A heavy duty fixture list brings the international rugby year to an end in Europe this weekend, with an almighty clash between England and South Africa the focal point in London.
New Zealand’s All Blacks are out to topple the Springboks from the top of the global rankings when they face France in Paris, while Wales go up against Australia in Cardiff.
Ireland and Argentina finish the action on Sunday in Dublin, while Scotland tackle the Brave Blossoms in Edinburgh on Saturday.
International Rugby: England vs South Africa
England and South Africa face are on a major collision course at Twickenham, as the rugby international action hits boiling point on Saturday.
The Springboks are on the warpath after Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus was slapped with a World Rugby ban earlier in the week.
And coach Jacques Nienaber’s ‘Bomb Squad’ is out in full force to end the year, against a decidedly green Red Rose front row.
England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Joe Marchant, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Jonny May, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes (Captain), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Max Malins.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handr? Pollard. 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nch?.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Francois Steyn.
International Rugby: France vs New Zealand
New Zealand head to Paris to tackle France on Saturday, smarting from their defeat to Ireland as well as being knocked off their perch once again at the top of the World Rugby rankings.
Richie Mo’unga’s promotion to fly-half in place of the injured Beauden Barrett is the headline change for Ian Foster’s side.
Les Bleus also switch Romain Ntamack back to the number ten jersey, with four other alterations following last weekend’s win over Georgia in Bordeaux.
France Starting XV: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain); 8 Gregory Alldrit, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Francois Cros; 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Cameron Woki; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Jean-Baptise Gros, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Thibaud Flament, 21 Dylan Cretin, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo?unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Samison Taukei?aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Osa Tuungafasi, 19 Tupou Vaa?i, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Brad Webber, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 David Havili.
International Rugby: Wales vs Australia
Wales and Australia combine for a fascinating contest in Cardiff on Saturday, as the curtain comes down on the international rugby year in Europe.
Josh Adams returns from injury for the hosts, making for a classy back three alongside Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams.
The Wallabies are missing the leadership of Michael Hooper for their finale, with Pete Samu his replacement.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Uilisi Halaholo, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ellis Jenkins (captain), 5 Seb Davies, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Ben Carter, 20 Christ Tshiunza, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Johnny McNicholl.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O?Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 James Slipper (captain).
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga?a, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Lachlan Swinton, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Tom Wright.
International Rugby: Ireland vs Argentina
Ireland are out to follow up their success against the All Blacks with a year-ending win over Argentina in Dublin on Sunday.
The pair round off the international rugby calendar at the Aviva Stadium, as Robbie Henshaw makes his starting return following injury as one of four changes for coach Andy Farrell.
Guido Petti is back in the Los Pumas side as they attempt to bring a halt to the winning run of the Irish.
Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 James Ryan (captain), 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O?Toole, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Peter O?Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Keith Earls.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Mateo Carreras, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Kodela Gomez, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou 22 Nicol’s Sanchez 23 Facundo Cordero.
International Rugby: Scotland vs Japan
Scotland and Japan polish off the international rugby year on Saturday when they go head-to-head at Murrayfield.
South African-born Dylan Richardson will make his first Scottish appearance off the bench in Edinburgh.
Pieter Labuschagne, meanwhile, will captain the Brave Blossoms for their 2019 World Cup group stage reunion.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Stuart Hogg (captain), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 George Horne, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Japan Starting XV: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 13 Shogo Nakano, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 6 Michael Leitch, 5 James Moore, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Craig Millar.
Replacements: 16 Kosuke Horikoshi, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 19 Ben Gunter, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Dylan Riley.
International Rugby: Predictions
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.
