Previews, teams lists, and predictions for all seven matches in store this weekend!
ITALY vs TONGA
Saturday, November 10, 14:00 GMT, Brescia
The Ikale Tahi will hand first caps to Elvis Taione and Sione Piukala but will be without suspended captain Nili Latu. Some real quality players in the pack like Sona Taumalolo and Steve Mafi, but having only been together as a team for about a week, team cohesion will struggle. Azzurri coach Jacques Brunel has picked a couple surprises with Tommaso Iannone a new cap on the wing and has dropped Martin Castrogiovanni for Lorenzo Cittadini. Flyhalf Kris Burton has not been great of late, but the pack should be strong enough to make up for it. Italy squeak one at home by 7.
ITALY
Andrea Masi; Tommaso Iannone, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi, Luke McLean; Kris Burton, Tobias Botes; Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Lorenzo Cittadini; Quintin Geldenhuys, Joshua Furno; Alessandro Zanni, Robert Barbieri, Sergio Parisse (capt.). RES: Davide Giazzon, Alberto de Marchi, Martin Castrogiovanni, Antonio Pavanello, Simone Favaro, Edoardo Gori, Luciano Orquera, Giovanbattista Venditti.
TONGA
Vungakoto Lilo; Fetu’u Vainikolo, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, Sione Piukala, Viliami Helu; Fangatapu Apikotota, Taniela Moa (capt.); Sona Taumalolo, Elvis Taione, Halani Aulika; Joe Tuineau, Lua Lokotui; Steve Mafi, Sione Vaiomo’unga, Viliame Ma’afu. RES: Ilaisa Ma’asi, Soane Tonga’uiha, Tevita Mailau, Hale T-Pole, Paula Kaho, Samisoni Fisilau, Alipate Fatafehi, Viliame Iongi.
ROMANIA vs JAPAN
Saturday, November 10, 14:00 GMT, Bucharest
The Oaks host the Cherry Blossoms missing several of their top players, including a half dozen props. Otar Turashvili is the only capped member of the front row, while flyhalf Andrei Filip and his backup Ionut Florea also have no international experience. Reserve prop Romulus Boar looks to make his debut at 32 years old and scrumhalf Grigoras Diaconescu could win his first cap at 30. On the other hand Valentin Ursache will win his 50th cap at lock. Experienced Mihai Macovei captains at number eight. Eddie Jones has selected an experienced Japan side including inspirational former captain Takashi Kikutani and Super Rugby signings Fumiaki Tanaka and Shota Horie. Exciting youngster Harumichi Tatekawa is one to watch at centre. Japan have too much speed and experience for an outmatched Romania and win by 15.
ROMANIA
Catalin Fercu; Madalin Lemnaru, Ionel Cazan, Csaba Gal, Ionut Botezatu; Andrei Filip, Florin Surugiu; Petru Tamba, Otar Turashvili, Horatiu Pungea; Valentin Ursache, Marius Sirbe; Vasile Rus, Viorel Lucaci, Mihai Macovei (capt.). RES: Andrei Radoi, Vlad Badalicescu, Romulus Boar, Alin Coste, Alexandru Manta, Grigoras Diaconescu, Ionut Florea, Constantin Gheara.
JAPAN
Ayumu Goromaru; Toshiaki Hirose (capt.), Tomohiro Senba, Harumichi Tatekawa, Hirotoki Onozawa; Kosei Ono, Fumiaki Tanaka; Yusuke Nagae, Shota Horie, Hiroshi Yamashita; Hitoshi Ono, Luke Thompson; Hendrik Tui, Takashi Kikutani, Michael Leitch. RES: Haruki Ota, Takuma Asahara, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Michael Broadhurst, Koliniasi Holani, Atsushi Hiwasa, Yu Tamura, Go Aruga.
WALES vs ARGENTINA
Saturday, November 10, 14:30 GMT, Cardiff
Wales caretaker Rob Howley has picked Aaron Jarvis at tighthead for his first cap, which is a daunting start indeed facing the tough scrumming Pumas. Tavis Knoyle takes the scrumhalf spot from Mike Phillips, while out of form Rhys Priestland completes a questionable halfback pairing. Josh Turnbull fills in for injured Dan Lydiate on the blindside. Argentina have sprung a surprise with Juan Martin Hernandez at fullback and Nicolas Sanchez at flyhalf. The midfield looks risky as Felipe Contepomi is pulled out of international retirement to partner Gonzalo Tiesi, only just recovered from a bad knee injury. Wales have too much firepower out wide to lose, but the Pumas will make them work for it. Wales by 12.
WALES
Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Aaron Jarvis; Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans; Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton (capt.), Toby Faletau. RES: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington, Paul James, Rob McCusker, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Liam Williams.
ARGENTINA
Juan Martin Hernandez; Gonzalo Camacho, Gonzalo Tiesi, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Figallo; Manuel Carizza, Julio Farias Cabello; Leonardo Senatore, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Fernandez Lobbe (capt.). RES: Agustin Creevy, Bruno Postiglioni, Juan Gomez, Tomas Vallejos, Tomas Leonardi, Nicolas Vergallo, Horacio Agulla, Joaquin Tuculet.
ENGLAND vs FIJI
Saturday, November 10, 14:30 GMT, London
Fiji have danger men all over the park with 7s stars among the backs and forwards, but they will struggle in the dark arts of the scrum and maul. First caps for lock Api Ratuniyarawa and winger Samu Wara. Watch out for halfbacks Niko Matawalu and Metuisela Talebula who are both lightning quick. With Dylan Hartley injured, Tom Youngs is called up to make his England debut. Uncapped prospects Mako Vunipola and Joe Launchbury are on the bench. Not the strongest England side we have seen but they should be good enough to grind out the Fijian flyers and run away with it in the last quarter. England by 20.
