All eyes fall on the Northern Hemisphere for rugby fans around this month, as a mouth-watering series of Autumn internationals kick off this weekend in the United Kingdom.
With South Africa’s reigning Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks, Ireland, France and Australia all among the nations joining in the action next week, it’s the mountainous clash between England and New Zealand that takes centre stage this weekend.
The pair lock horns at Twickenham – renamed the Allianz Stadium – ahead of a Murrayfield match between Scotland and Fiji that promises plenty of action.
All kick off times Central African Time (GMT +2)
England vs New Zealand – Kick off 17.10
It’s intense on and off the field in London this weekend, as England and New Zealand kick off the Autumn rugby internationals with a barnstorming clash at the newly-named Allianz Stadium.
Always Twickenham to the old guard, the capital city arena is a fitting venue for one of the hottest tickets in the world game.
And this contest has had its temperature raised off the charts thanks to the ever-outspoken Joe Marler, with the veteran front row taking aim at the All Blacks’ traditional pre-match Haka on social media in the big game build up.
He won’t even have to face the inevitable backlash, having withdrawn from the squad earlier in the week.
It’s an unrequested pep talk that should only do the tourists a favour, as they head to Europe off the back of a rotten run of Rugby Championship form that often saw them well off the pace against their Southern Hemisphere rivals just a couple of months ago.
They have at least purged some of that gloom en route.
A Yokohama stop off last weekend gave the three-time Rugby World Cup winners the opportunity to run in ten tries in a 64-19 battering of Japan at the Nissan Stadium.
The Red Rose’s recent issues have stemmed from the coaching turmoil that has seen a hasty backroom reshuffle under head honcho Steve Borthwick.
It followed July’s brace of agonizing defeats to this weekend’s opponents in Dunedin and Auckland, meaning revenge is very much on the minds of the hosts who are searching for a first home win over the All Blacks since 2012.
Jamie George leads his English side as captain from the front row, with Ellis Genge and Will Stuart either side of him in a pack that also sees the welcome return of Tom Curry after his long-term injury.
Scrum-half Ben Spencer gets the nod to team up with Marcus Smith for a first international start in the halves, with first-choice Alex Mitchell sidelined by injury.
Henry Slade is also included at outside centre despite barely even featuring for club side Exeter since his shoulder surgery nearly four months ago.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson has only retained three starters from last week’s Japanese rout.
Beauden Barrett benefits from a big call at fly half, starting ahead of Damian McKenzie who has to be content with a place among the replacements.
Brother Jordie returns from injury to come into the All Blacks’ midfield, with the pair captained by third sibling Scott Barrett from his place in the locks.
Ethan de Groot has been left out for the mysterious reason of failing to meet ‘internal standards’ according to Robertson, meaning a prop pairing of Tyrel Lomax and Tamaiti Williams, who is one of the trio of survivors from last weekend.
England Starting XV: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 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 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Harry Randall, 23 George Ford.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie.
| Prediction | England | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Score Prediction | 17 | 22 |
| % Chance | 44% | 53% |
| Margin | -5 | 5 |
Scotland vs Fiji – Kick off 19.40
Scotland return to home comforts in Edinburgh for the Autumn international rugby series, but will have to be on their mettle from the off with Fiji the dangerous visitors for their opening assignment on Saturday.
Atmospheric Murrayfield will be the venue for all four matches this month, with reigning World Cup champions South Africa, Portugal and Australia all paying a visit in the coming weeks.
But it starts with the Pacific islanders, who as ever will present a unique challenge for Gregor Townsend’s men.
They play for the first time since their July tour to the Americas climaxed with a hard-fought, 31-19 win over dogged Uruguay, following comfortable successes over Chile, USA and Canada.
Ali Price makes his first Scottish start in more than a year, preferred at scrum-half with Toulon man Ben White not eligible as this first fixture falls outside of the official international window.
Adam Hastings pairs up with Price in the half backs, while New Zealand-born Tom Jordan is set for his international debut from the bench.
There’s also a welcome return on the wing for injury-hit Darcy Graham, who starts for the first time since last year’s World Cup.
The Fijians are buoyed by a performance that saw them crowned champions of the 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.
A handsome win over hosts Japan in the Osaka final backed up successes against USA, Tonga and Samoa along the way as Fiji seek to build on their 2023 Rugby World Cup momentum.
Before that they were well beaten by the All Blacks, although they did manage a 21-12 win over Georgia a fortnight before in their pair of July fixtures.
With a bundle of France and England-based stars unavailable, they will have to shuffle the pack in the absence of the likes of Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova and Waisale Nayacalevu.
In fact, the entire matchday 23 is selected from players signed to the Fijian Dura Super Rugby squad.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 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 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Stafford McDowall.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Isaiah Ravula; 14 Vuate Karawalevu, 13 Apisalome Vota, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi; Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani; 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Kemueli Valetini, 23 Waqa Nalaga.
| Prediction | Scotland | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| Score Prediction | 26 | 14 |
| % Chance | 77% | 22% |
| Margin | 8 | -8 |