A packed international rugby schedule hits the Northern Hemisphere this weekend, with a quartet of fixtures kicking off a five-week block that features the best the world has to offer.
England and Australia renew hostilities at Twickenham on Saturday while, just across English capital London, South Africa and Japan go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium.
Chicago steals the late show when Ireland and New Zealand lock horns in the States, with Scotland also kicking off their campaign against the USA in Edinburgh.
All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
England vs Australia – Kick off 17.10
England and Australia do battle at the first opportunity of this year’s Autumn rugby internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, as the old enemies meet at Twickenham on Saturday.
With the rugby league Ashes already in full swing and the cricket version about to begin Down Under, it’s perfect that the pair go head-to-head at what the establishment would like you to call the Allianz Stadium in south west London.
The Wallabies are battle-hardened, too, thanks to being pushed all the way by Japan, winning 19-15 on their stopover in Tokyo last weekend.
But they are hindered by this first match technically falling outside the official international window, ruling out the likes of Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper and James O’Connor.
No such issues for home coach Steve Borthwick, with his governing Rugby Football Union having their own availability deal in place with the newly-branded PREM.
Experience rules in the halves as veteran George Ford partners Alex Mitchell, with British & Irish Lion Marcus Smith among those not making the first squad of the campaign.
Maro Itoje captains a Red Rose team boosted by the extra physicality of Freddie Steward at full-back.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt makes eight changes from that exploratory outing, giving youngster Tane Edmed the responsibility of the fly-half jersey in London.
Taniela Tupou is also back in Aussie gold to boost the front row, in a side captained from the base of the scrum by Harry Wilson.
England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George, 1 Fin Baxter.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Fin Smith.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
Prediction: England by five
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| England | 29 | 65 |
| Australia | 24 | 35 |
| Predicted margin | England by five |
Japan vs South Africa – Kick off 18.10
South Africa kick off their outbound international rugby tour with a Wembley Stadium contest against Japan on Saturday.
The pair meet at the home of English football in London to fire the gun on the two-year countdown to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
And its a game that pits – in Rassie Erasmus and Eddie Jones – two of the sneakiest coaches on the international stage against each other.
The Springboks have gone strong for their opener, including the likes of Japan-based Jamian de Allende and Jesse Kriel in the starting line up.
But there’s also room for Zachary Porthen, who at 21 will become the youngest prop to start for the Boks in the professional era.
Veteran Michael Leitch leads the back row for the Brave Blossoms, as Jones eyes a repeat of their stunning 2015 World Cup upset at Brighton.
There’s more South African interest among their ranks, too, including centre Dylan Riley and Tyler Paul, who takes a place among the replacements.
Japan Starting XV: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Lee Seung-sin, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Kenji Sato, 1 Kenta Kobayashi.
Replacements: 16 Shodai Hirao, 17 Ryosuke Iwaihara, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Tyler Paul, 20 Faulua Makisi, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Sam Greene, 23 Tiennan Costley.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
Scotland vs USA – Kick off 19.40
Scotland ease their way into the Autumn international rugby season with an opening match against the USA in Edinburgh on Saturday.
It’s a Murrayfield contest the host nation are favourites for, although international window restrictions mean they can only select players from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors for the opener.
Coach Gregor Townsend opts for rookie skipper Stafford McDowall to captain his side.
And he’s not lacking experience despite the limitations on selection, with Duhan van der Merwe bringing up his 50th Test cap since the South African-born wing qualified for his adopted nation.
USA coach Scott Lawrence is targeting the trip as a learning experience with a home Rugby World Cup looming six years from now.
Jason Damm captains the run-on side form the locks, with Ruben de Haas – another South African export – expected to pull the strings from scrum-half.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Marshall Sykes, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 George Horne, 23 Ross Thompson.
USA Starting XV: 15 Erich Storti, 14 Mitch Wilson, 13 Dominic Besag, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Toby Fricker, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Paddy Ryan, 7 Cory Daniel, 6 Viliami Helu, 5 Jason Damm (captain), 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 3 Pono Davis, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth.
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Payton Telea-Ilaio, 18 Maliu Niuafe, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Makeen Alikahn, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Tavite Lopeti, 23 Luke Carty.
Prediction: Scotland by eighteen
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 34 | 80 |
| USA | 16 | 20 |
| Predicted margin | Scotland by eighteen |
Ireland vs New Zealand – Kick off 22.10
Ireland have their general back as they step out at Chicago’s Soldier Field to tackle New Zealand in a mouthwatering Autumn international rugby match on Saturday.
Head coach Andy Farrell returns from his sabbatical to lead his men in emerald green against the All Blacks, as the pair scrap it out to push South Africa at the top of the World Rugby rankings.
All roads lead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia – and Farrell and Co are out to banish the painful memory of their quarter-final defeat to the same opponents in Paris two years ago.
Beauden Barrett makes his return to the New Zealand side at fly-half, with Caleb Clarke also slotting in on the wing.
Ardie Savea offers a wealth of experience on the flank as does hooker Codie Taylor, who featured nine years ago in the same city as the All Blacks slumped to defeat.
Dan Sheehan captains the Irish in the absence of Caelan Doris, who does at least make it as far as a stacked bench after injury, alongside the likes of Bundee Aki and Iain Henderson.
Young Jack Crowley is preferred at fly-half, while there’s also a start for Stuart McCloskey alongside experienced Gary Ringrose in the centres.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Bundee Aki.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Prediction: New Zealand by three
| Team | Predicted Points | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 30 | 55 |
| Ireland | 27 | 45 |
| Predicted margin | New Zealand by three |