ENGLAND
Alex Goode; Charlie Sharples, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Ugo Monye; Toby Flood, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole; Tom Palmer, Geoff Parling; Tom Johnson, Chris Robshaw (capt.), Thomas Waldrom. RES: David Paice, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Mike Brown.
FIJI
Simeli Koniferedi; Samu Wara, Vereniki Goneva, Sireli Naqelevuki, Watisoni Votu; Metuisela Talebula, Nikola Matawalu; Penijamini Makutu, Viliame Veikoso, Deacon Manu (capt.); Leone Nakarawa, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa; Apisai Naikataini, Malakai Ravulo, Akapusi Qera. RES: Seremaia Naureure, Setefano Somoca, Manasa Saulo, Seko Kalou, Iliesa Ratuva, Kelemedi Bola, Ravai Fatiaki, Josh Matavesi.
IRELAND vs SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, November 10, 17:30 GMT, Dublin
A severely depleted Ireland are captained by Jamie Heaslip in the absence of injured icons Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell. Adopted Irishman Richardt Strauss wins his first cap, while another adoptee Michael Bent joins rookies David Kilcoyne and Iain Henderson on the bench. Simon Zebo plays fullback for the first time in his life. Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien are key absentees in the back row. The South Africans have injuries of their own but still field a powerful side with Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar sure to figure prominently. Jean de Villiers captains from his favoured inside centre position. J.P. Pietersen returns just in time to step in for injured Bryan Habana on the wing. Saracens hooker Schalk Brits makes a welcome return to Springbok colours and will be champing at the bit to come off the bench. Even in Dublin the weakened Irish team have no chance against the mighty Bokke. South Africa will steamroll to a 25 point victory.
IRELAND
Simon Zebo; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Donnacha Ryan, Mike McCarthy; Peter O’Mahony, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip (capt.). RES: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Michael Bent, Donncha O’Callaghan, Iain Henderson, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Fergus McFadden.
SOUTH AFRICA
Zane Kirchner; J.P. Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Jean de Villiers (capt.), Francois Hougaard; Patrick Lambie, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger; Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen. RES: Schalk Brits, C.J. van der Linde, Patric Cilliers, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Morne Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Lwazi Mvovo.
FRANCE vs AUSTRALIA
Saturday, November 10, 20:00 GMT, Paris
France will be looking to surprise Australia as coach Philippe Saint-Andre has selected a form side with two debutants to start in prop Yannick Forester and lock Jocelino Suta. Physical specimen Sebastien Vaha’amahina looks to win his first cap from the bench. Attacking halfbacks Maxime Machenaud and Frederic Michalak are retained after combining to demolish Argentina in June, while dynamic Toulouse flanker Yannick Nyanga returns for the first time since 2007. Pascal Pape captains in place of injured Thierry Dusautoir. Australia have much-publicised injury problems and are still without tourists David Pocock, Digby Ioane, and Sitaleki Timani. Nathan Sharpe continues as captain and will hope the strong form of youngsters Michael Hooper and Nick Cummins continue. Kurtley Beale remains at flyhalf as Berrick Barnes is one of only two backs on a bench that includes new cap hopeful Paddy Ryan. France will be fired up at home and should prove too dynamic for a reeling Wallaby side. Les Bleus win by 8.
FRANCE
Brice Dulin; Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Maxime Mermoz, Vincent Clerc; Frederic Michalak, Maxime Machenaud; Yannick Forestier, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas; Jocelino Suta, Pascal Pape (capt.); Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles. RES: Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo, Vincent Debaty, Sebastien Vaha’amahina, Damien Chouly, Morgan Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc, Yoann Huget.
AUSTRALIA
Mike Harris; Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps; Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu; Kane Douglas, Nathan Sharpe (capt.); Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu. RES: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Paddy Ryan, Rob Simmons, Radike Samo, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Berrick Barnes.
SCOTLAND vs NEW ZEALAND
Sunday, November 11, 14:30 GMT, Edinburgh
Scotland have never beaten New Zealand and this All Blacks side has not lost a match since August of last year. Tamati Ellison and Ben Smith form a new-look midfield, and uncapped duo Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are on the bench. Dan Carter and fearless leader Richie McCaw are still there, however, and the trio of Julian Savea, Cory Jane, and Israel Dagg offer no respite out wide. Andy Robinson’s side are missing several veterans with injury and many of those who are fit are struggling to find any form. Fourth choice scrumhalf Henry Pyrgos could win his first cap from the bench, where he is joined by fifth choice tighthead Kyle Traynor making his first Scotland appearance since 2009. The returns of Jim Hamilton and new captain Kelly Brown will boost the side, but Murrayfield could be witness to a record hiding on Sunday. The All Blacks will run rampant over the sorry Scots to the tune of a 40 point thrashing.
SCOTLAND
Stuart Hogg; Sean Lamont, Nick De Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser; Greig Laidlaw, Mike Blair; Ryan Grant, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross; Richie Gray, Jim Hamilton; Alasdair Strokosch, Ross Rennie, Kelly Brown (capt.). RES: Scott Lawson, Allan Jacobsen, Kyle Traynor, Alastair Kellock, David Denton, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Max Evans.
NEW ZEALAND
Israel Dagg; Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Tamati Ellison, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Piri Weepu; Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Owen Franks; Luke Romano, Luke Whitelock; Adam Thomson, Richie McCaw (capt.), Victor Vito. RES: Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Same Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Ma’a Nonu.
