Italy vs Argentina
Two sides struggling to make an impact in recent times. Well, for Italy, pretty much forever despite one win over the Boks at our lowest ebb, for the pedants and pot stirrers who like to keep dredging that up. Argentina seemed to be on the up when they pasted the All Blacks last year (funny how competitive they were not having been beasted by the Boks beforehand), but have reverted to the mean (in a marshmallowy sort of way) this year. Can Italy use home ground advantage to eke out a win, or will the superior talent available to Argentina tell in the end? Tricky one this, but I’ll go for a Pumas win by about 9 as the Azzurri Fade to Grey.
Scotland vs South Africa
A fabulous match in store in this Currie Cup Clash, as Ticht called it. Much spoken about the four Saffas in the Scotland side, but in all honesty there’s plenty more for the Boks to worry about than a couple of down the pecking order forwards and backs who sought lucre over homeland. Scotland showed just how dangerous they can be ball in hand against the Aussies last weekend (one just past, keep up at the back), but couldn’t quite put it together as a complete package. The Scots forwards were excellent and showed some real grunt, which they’ll need on Saturday if they’re to get decent ball to Finn and Co. The Boks will surely try to batter them like a lonely Mars Bar on a Saturday night though and with a more settled back division, will probably squeak it in the end. The bench to do the job again, Boks by a score or thereabouts as they say it in Broken English.
Ireland vs New Zealand
The respective unsmiling sides of the two hemispheres go toe to toe, both having eased into the contest with little in the way of stern opposition: usually the Kiwis use this as an excuse for World Cup exits (along with Suzi, norovirus, referees, time zones, grass type and anything else rather than decent oppo), but both sides have had lopsided wins in the last week, with Ireland’s dismantling of Japan possibly slightly better than the Kiwis mangling of Italy with a reserve-ish side. Ireland will have a real go at the Kiwi pack at set pieces, where they were vulnerable against the Boks in both 4N matches this year and have been for a while now. The Kiwis will look to decimate Ireland out wide and in broken play and it should be a huge match. Kiwis are pretty confident at the moment, so I’m picking them (against the heart) to win by 4. Either way, it’ll be a Crowded House in Dublin, weather permitting.
Portugal vs Japan
Can Japan be as bad as they were against Ireland? I’ve no idea and writing this on the hoof not having seen the line-up for either side (not that that would make much difference, let’s be honest), it remains to be seen if they can bounce back. They’ve still got good players and should have too much nous for Portugal, despite the Iberians’ recent decent form at Tier Two level. Japan by 15. The House of the Rising Sun will once again shine. Tenuous link if ever!
England vs Australia
Keep feeling tempted to just write ‘looks weak’ and leave it at that. England have stormed out of the blocks with a hammering of hapless Tonga, which probably means little in reality, whilst the Wobblies duly wobbled after a five-match winning streak against stubborn Scotland last weekend. However, the result would probably have been very different but for the discipline issues they suffered from, that potentially cost them 14 points. They’re still a decent side, even without the J-League party-poopers and love nothing more than a crack at the Poms. But they’ll possibly be without Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, leaving their improving front row in tatters. Dave Rennie will need to crack the discipline whip harder than a dominatrix at a Tory dinner party to keep them in the game. England, with a very good pack, Owen ‘Venus de Milo’ Farrell cleared of Covid and some good gas out wide should have too much for this now more disjointed Wallaby side. It’ll be tight and feisty, as always, but in the end, it’s England by 12. And as the man who sold the world, Eddie Jones will be smiling.
France vs Georgia
Doesn’t matter which France pitches up, Georgia are no match for them or as replacements for Italy in the 6N. That’s the Boks’ next target, ahem. A brutal mismatch that will put Georgia firmly back in their box. France may be distracted by the looming challenge of the All Blacks the following weekend, but even that shouldn’t see this being anything other than a training ground run for Les Bleus. Georgia’s last outing was a 40-9 thumping by a very rusty Bok side in July, although they’d be doing okay in the Tier 2 stuff before that. France by 35. You know I’m gonna say it, it’ll be a rainy night for Georgia, Randy Crawford to the fore.
