Rugby score predictions and teams for Saturday 9 July 2022

Another international rugby-packed Saturday sees the Northern and Southern Hemispheres clash once again.

England set out to avoid the ignominy of a series defeat against old enemies Australia in Brisbane, right after Ireland have attempted to put right their opening match thrashing at the hands of New Zealand.

South Africa’s Springboks are also seeking improvements when they go up against dogged Wales in Bloemfontein, while the day’s action is bookended by Japan’s game against France and Argentina taking on Scotland.

New Zealand vs Ireland

New Zealand and Ireland lock horns again on Saturday in their second test match in Dunedin.

The tourists need to up their game drastically off the back of their 42-19 hammering in last week’s opener, with captain Johnny Sexton a surprise inclusion in spite of his concussion test failure at Eden Park.

Sam Whitelock misses out for exactly that reason for the All Blacks, who have shuffled their pack to include Dalton Papalii in the loose forwards as Scott Barrett shifts to lock.

New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Quinn Tupeaa, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukeiaho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Pita Gus Sowakula, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Will Jordan.

Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Bundee Aki.

Australia vs England

All the pressure is on coach Eddie Jones and his beleaguered England side as they attempt to break their losing streak in the second test against Australia at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Brisbane will prove a hostile environment, too, for the side whose 30-28 reverse in Perth last week flattered them thanks to a pair of late tries with the game already dead.

The Wallabies make five changes while Jones has also pressed ‘G’ for Gamble, with Guy Porter, Tommy Freeman and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet all making full international debuts in Queensland.

Australia Starting XV: 15 Jordan Petaia, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Rob Leota, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.

Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 James Slipper, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Izaia Perese.

England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Courtney Lawes (captain), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Jack Willis, 22 Danny Care, 23 Henry Arundell.

South Africa vs Wales

South Africa and Wales lock horns again on Saturday evening, as the Springboks do battle with the tourists in Bloemfontein.

The hosts have made wholesale changes to the side that squeaked home at the death at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, including the return of World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Alex Cuthbert is included in Wayne Pivac’s side, who are without prop Tomas Francis thanks to a concussion.

South Africa Starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Kurt Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Jaden Henrikse, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.

Wales Starting XV: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Dan Biggar (captain), 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Josh Adams.

Argentina vs Scotland

The second test match between Argentina and Scotland rounds off Saturday’s bumper programme of international rugby in Salta.

Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena is the venue as Los Pumas aim to seal a series win over the Scots.

Gregor Townsend and his troops suffered a 26-18 loss in last weekend’s opening match but are boosted here by the return of Hamish Watson to the side, as the flank marks his 50th international cap in South America.

Argentina Starting XV: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matias Moroni.

Scotland Starting XV: 15 Rory Hutchinson, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Rory Darge, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ali Price, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Kyle Rowe.

Rugby score predictions for this weekend’s fixtures