The Autumn Internationals or End of Year Tours start in earnest this weekend after two weeks of watching the Kiwis dismantle half-baked sides in the name of ‘growing the global game for a few million pounds, mate’. Gents that they are. After the rancour of the Lions Tour (with more of the players now tearing up the St Gats Bible and tossing it onto the fire of missed opportunity, and the gross miscarriage of justice in holding the Rugby Championship in the backwater towns of a backwater penal colony, we get to some good old fashioned, meaty, North versus South matches: the northerners itching to avenge the defeats of the Lions tours or for those not involved to pick up some scalps as we hurtle towards France 2023 and putting down markers. For the southerners, it’s a chance to meet up with childhood family and friends who’ve strayed from home and been punished for it by having to endure the long bleak winters of their discontent (and weather and losing to the fleet of foot colonials). So to it!
Ireland v Japan
The unsmiling Irish will be looking for another, more convincing win against the Brave Blossoms, to further eradicate the memories of losing in the World Cup to Japan. They got a 39-31 victory in July, but will be looking to turn the screws this time and stamp their authority on the match. Sexton’s century and a very strong looking pack will be too much for the Blossoms, as Ireland take it by 25.
Italy v New Zealand
Not really much point in discussing this one, other than whether or not the Kiwis have put out a second- or third-choice side against the Abject Azzurri. Dane Coles and Sam Cane are the most experienced starters in the side with 75+ caps each, but from there is a long way down to Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga at 38 and 29 respectively and then down to most having not more than a handful of caps. ‘A youthful combination’ is how the Kiwis have framed it, but whatever, they’ll still stick loads on Italy. New Zealand by 56
Spain v Fiji
Absolutely no idea what Spain’s 15s side is like and I can’t be bothered to Google it either. They’ve had a couple of decent wins in the 7zzz in recent years, but won’t be a match for Fiji who should simply be too physical, fast and inventive. Fiji blow hot and cold though, both temperamentally and skills wise, so it may not be the massive blow out expected. Fiji by 19
Portugal v Canada
Last time I looked the Cannucks were bloody awful. They got slapped silly in July by both Wales and England and have a win and a loss against both the USA and Chile in the current 2023 World Cup campaign, so not much to write home about. Portugal currently sit second in the Rugby Europe Championship behind powerhouses Georgia (drop Italy etc!) and look like a decent emerging side at that level. They’ve thumped Spain, Russia and Netherlands and lost to Georgia and Romania. Should be a narrow win for Canada based on experience, but stuff that – Portugal by 2.
England v Tonga
England injecting some new blood into the system, but retaining enough firepower to demolish Tonga after a sluggish start. Don’t expect any surprises in this one, bar perhaps all 15 Tongans staying on the pitch. England to win by how much they want to, and how much they’re keeping in reserve for the bigger matches to come. England by 51.
Wales v South Africa
One of the matches of the round! Wales have had the Boks number in Cardiff in recent years and have their foreign-based players back in the side after missing out against the Kiwis. An under-strength Wales were game for 55 minutes nonetheless and will feel confident that they can go one further and compete with – and beat – the Boks this weekend. The loss of AWJ is massive however, and the Boks arrive in town buoyed by their win over New Zealand and with a very strong pack. Some doubts out wide with Kolbe and Nkosi both missing and le Roux dropped, but the Boks will reverse recent form and win a hard, uncompromising duel in the end. South Africa by 8.
France v Argentina
This would have been a lip-smacker a few years ago, but Argentina have gone off the boil in the last year or so. France have improved, but still manage to confound every now and then. Which France will pitch up etc and which Pumas side will pitch up? No idea on either score, but at home, and with the depth they’ve got, it’s France for the win. Being a conservative Saffer, I’ve gone by 11 points to France, but it could be a lot more if they get going. Or not, if they don’t.
Romania v Uruguay
Romania may not be the side they were under Ceausescu, but they’re handily placed in Tier 2 of European rugby. They narrowly lost a friendly to Argentina in July, for what it’s worth, so do have some ability at the top level. Uruguay had a great 2019 World Cup and have qualified for 2023 as well, belting the USA out of the way in the process. That should see them as favourites for this match, but in a Romanian autumn, anything is possible. Romania by 4.
Scotland v Australia
Scotland warmed up for their bunnies with a sumptuous performance last weekend, missed by some Scots here who were foolishly hiding behind their sofas. They ran in some excellent tries, albeit some of the tackling was optional at times, but you’ve still got to get them in. They face an Australia that recovered from their traditional shellacking by the Ballsacks to beat both the Boks and Argentina twice, albeit all matches played in Australia. Still, the Aussies seem to be growing in confidence and getting a bit of backbone into their side. A tough match, but one I think will go the Wobblies’ way in the end. Australia by 7.
Preview gracias a Deebee7
Onna telly this week
Friday 5th November
| Leicester v Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| La Rochelle v Bordeaux | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Saturday 6th November
| Ireland v Japan | 13:00 | Channel 4 / RTÉ2 |
| Italy v New Zealand | 13:00 | Prime |
| Toulouse v Perpignan | 13:45 | Premier Sports 2 |
| England v Tonga | 15:15 | Prime |
| Brive v Racing 92 | 16:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Wales v South Africa | 17:30 | Prime |
| France v Argentina | 20:00 | Prime |
Sunday 7th November
| Scotland v Australia | 14:15 | Prime | ||
| England v New Zealand (women) | 14:45 | BBC2 / iPlayer | ||
| Wasps v Harlequins | 16:30 | BT Sport 1 | ||
| Clermont v Toulon | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
A win for Naarch! Might not end up with the lowest ever points total after all…
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CMW, Brighton drew, again.
