International Rugby Predictions – Tips For The Weekend’s Key Clashes

The Springboks storm the gates of one of rugby’s great cathedrals, Twickenham, to tackle a desperate England side on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

After Southern Hemisphere teams completed a clean sweep last weekend, a response is required from hosting nations from the north as the Autumn Nations Series continues to heat up.

It’s Friday night lights in Dublin, where Ireland takes on Argentina, before six sides square off on Saturday with Scotland playing Portugal at Murrayfield and France facing the All Blacks in Saint-Denis before and after the Boks’ battle with England. 

The action continues on Sunday when Italy goes up against Georgia in Genoa and Wales clash with the Wallabies in Cardiff.

Ireland v Argentina

Friday, 15 November – 22:10

The Irish will be in a menacing mood after their shock 23-13 loss to the All-Blacks last Friday.

Andy Farrell and his charges have to pick up the pieces after the defeat in Dublin saw them surrender the world No. 1 ranking to South Africa and ended their 19-match home winning streak.

Indiscipline was their downfall as they conceded 13 penalties to New Zealand’s five, which allowed Damian McKenzie to punish them off the tee. Not as efficient as they usually are at the breakdown and in the lineouts, Ireland will pay attention to detail this week to ensure they return to their usual sharpness.

The Pumas purred as they put 50 points past Italy in their tour opener last weekend and will smell an opportunity to stun the Irish as they did the Springboks and All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. With plenty of enterprise on attack and a solid kicking game, Argentina have good balance when they get it right, but they’re still too erratic for my liking.

A bitter Ireland should return to their fast-paced best and bounce back as an apology to their fans.

Prediction: Ireland by 15.

Suggested Bet: Ireland -12.5 at 1.84.

Scotland v Portugal

Saturday, 16 November – 17:10

After putting up a good fight against the Boks last weekend, Scotland have to find a way to get up for what will be just their second-ever meeting with Portugal.

The Scots gave South Africa a hard time, with the 32-15 scoreline flattering the visitors. Gregor Townshend’s troops will rue the fact that they couldn’t convert a single one of the try-scoring opportunities they created and will focus on their finishing as a result.

That spells trouble for Portugal, who are 4-4 this year and coming off losses to the Boks (64-21) and USA (21-17) in July and September respectively. Scotland won the only previous clash between the teams 56-10 at the 2007 World Cup and will ease to victory again.

Prediction: Scotland by 40.

England v South Africa

Saturday, 16 November – 19:40

The Boks will seek to sharpen up and will be wary of the threat a desperate England side pose when they meet at Twickenham.

The back-to-back world champions set their own standards and aren’t entirely happy with the performance they put forth in their 17-point triumph over Scotland last weekend.

A whopping 22 handling errors highlight what a scrappy showing it was from South Africa, however, champion teams know how to win ugly if necessary and that’s what they did, closing the game out expertly.

Given the different combinations Rassie Erasmus opted for, one could’ve expected some disjointedness, but the overall quality of performance wasn’t up to standard and they’ll be determined to lift their game this weekend. 

Meanwhile, lapses in energy and a serious lack of composure saw England suffer a second heartbreaking loss in as many weeks against visitors from the south. They have a ton of work to do on their defence after slipping 36 tackles against Australia and choking at the death again.

Truth is, they should never have been in that position. They should have built on their two early tries and killed off the Wallabies instead of falling asleep at the wheel and allowing them back into the game.

Sides save their best for the Boks given their status as the leading team in the world. Thus, Siya Kolisi and company will know they can expect to face the best version of the Red Rose, who in addition to wanting to halt their current four-match losing skid are out for revenge for a 32-12 World Cup final loss in 2019 and 16-15 World Cup semi-final defeat to the Boks last year.

As game as England will be, South Africa’s power, depth and defence – both structurally and their ability to scramble – will be too much for the hosts to handle.

Prediction: South Africa by 10.

Suggested Bet: South Africa -7.5 at 1.83.

France v New Zealand

Saturday, 16 November – 22:10

The All Blacks were expected to have a rough year-end tour but head into the clash high on confidence and momentum after following up an emphatic tour-opening triumph over Japan with a 24-22 win over England and a stunning 10-point upset of Ireland last weekend.

Their masterclass of wet weather rugby was their best performance yet under Scott Robertson and a sign of what the Kiwis are capable of when they’re clinical and in the right frame of mind. Intelligent, intense and opportunistic, they smarted up, muscled up and took their opportunities to pull off a shock but deserved win. The question now is, can they keep it going? 

What counts in their favour is that they’re battle-hardened, whereas France opened their year-end schedule with a 52-12 rout of Japan that did little other than help them shake off the rust. Les Bleus, it must be said, ticked all the boxes and most importantly, the match highlighted that they are a different team with talisman Antoine Dupont back.

With a powerful pack and Dupont pulling the strings and bolstering France’s confidence, they should pip it.

Prediction: France by 4.

Suggested Bet: France -2.5 at 1.84.

Italy v Georgia

Sunday, 17 November – 15:40

Blown away 50-18 by Argentina last weekend, the Azzurri have little time to shore up for this potentially tricky tie. Having trailed 17-0 after 29 minutes, it’s imperative for Italy to start strong this time around to ensure they lead the dance and not give the underdogs hope.

A rising force, Georgia have won six of their eight Tests this year with their most notable victory being over Japan (25-23) and their losses coming to Fiji (21-12) and Australia (40-29). They actually lead the head-to-head stakes against Italy 2-1, with 34-10- and 28-19-wins book-ending a 28-17 loss, so they’ll be confident.

That said, Italy showed enough promise in the Six Nations – where they beat Scotland (31-29) and Wales (24-21) and drew 13-all with France – to suggest they’ll manage the muscle of the Lelos and come good.

Prediction: Italy by 7.

Wales v Australia

Sunday, 17 November – 18:10

The Wallabies will feel like a team reborn after their last-gasp 42-37 win over a much-vaunted England side last weekend.

They showed so much that they lacked in the Rugby Championship. They showed heart and grit to go from 15-3 down to leading 20-18 at halftime and never giving up to score the match-winning try at the death.

They also showed x-factor on attack, with league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaallii having an immediate impact in this regard, and they showed an increase in physicality.

With Wales’ woes continuing with them suffering their first-ever defeat to Fiji on home soil last weekend, which stretched their losing streak to 10, it’ll take a brave man to back them.

No strangers to one another, the Wallabies banked two wins over Wales in July, triumphing 25-16 in Sydney and 36-28 in Melbourne, and they’ll make it three in Cardiff.

Prediction: Australia by 9.

Suggested Bet: Australia -4.5 at 1.83.