After a entree serving of Test rugby at the weekend, we’re set for the main course over three delicious sittings in November.
From Edinburgh to Cardiff, London to Paris, and a few other cities in between, it really is smorgasbord of rugby action over the next few weeks.
Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it comes to hand, plus our match previews and odds.
Scotland vs. Fiji | Wales vs. New Zealand | Ireland vs. South Africa | France vs. Australia | England vs. Argentina
Saturday, November 5
Scotland vs. Fiji, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 1pm GMT [12am Sun, AEDT]
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
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] N/A
Preview: Scotland might have the All Blacks in their sights in just over a week but they are taking no chances against Fiji this weekend and have named a strong side to take on the maverick Pacific islanders at Murrayfield on Saturday.
It is the second of four home tests for Scotland in the autumn international series, arguably the easiest assignment after losing 16-15 to Australia last weekend and still to face New Zealand on Nov. 13 and Argentina six days later.
Scotland’s Stuart Hogg, stripped of the captaincy last month, returns to the team this weekend after being named on Thursday.
Hogg was replaced by Jamie Ritchie as captain when coach Gregor Townsend made several surprise choices last month in his squad for four autumn internationals, including dropping mercurial fly-half Finn Russell..
Adam Hastings has been chosen ahead of Blair Kinghorn at fly-half after Kinghorn missed a last-gasp kick against the Wallabies last weekend that would have handed Scotland victory.
“We are expecting the unexpected. They play a game unlike any other team at international level,” Townsend said on Thursday about the flair-filled approach from Fiji.
“There is an ambition and skill level above what we are used to playing.”
Fiji’s penchant for throwing the ball around will continue, their coach Vern Cotter confirmed, but he was insistent on 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, who was previously in charge of Scotland.
Saturday’s Test is the first for the Fijians since July’s Pacific Nations Cup as they look ahead to next year’s World Cup.
They have had a week-long training camp in France ahead of the Scotland clash and in the next fortnight will play Ireland and the French Barbarians.
“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.
Wales vs. New Zealand, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 3.15pm GMT [2am Sun, AEDT]
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.
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Wales $4.60, +12.5 $1.87; New Zealand $1.17, -12.5 $1.85
Preview: New Zealand have made extensive changes to their lineup as they revert to a strong selection for Saturday’s Test against Wales after fielding an experimental team last week in Japan, while Wales have handed a first cap to wing Rio Dyer and recalled three stalwarts.
The All Blacks make 11 changes to the makeshift side that were given a mighty scare at Tokyo’s National Stadium last Saturday in a 38-31 win over Japan.
Aaron Smith is set to pass Dan Carter as the most capped back in All Blacks history, playing his 113th Test as he returns to the team, along with a trio of Barrett brothers, while Shannon Frizell is the only player retained in the pack.
Sam Whitelock takes over as a skipper in Cardiff, as he will for clashes with Scotland on Nov. 13 and England on Nov. 19.
“Playing Wales on the road always represents an exciting challenge,” head coach Ian Foster said in a statement naming the team.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Wales winger Dyer, 22, comes in for the injured Josh Adams. Head coach Wayne Pivac has been boosted by the return of fullback Leigh Halfpenny, hooker Ken Owens and flanker Justin Tipuric, all of whom have faced long spells on the sidelines through injury.
Tipuric takes over as captain from injured fly-half Dan Biggar, who is replaced by Gareth Anscombe.
“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.”
Ireland vs. South Africa, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 5:05pm GMT [4.05am Sun AEDT]
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, 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, Stuart McCloskey.
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.
Odds: [tab.com.au, Aus only] Ireland $1.60, -3.5 $1.87; South Africa $2.25, +3.5 $1.87
Preview: Cheslin Kolbe will play his first test at fullback when he makes a return to the South Africa team against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, coach Jacques Nienaber has announced.
Damian Willemse will play at fly-half after missing the last Test, replacing veteran Frans Steyn, while Kurt-Lee Arendse is on the wing for the injured Canan Moodie.
“Damian has done well for us at fly-half, and he is continuing to grow as a player in that role, while we think Cheslin has the potential to add a new dimension to our game at fullback,” Nienaber told a news conference.
Nienaber said he expected Ireland to be a major challenge, particularly at home.
“Ireland are the top ranked team in the world currently and they’ve shown in the past that they can be a force to be reckoned with in Dublin,” he said.
“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 win his 100th cap after Andy Farrell made two changes from the side that wrapped up July’s series victory in New Zealand.
The Munster scrum-half will become the eighth Irishman to win a century of caps, a landmark most recently passed by halfback partner Johnny Sexton, who captains the side against the world champions.
The only other change from the famous 32-22 win that sealed Ireland’s first ever three-Test series victory over the All Blacks sees Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune come in for the injured James Lowe.
France vs. Australia, Stade de France, Paris, 9pm [8pm GMT, 7am AEDT]
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). Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Matt Gibbon, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Hunter Paisami, Reece Hodge
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] France $1.17, -12.5 $1.87; Australia $4.60, +12.5 $1.87
Preview: Toulouse duo Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille will start for France against Australia in Paris on Saturday despite recent injury troubles that have restricted their playing time at club level, while Jock Campbell will make his first start for Australia amid four changes to their side.
France fly-half Ntamack was named by coach Fabien Galthie, who 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.
Meanwhile Australia’s front row see Taniela Tupou replace Allan Alaalatoa, who was ruled out after suffering concussion last weekend.
“I just know I haven’t been up to it in some of the games, especially the last three games I’ve played,” Tupou told reporters this week.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “To play France in Paris less than one year out from a Rugby World Cup here is an incredible opportunity and one we’re all excited by.”
Sunday, November 6
England vs. Argentina, Twickenham, London, 2.15pm GMT [1.15am Mon, AEDT]
England:
Argentina:
Odds: [tab.com.au Australia only] England $1.14, -14.5 $1.85; Argentina $5.20, +14.5 $1.90
Preview: