The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Ultimate guide to Autumn Series week 2 - Teams, talking points and predictions for every game

4th November, 2022
Advertisement
Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
4th November, 2022
12
1260 Reads

Australia face a massive Test against France on Sunday AEDT, while there are several other huge north v south battles to unfold over the weekend. Here is the team news, talking points and predicted margins for every game.

Scotland vs. Fiji, Murrayfield 12am Saturday night AEDT

Teams

Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe, Adam Hastings, Ali Price, Matt Fagerson, Hamish Watson, Jamie Ritchie (captain), Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Murphy Walker, Jonny Gray, Jack Dempsey, Ben White, Blair Kinghorn, Sione Tuipulotu.

Fiji: Kini Murimurivalu, Setareki Tuicuvu, Waisea Nayacalevu (c), Kalaveti Ravouvou, Vinaya Habosi, Vilimoni Botitu, Frank Lomani; Viliame Mata, Levani Botia, Albert Tuisue,Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Temo Mayanavanua, Manasa Saulo, Sam Matavesi, Eroni Mawi.

Replacements: Tevita Ikanivere, Livai Natave, Luke Tagi, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Kitione Kamikamica, Peni Matawalu, Teti Tela, Sireli Maqala

Advertisement

Talking points: Scotland have named a strong side and dropped Blair Kinghorn after his late penalty miss cost them victory over the Wallabies last weekend. The Scots have brought back Stuart Hogg after he missed the Wallabies game due to club commitments.

Adam Hastings has been chosen ahead ofKinghorn at No.10. Kinghorn scored a great solo try against the Australians but his two missed kicks at goal were decisive.

Fiji, under coach Vern Cotter, play their first match since the Pacific Cup series involving Australia A back in July.

“We are expecting the unexpected. They play a game unlike any other team at international level,” said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend. “There is an ambition and skill level above what we are used to playing.”

Cotter, who coached Scotland from 2014-17 was playing some mind games ahead of the match.

“They’ll be disappointed with last week,” said Cotter. “I thought they played well. They’ve got New Zealand next week, so I anticipate us really just being a training session for them.

“Scotland have picked a very strong team. They’ve got the exile guys back, the likes of Hoggy at 15. They’ll be hurting. So I imagine it’ll be a very intense start to the game. They’re a fit team and I expect they’ll try and maintain that intensity throughout the game. They’ll probably try and get us around the 60-minute mark, when our legs maybe start dropping off given that we’re a touring team who’ve only just come together.”

Advertisement
Head coach Gregor Townsend during an Autumn Nations Series match between Scotland and Tonga at BT Murryfield, on October 30, 2021, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

(Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

He added he wanted his team to continue playing to their strengths but add more structure in the scrums and lineouts.

“As you know, we can’t play unstructured rugby, which is our strength without having structure and that’s the name of the game of 15s,” Cotter said.

“We are slowly getting together but we want to get learnings from this plus we have the Rugby World Cup next year so this is really important we put ourselves up against a very good team and I’m sure from the game we’ll come away with individual and collective improvements to be made,” Cotter added.

This should be Scotland’s easiest game of the autumn series, with the All Blacks and Argentina to follow this month.

Prediction: Scotland by 14.

Wales vs. New Zealand, Principality Stadium, 2am Sunday AEDT

Advertisement

Teams

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny,Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric (captain), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lews, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ione, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tuou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown.

Talking points

Ian Foster made 11 changes from the team that scraped a narrow win over Japan last weekend while Wales give a debut to exciting winger Rio Dyer and have a new captain leading the team.

Advertisement

No.9 Aaron Smith is set to become the most capped back in All Blacks history in his 113th Test as he returns to the team. The three Barrett brothers missed the Tokyo game due to the death of their grandmother and have returned, while only one forward from the Japan game – Shannon Frizell – has held his spot.

“Playing Wales on the road always represents an exciting challenge,” said Foster.

“We have a number of players returning to the side and we know we will need to play with a high intensity against this physical Welsh team.”

Dyer, 22, gets his debut ahead of injured Josh Adams while Justin Tipuric gets the captaincy with Dan Biggar sidelined through injury.

Coach Wayne Pivac has welcomed back no.15 Leigh Halfpenny, hooker Ken Owens and flanker Tipuric after long injury absences.

“New Zealand is going to play with speed, we know that,” Pivac said. “The roof is closed so we’re looking forward to a fast, open game and I think Justin [Tipuric] brings that extra bit of speed to the No. 6 jersey. So the combination [of Tipuric, Reffell and Faletau] we think will work well.”

Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand in 69 years and the trend is likely to continue in Cardiff.

Advertisement

Prediction: New Zealand by 5.

Ireland vs. South Africa, Aviva Stadium, 4.05am Sunday AEDT

Teams

Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen, Johnny Sexton (captain), Conor Murray, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson Park, Joey Carbery.

South Africa: Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Jaden Hendrikse, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux.

