Ireland v South Africa
With Bundee Aki in detention for being a bad boy and Robbie Henshaw pulling a hamstring in training, Stuart McCloskey is at last getting a start in a big game. Fellow Ulsterman Flying Robert Baloucoune also starts on the wing, with Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell on the bench. Springboks better be careful! Ireland by 5 (McCloskey try).
Italy v Samoa
Hard to predict as I’ve no idea what Samoa’s form is like, but they may benefit from some poached players returning. Draw.
Scotland v Fiji
Fiji are never a side to be discounted, but a strong Scotland will do the business, even without Finn’s flair. Scotland by 15.
Wales v New Zealand
With half the first-choice starters injured (and Halfpenny currently an injury doubt too), this can only go one way. NZ by 38. (It would have been 48, but talisman AWJ is on the bench.)
France v Australia
France have rediscovered Gallic flair and are currently a truly frightening side to face. They are also hosting the World Cup next year, and will want to put on a good display. Wobblies are wobbly. France by 15.
England v Argentina
Eddie Jones has named a tired side, albeit with Marcus Smith at fly-half and a new bloke. As astutely pointed out by the notablog denizens, Billy Vunipola is unlikely to last more than 20 minutes. Argentina by 2.
Onna telly this week
Friday 4th November
| Northampton v Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 5th November
| England v Canada (women) | 03:30 | ITV |
| France v New Zealand (women) | 06:30 | ITV |
| Scotland v Fiji | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Sale v Gloucester | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Italy v Samoa | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Wales v New Zealand | 15:15 | Amazon Prime |
| Ireland v South Africa | 17:30 | Amazon Prime |
| France v Australia | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 6th November
| Pau v Bordeaux | 14:10 | Viaplay (formerly Premier Sports) |
| England v Argentina | 14:15 | Amazon Prime |
Ovally Balls 
I was trying to work out why Wales had moved LRZ to outside centre, purely on the name position on the screen 🤷♂️🤦♂️
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@thaum Cotter, Warburton & Shanks sounds like a 90s garage group.
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Well, a good match so far, but Blackness prevails.
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We were asking, Who is Rio Dyer? Now we see. He had a tear on his face during the anthem, and is making a very good account of himself.
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Dear oh dear.
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RIO furra liiinnneeee!
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Nice work to score against the All-Blacks on your début. His mum will be proud.
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ABs just too good.
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My feed had been eaten. Wassa score?
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Pretty sure Ireland would have gone for the corner there, but then they have a better maul.
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Deebs – 13-22 at HT.
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So, 13/22 at HT.
Not so bad for Wales. They certainly missed a couple of opportunities and they seem to have to work much harder than NZ to score. But NZ make uncharacteristic errors, poor handling and support in particular, so all is not lost yet. Should make for an interesting 2nd half.
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Could be worse, but I’m not enjoying this one as much as this morning’s game.
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AWJ on for the second half, looking like he means business.
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Yet.
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Try
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Bloody hell, that ‘dummy’ by Savea.
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Wales seem to have brought on a small child.
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Why the hell didn’t Anscombe give it to Dyer ?
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Interesting that Ardie Savea has ‘Savea’ written on his neck. Assuming this is so he can be returned if found.
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@Craigs – it’s so no-one confuses him, with his brother Julian.
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That’s pure bastardary
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Good the game doesn’t last 90 minutes. Wales on their knees. 23/48 and NZ still try to score after the 80th. And another one!
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Harsh on Wales as they tried really hard, but the final score doesn’t lie. 23/55. Ouch.
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Not too far off with that one either!
Right, have Ulster shirt on. Expecting at least one try each from Baloucoune and McCloskey, and perhaps a maul-over from Herring in the second half.
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Ouch that made a mess of my suprbru picks, I had NZ by twelve. Anscombe no pass that could have taken the score to 30-36 lost it for them, just a Zammit away from a win . Bloody Kiwis.
Wales looked halfway reasonable occasionally, but zero biff up front, wheres the ABs had lots.
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SBT – Wales missing half their first-choice starters, though.
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Aww, thats nice from Savea.
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Early 3 points to Ireland.
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Irish kit is terrible. Hard to distinguish the sides.
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My dodgy feed is a couple of minutes behind so I’ll be lurking at best.
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@Thaum – it’s just hideous on its own, never mind the clashing.
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Refit – that is so. Breathless stuff, proper Test match. Boks have equalised, bodies are going to hurt tomorrow.
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McCloskey to the rescue!
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Ooh, wo reds?
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Kolbe off for 10 mins.
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That’s some rush defence! Mapimpi with perfect timing! And the Bok maul fails again. Not sure what’s going on, but out maul has been crap all year.
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WTF was that from Willemse? Ha!
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Must’ve missed something typing there, not sure where we got the penalty from. Willemse should’ve at least let the boys know he was going for the corner not the poles though!
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McCloskey down! Possibly a dislocated finger or two.
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Nope, it’s more serious. Arm in a sling and going off. Fuck.
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Dammit, big McCloskey was playing really well
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Was that 10 minutes? Wow! This is flying past. Neither side really dominating, but the Boks probably a little happier, especially if they can protect the ball a bit better.
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Deebee – most of the match played in our half. Otherwise well-matched, yes. Less so now Big Stuart’s gone off.
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Hendrikse putting the box kicks 10 yards too far down the pitch. Not contestable.
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Try Ireland? Not sure!
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Nope, knocked forward before grounding.
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Irish kit looks pretty disrespectful to Scotland tbh
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Why all the water breaks?
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I’ve heard U2, The Cranberries and Van Morrison over the tannoy, not sure who that last one was
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