The autumn internationals draw to a close this weekend with plenty left to play for as nations wrap up 2018 and ready themselves for a World Cup year.
A week after Ireland took the scalp of the All Blacks, we look at the key talking points heading into the final round of fixtures.
Ireland v USA
It may not be the glamour tie of the weekend but Ireland are the team on everyone’s lips following last week’s 16-9 win over New Zealand.
The United States may not provide quite the same test but Joe Schmidt will be left with something of a quandary.
He will be keen to give as many people as possible a game to continue adding depth to his squad – a critical attribute heading towards the World Cup. However, the Kiwi will be wary enough of the US to not take them lightly.
Having lost just once in 2018, eyebrows were raised in June then they turned over Scotland, so they are by no means the whipping boys they once were. Ireland will win, but the level at which they are able to experiment will be the main question.
England v Australia
Owen Farrell will be determined to end the autumn with a win
The tie of the weekend. England com will go into the match as strong favourites to end their autumn campaign with a third win, while the Wallabies will be desperate for a win that could end a miserable 2018 on a high note.
Eddie Jones will field as close to a full-strength side as he can, while counterpart Michael Cheika will be sweating on fitness concerns over David Pocock, and a bug that is sweeping through the rest of the squad.
Pocock will be key. If he plays he can dominate on the floor – both in terms of slowing English ball down, but also gaining key turnovers that would allow them to play in the right areas of field.
Australia are in survival mode, and must get the basics right otherwise England could run riot. The scrum has been a facet England have dominated in the past and will look to do so again. If Australia can be solid in the set piece and breakdown, and play in the right areas they can be competitive – if not their year will finish on a predictable low.
Wales v South Africa
Wales decimated Tonga for their eighth straight win.
Wales sit in the rather unfamiliar position of having a 100% record this autumn. While the calibre of the opposition may not have been the highest, wins over Scotland, Australia and Tonga, have given Warren Gatland reason for hope at a time of year that has not always been fruitful.
South Africa will be seen as very beatable in the Wales camp. Despite a win over the All Blacks this year, the Springboks failed to beat England and limped to a win over Scotland last weekend.
Wales will see a potential weakness on the South African wings, and with a probable pairing of George North and Josh Adams, with Liam Williams at full-back it’s an area thy have the firepower to exploit.
South Africa will look to boss the game up front and turn proceedings into a forward battle – one they are more than capable of winning.
Hendre Pollard has been commanding in the 10 jersey and will again be pivotal in dictating the pace and territorial location of the game.
Scotland v Argentina
Stuart Hogg is one of Scotland’s key attacking talent
Scotland have once again been full of promise this autumn, but failed to deliver the win that lifts them from also-rans into a team that would really worry the top teams in the world.
Game management denied them a win over South Africa last week, but they should have enough to see off what now looks like a tired Argentina side that will already be happy with their 2018 return.
Italy v New Zealand
Beauden Barrett and co. will be looking to get back on track in Italy
If this fixture for New Zealand was against one of the powers of northern hemisphere rugby, we’d now be sat questioning their response to last week’s defeat to Ireland.
As it happens, victory over Italy will give them a regulation return to the ‘w’ column.
Key for the Italians will be how long they can live with the side still ranked number one in the world.
France v Fiji
Another fixture that doesn’t exactly tickle the taste buds. Les Blues got an important win over Argentina last time out a should follow that up with a comfortable afternoon against the islanders.
