Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies might be seeking to construct on their beautiful win over England once they tackle a Welsh group face a record-breaking eleventh straight lss on Monday (AEDT0.
That contest will shut out one other intriguing weekend within the Autumn Nations Sequence with the marquee fixture undoubtedly pitting the in-form All Blacks in opposition to France for Sunday breakfast.
Groups and speaking factors for this weekend might be up to date as they’re named with Australia anticipated to be the ultimate cab off the rank, at roughly 12.30am AEDT Saturday.
Each match of the Autumn Nations Sequence might be proven reside on Stan Sport. All kick-off occasions beneath are AEDT.
Eire vs Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Saturday November 16, 7.10am
Eire (1-15): Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadgh Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley, James Lowe, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.
Argentina (1-15): Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo, Gonzalo Bertranou, Tomas Albornoz, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Lucio Cinti, Rodrigo Isgro, Juan Cruz Mallia.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.
Speaking factors:
Veteran flanker Pablo Matera will return from suspension to take his place within the Argentina line-up in one in all three adjustments for Saturday’s Check in opposition to Eire in Dublin.
He’s one in all three adjustments whereas the Irish make one.
Matera was banned for one sport after gathering a pink card within the Rugby Championship in opposition to South Africa in September and sat out final weekend’s 50-18 win over Italy in Udine within the first of Argentina’s three November internationals.
The return of the 31-year-old, who has 107 caps, means a shuffle within the free ahead trio with Juan Martin Gonzalez switching from the blind facet to openside rather than Santiago Grondona.
Guido Petti is available in for Franco Molina within the second row and Matias Moroni replaces Matias Orlando at centre.
Coach Felipe Contepomi informed a press convention the adjustments had been because of competitors in coaching this week.
Argentina tackle an Eire facet overwhelmed final Friday by the All Blacks of their first dwelling defeat because the 2021 Six Nations.
The 23-13 loss was the back-to-back Six Nations champions’ third defeat in 5 video games however coach Andy Farrell has made only one change. Robbie Henshaw replaces Bundee Aki at centre, the place he’ll associate Garry Ringrose.
“It’s been a tough few days. We reviewed the sport yesterday and began to show the web page and stay up for this Friday, as a result of it’s one other large problem,” captain Caelan Doris stated.
Cian Healy might draw stage with Brian O’Driscoll atop Eire’s rugby look listing after being named among the many alternative. If he comes off the bench the 37-year-old will win his 133rd cap having made his debut in opposition to Australia in 2009.
Having slipped to 3rd on this planet rankings after their 19-game dwelling unbeaten run was ended by New Zealand, coach Andy Farrell views the Pumas’ go to to Aviva Stadium because the “excellent” check for his gamers.
“It [pressure]’s what concentrates the thoughts, it’s whenever you see the place your character’s at,” he stated.
“We need to win all of our video games however the opposition is all the time going to have a say in that. I feel that is excellent as a result of we’ve got one other top-drawer opponent coming and we need to check ourselves as a result of we really feel we let just a few individuals down final week.”
Prediction: Eire had been rusty of their loss to the All Blacks however ought to bounce again with a slim win.
Scotland vs Portugal, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Sunday Nov 17, 2.10am
Scotland:
Portugal:
Speaking factors:
Prediction:
England vs South Africa, Twickenham, London, Sunday Nov 17, 4.40am
England (1-15): Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, Jack van Poortvliet, Marcus Smith, Ollie Sleightholme, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman,
Freddie Steward.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Tom Roebuck.
South Africa (1-15): Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am.
Speaking factors:
South Africa have chosen Manie Libbok at fly-half and foregone a forward-heavy bench for the Check in opposition to England at Twickenham as they saved solely three gamers from the beginning line-up that beat Scotland final weekend.