Wales vs Fiji
Another mismatch in store, with Wales looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat against the Boks last weekend. Fiji, as everyone knows, have some superb individuals in their side, but haven’t been able to put it all together into a coherent package for a long while. Wales have had to re-jig their side a bit, with the Horse back on the wing and Adams moving into midfield, but you sense that won’t make much difference in the end. It’s Wales’ match to win by pretty much whatever score they’d like to, especially after Fiji struggled to subdue Spain last weekend. Fitness, structure, technique and a stronger bench will see Wales home comfortably in the end. Wales by 28. And as every Manic Street Preacher in Cardiff’ll tell you – if you tolerate this, your children will be next. You’ve been warned, Fiji.
Preview by the incomparable Deebee7
Onna telly this week
Friday 12th November
| Gloucester v Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 13th November
| Wales v South Africa (women) | 12:15 | BBC2 Wales |
| Italy v Argentina | 13:00 | Prime |
| Scotland v South Africa | 13:00 | Prime |
| Ireland v New Zealand | 15:15 | Channel 4 / RTÉ2 |
| England v Australia | 17:30 | Prime |
Sunday 14th November
| England v Canada (women) | 14:30 | BBC2 / iPlayer | ||
| Wales v Fiji | 15:15 | Prime | ||
| Scotland v Japan (women) | 16:10 | BBC Alba / iPlayer |
Ovally Balls 
Fab by Mapimpi.
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Top top play. Scotland under so much pressure.
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MAPIMPI!!!
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Wish Rassie would fuck off though.
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Scotland lucky Jantjies #9 has a bad day.
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Tough cookies these Saffers. The scrum fight is magnificent.
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Fabulous! Too bad about the forward pass….
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Great try by Scotland. Great handling!
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Chaos rugby. Could be something wrong. Who knows on first view?
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Wow! Lucky Scotland!
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Good by Harris and vd Merwe in the build up.
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Great reply! My one working eye thought there was a forward pass in the build up, but the ref and TMO didn’t, so fair play.
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That pass looked forward every time, from every angle, but never mind!
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Etzebeth was straight on the ball there. Penalty going the wrong way.
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Don’t understand subbing the front row on half time.
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Angus Gardiner being, um, very strict.
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Two penalties in a row for Scotland that could’ve easily gone the other way. Entertaining game.
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Should’ve hooked H Jantjies. He’s putting the Boks under huge pressure. Slow, inaccurate and panicky.
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Scotland are creating mayhem at the breakdown, which is causing Jantjies problems.
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They are, but he’s been lousy outside of that too.
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Kicking out on the full when we had momentum in the Scotland half, missing his hack at the ball which allowed Scotland to regather and ultimately score for another, waiting too long to clear (especially with Scottish defenders pouring through), been awful.
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Jantjies subbed. Deebee is Erasmus and I get 5 €.
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Well … no-one is going to catch Mapimpi on the wing.
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Man, what a top try.
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MAPIMPI!!! WTF?
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MAPIMPI!!! Great stuff from De Allende and Am as well.
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Great SA try but possibly disallowed.
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Really really good by de Allende.
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Nice try, really good passing and perfect from De Allende. If there was anything worth checking it was whether one of the South Africans was in touch and played the ball in the mess when they won it.
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Scots must all be hiding behind the sofa.
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The Mish!!
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Mish’on
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Scotland giving away silly penalties now.
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OH YES!
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Great try Scotland! Made it look so simple.
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That’s better! Splendid try by Scotland.
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Oh, well played Duhan vd Merwe. Excellent by Scotland.
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Hoggy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Finn not got his kicking boots on today.
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Great stwp from Koch!
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15 years of Test rugby for Steyn!
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15 years for Steyn. Hehehe. Shows how shallow is SA pool.
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Proper Test match rugby from SA now. Territory and pressure and kicking for points.
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Mish mashed.
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Russell, god love him, just too loose today.
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Dominant by the SA pack. A very good performance by all 13 players.
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Well done to Deebee’s boys.
See plenty to worry about in 6N from Scotland.
The match was so engrossing that I didn’t have time to worry about the Ballsacks. The Fear coming on now.
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That was a fairly emphatic second half. Better control by Reinach behind the pack and it allowed the Boks to play their game. A bit of a wobble at the end of the third quarter, but the Scottish lineout fell apart. They were definitely in it at that stage. Enjoyed that!
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Wish Scotland had a bench equivalent to SA’s. Can’t complain about the result, it truly was an international test.
Contrats to SA , their forwards have few equivalent in the world
They do the basics so well. The scrum was also Scotland’s demise.
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C’mon Ireland! C’mon Argentina! Frustrating draw England and Australia!
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