I went to a “party” of sorts today, friends have bought a new place and we went over before the sledgehammers started swinging.
The problem was the queues on the bypass as cars were trying to get to the Seagulls’ game v Newcastle, we had difficulty getting across the lanes to get away from the football traffic.
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See there’s a job for you down in Norwich, Clyde. Seems weird to sack him after a win.
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Real rugby
Dunbar won away to Trinity 55-12 today.
When I played Trinity Academicals were at least four tiers above Dunbar
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Reading back I feel I should mention that a spent a fair chunk of the 1980s going to football training in one of the Umbro Coventry City kits. Pretty much everyone else in Aberystwyth had them, it was just normal.
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“a spent”? I. Me. I had one. And my brother, he had one too. And maybe nobody else on reflection though you never know, they may have worn them at home. I’ve been fairly convinced for years that me and my friend Dai are the only people in York who follow the Pro Whatever, but again I could be wrong.
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That could be a great sub culture to find in York CMW.
I know a marker trader in York, he cuts names on a pedal-driven saw, he’s a rugby fan but partial to League over Union.
as my children would say, bee tee dubs, Fiji beat Spain by 30, 43 to 13 today
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Itchy nipples and a general sense of worthlessness is what I got out of the shirt and that translates pretty well to following the Pro Woo.
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@Ticht – Me and my lot watched the Wales-England 2015 World Cup game with a couple we met that night who wearing Dragons shirts. They were on holiday though.
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To be fair to the Cov shirt it wasn’t any worse on the nipples than the shirts we had to wear when playing matches for our team. But what would you expect when playing for what translates as Bog Wanderers C team?
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I do actually know a Munster supporter up here, but I don’t count him as I’ve noticed over the years that his team play meaningful games outside of the Pro Doodah.
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We’ve got tickets for the game … no real concerns about watching in a full stadium… we’re all looking forward to it…
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“How dare you break wind before Her Ladyshio??”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was her turn!”
Boom-boom – I’m here all week……………………………………..
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Romain Poite’s last international game today. Looking forward to a classic old-school Poite performance of penalising one team all the time at scrum time no matter what and a mish-mash of super pedantry and super laxity.
Scotland will win, by the way.
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Great play by Lukhanyo Am in this disallowed try:
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‘Scotland will win, by the way.’
Wish I had your confidence
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‘Mon Scotland!
I’m just glad that we’re at the stage now where we’re discussing who might win rather than how many points Australia will thrash us by.
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Not confident but looking forward to it. Both teams play attractive rugby ( before anyone jumps in, I mean the type I prefer), nice weather and probably not as one sided as too many of yesterday’s games.
Allez l’Ecosse!
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All a bit frantic
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Poite got himself right in the way, from that Scotland maul. Awful placement.
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Yay!
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Yes!
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ooh, this is fun.
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Is Marius Jonker the worst TMO?
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Two-man bind on Gilchrist?
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Good move, mind.
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Ah, after Gilchrist got the ball. No problem.
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@Tomp – it was a really cunning tactic.
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That was a nice line-out move. Hooper is a pest
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See? Pest
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Ooh, that should be a red, no? Contact with the head, no mitigation?
Oh, they’ve dropped it to a yellow, what a surprise.
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Card is harsh, I think.
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I do love how it’s gone from “zero tolerance on contact with the head” to “well…ya know…probably shouldn’t even be penalised”.
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Intent was there but light contact.
Would have given penalty myself
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Minimal contact with the first one, but he does follow thru with forearm /elbow /bicep. More attention to that could have been a red for some refs. Do like Poite as a ref, think he likes to try and let the game flow. Zander could have been in trouble too.
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Aussies shafting themselves with discipline
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Intent’s got nothing to do with it, Chimpie. It didn’t seem much force. Yellow all right for me.
Scots lad shouldn’t have put his hand in Hooper’s face afterwards.
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Yes, if there was going to be a card, there should’ve been two.
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My initial reaction was yellow. Wouldn’t have been surprised at a harsher sanction though as he did seem to have a couple of goes at it. Missed the Scottish try but for all the ambition being shown you’d think a few more points would have been scored. Very entertaining nonetheless!
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Was merely a personal view
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Kind of like Skooman as a player, he is a real tricky looking prop, and great around the park too. Added bonus is that he can’t be accused of mercenary importation, cos he is obviously descended from one of William Wallace’s sidekicks somewhere along the line.
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Not perfect but quite entertaining.
Think Zander got lucky there, hand in face to… Hooper, not even to the guy who (rightly) got carded later. Colour could’ve been red for both. Glad am not a ref.
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Trying to play too much in the middle of the pitch with defences on top. Could do with some smarter tactics second half.
Aussies looking dangerous at times but discipline un good
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Could go either way
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This is right and for both teams. They both move the ball quite quickly but need quicker ball off the rucks, which they can’t get because they’ve gone too wide. Catch 22.
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That Hooper non-try was something there’s been a fair bit of recently. Quick ball, pick and go, really tight to the ruck. Perenara’s try last week came from it.
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Scotland rode their luck in the first half, or perhaps Australia’s lack of discipline in the build up to the two tries created the luck for Scotland. Either way, Aus have about 8 minutes to get through the card and then need to get the big guns on. Scotland need to be a little more patient ball in hand. Should be great!
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Blown by Australia.
Scrappy play all round.
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Ffs zander
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