Prop Ox Nche, hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Eben Etzebeth, who captained the facet of their 32-15 victory over Scotland, stay from the facet that performed at Murrayfield final Sunday whereas coach Rassie Erasmus has gone for a standard 5-3 cut up between forwards and backs on the bench for Saturday’s collision.
It contrasts with the 7-1 cut up final weekend which noticed the fabled Bok ‘bomb squad’ squash Scottish hopes after approaching en masse within the second half.
Libbok returns to the function he performed in South Africa’s final assembly in opposition to England in final yr’s World Cup semi-final in Paris the place he was taken off after half-hour, with alternative Handre Pollard happening to safe a win for the group.
Libbok’s kicking woes have contrasted together with his thrilling open area play and denied him the possibility to make himself the primary alternative at No.10 for the Springboks.
On his return to the beginning XV in July, he missed three of his 5 conversion makes an attempt when South Africa beat Portugal 64-21 in Bloemfontein.
Libbok then pulled extensive a last-gasp penalty after approaching as a alternative in opposition to Argentina in Santiago del Estero in September, when the Springboks misplaced by some extent.
Erasmus, nevertheless, pointedly picked Libbok within the beginning line-up the subsequent week for the return fixture and noticed the 27-year-old flyhalf cheered off after a match-winning efficiency in an emphatic 48-7 dwelling victory over the Pumas.
Wilco Louw will play his first Check since 2021 after returning to the Springbok set-up as a late damage call-up for this month’s tour.
“The turnaround between the Scotland and England checks is brief, so we needed to be good in our choice to allow us to area a contemporary squad with solely six days between two robust check matches,” stated Erasmus in an announcement naming the group.
“It clearly has a knock-on in impact within the sense that we’ve made 12 adjustments to the beginning lineup, however we’ve got been rotating our squad all season.”
South Africa have now opted for a 5-3 cut up of their final 4 conferences with England, with Erasmus saying it was a response to the problem he anticipated the hosts to pose.
Scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet and fullback Freddie Steward will begin for England.
The Leicester pair have but to characteristic within the Autumn Nations Sequence however come straight into the line-up rather than Ben Spencer and George Furbank.
Ollie Sleightholme makes his first England begin on the wing rather than the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, whereas Sam Underhill is available in for Tom Curry, who can be lacking with concussion.
England host the world champions in search of their first dwelling win because the Six Nations in April.
Borthwick’s facet have misplaced 5 of their previous six matches, together with slim defeats by New Zealand and Australia this autumn.
Prediction:
France vs New Zealand, Stade de France, Paris, Sunday Nov 17 7.10am
New Zealand (1-15): Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie.
France (1-15): Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Tevita Tatafu, Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, Paul Boudehent, Alexandre Roumat, Grégory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont, Thomas Ramos, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Yoram Moefana, Gaël Fickou, Gabin Villière, Romain Buros.
Replacements: Reda Wardi, Julien Marchand, Georges-Henri Colombe, Romain Taofifenua, Mickaël Guillard, Charles Ollivon, Nolann Le Garrec, Émilien Gailleton.
Speaking factors:
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made 5 adjustments to the beginning XV that beat Eire for the huge match in opposition to France on Sunday (7.10am AEDT).
France have additionally freshened up their group after simply accounting for Japan final weekend.
The All Blacks welcome again hooker Codie Taylor and flyhalf Beauden Barrett following the profitable completion of HIA evaluation protocols. Asafo Aumua and Damian McKenzie might be on the bench.
A head damage to Sam Cane within the Eire match has resulted in a rejigged loose-forward trio: Samipeni Finau is available in at blindside, Ardie Savea shifts to openside and Wallace Sititi will play at quantity 8. Peter Lakai will present loose-forward cowl with the chance to notch up his second All Blacks cap.
Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima will once more share the halfback duties, with Roigard within the beginning jersey this week.
Sevu Reece returns to the correct wing, with Mark Tele’a out resulting from a hand damage.
Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros will make his Check debut for France in one in all 4 adjustments from the facet which routed Japan.
