reece earning a start on the wing.
Veteran Johnny Sexton leads the Irish yet again against the world’s number one rugby nation, with Iain Henderson recalled at lock.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 James Ryan, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Peter O?Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Keith Earls.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Karl Tu?inukuafe, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Tupou Vaa?i, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Richie Mo?unga, 23 David Havili.
International Rugby: France vs Georgia
France continue their international rugby schedule with a home clash against Georgia in Bordeaux.
Matthis Lebel makes his debut while there’s also a first start for Cameron Woki, as Les Bleus continue to tune up for their date with the All Blacks next weekend.
Beka Gorgadze makes his long-awaited return for the Georgians at eighth man.
France Starting XV: 15 Melvyn Jaminet; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Romain Ntamack, 11 Matthis Lebel; 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain); 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Sekou Macalou, 6 Anthony Jelonch; 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Cameron Woki; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyrille Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Paul Willemse, 21 Francois Cros, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Jonathan Danty.
Georgia Starting XV: 15 David Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Alexandre Todua, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Beka Saginadze, 5 Kote Mikautadze, 4 Grigor Kerdikoshvili, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Beka Gigashvili.
Replacements: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Luka Japaridze, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Tornike Jalagonia, 21 Mikheil Alania, 22 Lasha Khmaladze, 23 Demur Tapladze.
International Rugby: Wales vs Fiji
Wales dust themselves off after last weekend’s loss to the Springboks, with Fiji next in their sights at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Aaron Wainwright misses out through injury for Wayne Pivac’s side, in the only personnel change from the South Africa reverse.
The Fijians make seven starting changes to the side that breezed past Spain last weekend.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Josh Adams, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ellis Jenkins (captain), 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Rhys Carr?.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Seb Davies, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Nick Tompkins.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Setareki Tuicuvu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12 Vilimoni Botitu, 11 Eroni Sau, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Mesulame Kunavula, 6 Albert Tuisue, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Peni Ravai.
Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Eroni Mawi, Leeroy Atalifo, Tevita Ratuva, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Nikola Matawalu, Apisai Naqalevu, Aminiasi Tuimaba.
International Rugby: Predictions for upcoming fixtures
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing. Score margins use the methodology developed by Rugby Vision.