Advertisement

Talking points

Springboks superstar Cheslin Kolbe will play his first Test at fullback when returns to the team to face world No.1 Ireland.

Damian Willemse has come in at No. 10 replacing Frans Steyn, while Kurt-Lee Arendse is picked on the wing for the injured Canan Moodie.

“Ireland are the top-ranked team in the world and they’ve shown in the past that they can be a force to be reckoned with in Dublin,” said coach Jacques Nienaber.

“Obviously we are a long way out from the World Cup, but we have a limited number of matches left before the competition and the preparation doesn’t get better than playing a side we will face in the World Cup and the number one side in the world.”

Conor Murray will make his first Ireland start in almost a year and will claim a 100th cap after Andy Farrell made two changes from the side that wrapped up July’s series victory in New Zealand.

There was initially just one other change from the win over the All Blacks, with Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune coming in for the injured James Lowe. However, centre Robbie Henshaw was later ruled out and replaced by Stuart McCloskey.

Advertisement

Prediction: Ireland by 3.

France vs. Australia, Stade de France, 7am AEDT

Teams

France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont, Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille.

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Dany Priso, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Kilian Geraci, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert.

Australia: Jock Campbell, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Lalakai Foketi, Tom Wright, Bernard Foley, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Cadeyrn Neville, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (captain).

Advertisement

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Matt Gibbon, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Hunter Paisami, Reece Hodge

Talking points

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie made four changes from the narrow win over Scotland. He continues to tinker with his lineup as Jock Campbell makes a starting debut at No.15 due to a Tom Banks injury.

Rennie has rotated his No.9s so there is no place for Tate McDermott this week, while French-based lock Will Skelton comes onto the bench. Lalakai Foketi gets a start in the No.12 jersey.

Perhaps the most pressure is on No.10 Bernard Foley. He excelled in his comeback game against New Zealand in Melbourne up until the point his tardiness cost the Wallabies the game. But his two matches since have been underwhelming, as he accepts.

Advertisement

“I definitely don’t believe I have solidified [my spot] or shot the lights out,” Foley said.

“We know it’s going to be very loud and a hostile environment and we’ve got to embrace the atmosphere and the whole spectacle.

“Doing the basics well is the biggest one against this French side that have so much power and flair and attacking prowess.”

Meanwhile France coach Fabien Galthie has called up Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille despite recent injury troubles that have restricted their playing time at club level. Galthie made 11 changes to the side that started July’s second Test win in Japan.

Ntamack, 23, will partner captain and Toulouse team mate Antoine Dupont while Baille, who played his first game of the season last weekend after returning from a groin problem, Julien Marchand and Uini Atonio are in the front row.

Prediction: France by 14.

England vs. Argentina, Twickenham, 1.15am Monday AEDT

Advertisement

Teams

England: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (captain), Joe Cokanasiga, Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Alex Coles, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola. Replacements: Jack Singleton, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds, Jack Willis, Jack van Poortvliet, Henry Slade.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Mateo Carreras, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo. Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Facunda Isa, Eliseo Morales, Tomas Albornoz, Matias Orlando.

Talking points

Owen Farrell has recovered from his concussion and will captain England as Eddie Jones finally gets a serious look at his first choice creative trio of Marcus Smith, Farrell and Manu Tuilagi.

Jones removed the captaincy from Farrell ahead of the Australia series in July to “allow him to concentrate on his own game” but with his replacement Courtney Lawes still ruled out with concussion, his favourite “Test match animal” steps back in at inside centre a year after last leading the team.

Jonny May, who dislocated his elbow two weeks ago, misses out on the squad as Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell are on the wing, with the hugely impressive Freddie Steward at fullback.

Advertisement

In Lawes’s absence, Maro Itoje moves to blindside flanker alongside Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola, with Northampton’s Alex Coles winning his first cap at lock.

“It’s been a really good week of preparation and I’ve been very pleased with the squad’s attitude,” Jones said.

Owen Farrell of England reacts during game two of the International Test Match series between the Australia Wallabies and England at Suncorp Stadium on July 09, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Owen Farrell. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“We’re looking forward to a great game of rugby at a full Twickenham Stadium against a very good Argentina side. It’s been a tough time for rugby lately and we hope that these autumn games show just what a special game it is.”

Argentina, meanwhile, will field two new front rowers and have made a switch on the wing in three changes for the Test at Twickenham.

But coach Michael Cheika, who has been juggling coaching duties with the Rugby League World Cup this week, has stuck with the bulk of the team who lost to South Africa in Durban in the Rugby Championship in their last outing in September.

England and Argentina share the same World Cup pool next year, but Cheika told a virtual news conference on Thursday that was not an immediate concern in their approach to Sunday’s Test.

Advertisement

“For us it’s about changing a little bit [our] style… and our mental approach as well,” Cheika said.

Prediction: England by 17.

close