Rugby

Preview: Rugby Autumn Internationals – Betting Odds, Teams News & Predictions

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Wales vs. Argentina

Kick Off: 5:30, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Rob Howley’s second spell as interim Wales coach got off to a disastrous start last weekend, with a dreadful performance against Australia. On top of the defeat was the loss of three players to injury. Fortunately for Howley though, he can recall Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Liam Williams for the game against a much-improved Argentina team.

The Pumas suffered a 40-6 defeat in their last game against Wales in Cardiff in 2012 and just five players from that team remain, but Daniel Hourcade’s side will be battle-hardened after a Rugby Championship campaign and last week’s victory over Japan. Their game plan is based around a dominant scrum, something that Wales struggled to maintain last week.

Teams

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain), 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Luke Charteris, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Cory Hill, 20 James King, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Jamie Roberts

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 1 Lucas Noguera, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Facundo Isa

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Leonardo Senatore, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Santiago Cordero

Stats

  • Wales have lost their last five Tests. This is their worst run since they lost eight in a row between June 2012 and February 2013.
  • Argentina ended a four-match losing streak with a 34 point victory over Japan last week.
  • Wales have won four of their last five matches against Argentina.
  • Argentina have won twice in seven visits to Cardiff against Wales in 2001 and 2012.

Odds

Scotland vs. Australia

Kick Off: 2:30, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Revenge will be on the mind of the Scottish team and their supporters at Murrayfield on Saturday when they play Australia. It’s the first meeting since the controversial World Cup quarter final last year, which saw Scotland come within seconds of winning, before a questionable penalty was awarded to the Wallabies.

Vern Cotter has selected seven survivors from that game at Twickenham, but his side will come up against a confident Australia side who have eyes for a Northern Hemisphere clean sweep this autumn. The Wallabies were ruthless last week and carved through a Wales side, who for so long have prided themselves on their defence. Bernard Foley and Israel Folau were a constant threat.

Teams

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw; 1 Allan Dell, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 John Barclay, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Ryan Wilson

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Moray Low, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 John Hardie, 21 Ali Price, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Rory Hughes

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 3 Sekope Kepy, 4 Rory Arnold, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Lopeti Timani

Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Will Skelton, 21 Dean Mumm, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Quade Cooper

Stats

  • This is the first meeting between the two sides since Australia’s controversial 35-34 World Cup quarter final win in 2015.
  • Scotland have won two of the last four meetings, having lost the previous 16 encounters.
  • Australia have won four of their last six meetings.
  • Three of their last four meetings have been settled by three points or fewer.

Odds

England vs. South Africa

Kick Off: 2:30, Twickenham

Eddie Jones’ England side head into Saturday’s fixture at Twickenham as firm favourites to end their 10-year run without a victory over South Africa. The Springboks have struggled as of late, having lost significant experience after the World Cup and they were poor in their draw against the Barbarians last week. Expectation is low amongst their fans, having been thumped 57-15 by the All Blacks at home in their final Rugby Championship game.

In contrast, England completed a first ever whitewash series win over Australia in June, but have suffered injuries to key players in the intervening period. James Haskell, Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell are all unavailable for Jones and his strength in depth will be tested this autumn.

Teams

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley (captain), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Tom Wood, 8 Billy Vunipola

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Danny Care, 22 Ben Te’o, 23 Jonathan Joseph

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Rudy Paige; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Willem Alberts, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Warren Whiteley

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lionel Mapoe

Stats

  • England haven’t beaten South Africa since 2006.
  • Eddie Jones has won all 9 games since taking charge of England.
  • England have won just 12 of the 37 games between the sides, with two draws.

Odds

Words by @dominictrant