A final runout before the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 8th, this week sees all the major contenders for the Webb Ellis Cup in action.
Starting with a mouthwatering contest between New Zealand and South Africa on Friday night at Twickenham, players will be determined to prove they are worthy of starting roles when the main event rolls around next month.
- New Zealand to win with -5.0 points
- Fiji to win with +10.0 points
- Scotland to win with -17.0 points
- Ireland to win with -24.0 points
- France to win with -11.0 points
All Blacks vs Springboks
Does it get much better than a Test match between the All Blacks and the Springboks?
These sides have thrown up some iconic clashes over the years and the two World Cup title contenders are preparing to face up in a final warm-up game before the start of the tournament.
Both head coaches will have to make decisions on how much they will want to show their hand ahead of the World Cup on selection.
No team wants to risk injury at this stage of preparations, but coaches Ian Foster and Jacques Nienber will want to keep their players match-sharp ahead of the tournament.
Expect a few changes from these teams’ strongest possible starting lineups but that should not take away from the spectacle on show at Twickenham on Friday.
New Zealand earned a 35-20 victory over South Africa in Auckland in the Rugby Championship just gone and another high-scoring encounter might well be on the cards.
All Blacks vs Springboks Teams
All Blacks: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ethan de Groot
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Tupou Vaa’i, 21 Dalton Papali’i, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Willie le Roux
England vs Fiji
After defeat to Ireland last time out in Dublin, England head coach Steve Borthwick will be looking for a response from his players when they host Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.
The flying Fijians are arguably one of the last teams England would want to face before heading into a World Cup.
Coming through unscathed without injuries is going to be a big ask against a Fijian side who will fancy their chances of further denting England’s fragile confidence.
Conceding five tries against the Irish last time out further exposed England's shortcomings in defence, which have been a worry heading into the World Cup across the Channel.
While Fiji might not have enough to pull off a shock win at Twickenham, they look like they could at least make this a tighter affair than some expect. Look to Fiji with a decent start on the handicap in this one.
England vs Fiji Teams
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Ellis Genge
Bench: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Joe Marchant
Fiji: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 12 Semi Radradra, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 6 Albert Tuisue, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi
Bench: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Jone Koroiduadua, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Teti Tela, 23 Kalaveti Ravouvou
Scotland vs Georgia
Scotland have impressed during the World Cup warm-up games to date and will be looking to finish on a high against Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday.
After edging past Italy in their opening game, Scotland beat France at Murrayfield before nearly causing an upset against the World Cup hosts in St Etienne.
Those performances will have given Scotland confidence they can cause an upset in their World Cup pool, which also includes reigning champions South Africa and recent Six Nations Grand Slam winners, Ireland.
Scotland have tended to rack up the points when Georgia have been in Edinburgh, with the Scots winning their 2019 meeting 36-9 and their 2020 encounter 48-7.
With their fast attacking rugby set to shift a big Georgian pack around the turf at Murrayfield, another one-sided game might well be on the cards in the Scottish capital.
Scotland vs Georgia Teams
Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 WP Nel, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Bench: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Chris Harris
Georgia: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Mirian Modebadze, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalaghonia, 7 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 5 Konstantin Mikautadze, 4 Lado Chachanidze, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Bench: 16 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Guram Papidze, 19 Lasha Jaiani, 20 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Giorgi Kveseladze
Scotland's van der Merwe in fine form
Ireland vs Samoa
After an impressive win over England in Dublin last time out, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell might well look to make a few changes for the arrival of Samoa on Saturday.
The Irish ran out comfortable 29-10 winners against England, with Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Mack Hansen and Keith Earls all crossing over for tries.
Looking to give others in his squad some game time and a chance to impress ahead of the World Cup, Farrell might well ring the changes for the arrival of Samoa.
The Samoans were last in action on August 5th when they made light work of Tonga at Apia Park with a 34-9 victory.
It will have certainly been a confidence boost after a 33-19 defeat to Fiji in their previous game at the end of July.
With Ireland’s structured game and formidable accuracy at the set-piece, even a much-changed Irish side should still run out comfortable winners in this one at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.
Ireland vs Samoa Teams
Ireland: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Cian Healy
Bench: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 James Ryan, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose
Samoa: 15 Duncan Paia’Aua, 14 Ed Fidow, 13 Ulupano Seuteni, 12 Tumua Manu, 11 Nigel Ah Wong, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Fritz Lee, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Chris Vui (cc), 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Seilala Lam, 1 James Lay
Bench: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Michael Alaalatoa (cc), 19 Miracle Faiʻilagi, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Christian Leali’ifano, 23 Neria Foma’i
France vs Australia
Australia are in a sorry state as they head into this World Cup, with pressure already mounting on the shoulders of head coach Eddie Jones.
The Wallabies set off from Australia shores last week and Jones left with a particularly prickly press conference before boarding the plane.
Jones was possibly looking to take the attention away from his side’s disappointing run of results, which saw them finish bottom of the Rugby Championship table this season after three defeats.
Another loss to New Zealand in the second Bledisloe Cup encounter in Dunedin created more concerns that Australia won’t be able to challenge for the Webb Ellis Cup this year.
In stark contrast, France have a settled squad who are understandably one of the favourites to win the World Cup on their own patch.
The loss of star fly-half Romain Ntamack has come as a blow after the Toulouse player suffered a knee injury in the clash against the Scots in St Etienne.
France do have strength in depth to cover in Ntamack’s absence, with Matthieu Jalibert expected to be first in line to step in.
With excitement growing ahead of the World Cup, Les Bleus will be eager to give their fans at the Stade de France more to cheer about against the Wallabies.
France should be able to add to Australia’s woes in Paris, before the main event gets underway with the hosts facing the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup opener.
France vs Australia Teams
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Bench: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Melvyn Jaminet
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Suliasi Vunivalu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton (c), 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell
Bench: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Langi Gleeson, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Ben Donaldson