Buros replaces Leo Barré, and Gabin Villière is available in at proper wing with Damian Penaud ailing and his matchday alternative, Théo Attissogbe, out with a sprained left ankle.
Veteran centre Gaël Fickou comes again into midfield for his 92nd cap alongside Yoram Moefana, with Émilien Gailleton going to the reserves.
The lone change within the forwards sees Paul Boudehent – who scored two second-half tries within the 52-12 win in opposition to Japan – changing a concussed François Cros at flanker in coach Fabien Galthié’s beginning facet.
Common fullback Thomas Ramos stays at flyhalf alongside star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, whose scoring contact was not even required final Saturday, when Les Tricolores crossed for eight tries at Stade de France.
Flanker Thibaud Flament has shaken off a blow to the knee from that sport and features up with Alexandre Roumat and No. 8 Grégory Alldritt within the again row.
The bench has a 6-2 cut up with flanker and former captain Charles Ollivon returning after being omitted from the matchday 23 in opposition to Japan.
Scrumhalf Maxime Lucu and flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert drop out with scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec becoming a member of Gailleton on the bench.
Prediction: The All Blacks have completed all the pieces proper thus far on tour, however France will check them large time, and simply edge this at dwelling.
Italy vs Georgia, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Monday Nov 18, 12.40am
Italy:
Georgia:
Speaking factors:
Prediction:
Wales vs Australia, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Monday Nov 18, 3.10am
Wales (1-15): Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, Eliis Bevan, Gareth Anscombe, Blair Murray, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Tom Robers, Cameron Winnett.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Sam Costelow, Eddie James.
Australia: To be introduced roughly 12.30am AEDT Saturday.
Speaking factors: Wales coach Warren Gatland is below huge stress with former gamers calling for him to face down as Wales face a record-breaking eleventh straight loss.
The straight-talking Kiwi named his group early and shrugged of questions on his future saying he would head to the seaside with a glass of wine “away from a number of the stress” if Wales axe him as head coach.
Gatland has chosen flankers James Botham and Jac Morgan amongst 4 adjustments to their facet to face Australia in Cardiff after shedding to Fiji final weekend.
Ellis Bevan additionally is available in at scrum-half and Tom Rogers is on the wing with Tomos Williams and Mason Grady each injured.
“We’ve got had trustworthy evaluations after final week’s match,” Gatland stated. “There have been some issues we did properly that we need to construct on, however we should be extra correct and disciplined particularly in key moments.”
Requested if he felt there was confidence in his challenge from employers the Welsh Rugby Union, Gatland stated: “I’m in all probability not the particular person to ask by way of these questions.
“I’ve been very clear that I’m actually snug with the choices we’ve made.
“We’ve got tried to level out from the outset that we have to undergo some ache. I didn’t suppose there can be this a lot ache, to be trustworthy.
“If a call is made by way of what you’re speaking about, I’m greater than snug with that. I’ve been across the sport for lengthy sufficient.
“I’ll in all probability return to the seaside, have a glass of wine and revel in myself away from a number of the stress!”
Australia gained each conferences between the edges in July, however Wales secured a 40-6 victory over the Wallabies on the Rugby World Cup in France final yr.
“We’re anticipating an Australia facet on a excessive after their win in opposition to England,” Gatland stated.
“They’re a much-improved facet because the summer season and have performed a variety of Check matches since we final met.
“We all know we have to put in an 80-minute efficiency on Sunday.”
The Wallabies will title their group on Saturday with Schmidt anticipated to incorporate overseas-based gamers Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi within the 23, having misplaced Harry Wilson resulting from a head knock for this sport and winger Dylan Pietsch for the remainder of the tour
Prediction: The Wallabies to hold on from the excessive of beating England and convey an finish to the second time period of Gatland as Wales coach. There might be candy revenge for the World Cup hammering, with a six level margin.