After making a strong start to the Nations Championship, the Springboks will seek to shift into a higher gear when they square off against Scotland in the pick of Saturday’s second-round fixtures in Pretoria, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
New Zealand will kick off a super Saturday of Test match rugby against Italy in Wellington, before the spotlight shifts to Brisbane, where Australia face France.
Japan and Fiji have their work cut out for them as they take on Ireland and England in Newcastle and Liverpool, respectively. Then it’s time for South Africa and the Scots to cross swords before the action wraps up in San Juan, where Argentina play host to Wales.
New Zealand vs Italy
Saturday, 11 July – 7:00
Kicking off a new era, the All Blacks were shaky but got the job done last weekend, pipping France 34-32 in their first match under new coach Dave Rennie.
This weekend’s Italian job will afford Rennie more of an opportunity to entrench his philosophy whilst also blooding some new players, having made five changes to the run-on side and overhauled the bench, where German-born loose forward Anton Segner and wing Josh Moorby are in line to make their debuts.
Things are set to go from bad to worse for Italy, with them set to play the only top-tier nation they’ve never beaten after a disappointing 27-10 loss to Japan last weekend. The Azzurri will be sharper with Tommaso Allen and Louis Lynagh back, but all signs point to the Kiwis crushing them.
Prediction: New Zealand by 28.
Suggested Bet: Italy +31.5 at 1.88.
Australia vs France
Saturday, 11 July – 9:40
Brace yourself for a blockbuster in Brisbane as these two teams look to bounce back from narrow defeats last weekend.
Given the Wallabies’ regression in recent years, they put up a stronger fight than most expected against Ireland and would’ve won if not for Ben Donaldson’s missed kicks at goal at the death.
Leading 24-12 at one stage, it was a massive missed opportunity for the Australians to start the season with a win, especially considering they’ll be up against a bolstered Les Bleus this weekend.
The Six Nations champions fell to the All Blacks by two points but have welcomed back a host of stars who missed the clash in Christchurch due to the TOP 14 final.
With France beefed up, discipline will likely be even more of an issue for the Wallabies than it was last weekend and should lead to Fabian Galthie’s troops triumphing Down Under.
Prediction: France by 8.
Suggested Bet: France -7.5 at 1.84.
Japan vs Ireland
Saturday, 11 July – 12:10
A young Japanese team, with university student Ryunosuke Ito making his debut at No. 10, turned back Italy with a confidence-boosting 17-point win last weekend.
A ‘home’ game in name alone for the Brave Blossoms, the match will be played in Australia, the home country of Eddie Jones, who’ll be back in the coach’s box after serving a four-match ban for abusing match officials on a tour Down Under earlier this year.
After having to fight back and needing a bit of famous Irish luck to escape Sydney with a 33-31 victory last weekend, Andy Farrell’s troops will be out to produce a stronger performance in their second straight game in Australia.
Farrell has rung the changes, retaining just six players from last weekend’s outfit with an eye on next weekend’s blockbuster against the All Blacks, with Tadhg Beirne set to lead out the Irish as captain for the first time.
Their renowned depth and multi-phased attack should overwhelm Japan.
Prediction: Ireland by 22.
Suggested Bet: Ireland -20.5 at 1.86.
Fiji vs England
Saturday, 11 July – 15:10
After their heavy defeat to the Boks last weekend, embattled England look set to snap their five-match losing streak in Liverpool. Yes, this clash will take place on English soil despite being a so-called ‘home’ fixture for Fiji.
The Pacific Islanders are coming off a 39-27 ‘home’ loss to Wales in Cardiff, and while they do have one win over England – a historic 30-22 victory three years ago – they’re facing a desperate team this time around.
Chalk up a comfortable and much-needed win for Steve Borthwick’s side.
Prediction: England by 19.
Suggested Bet: Fiji +20.5 at 1.91.
South Africa vs Scotland
Saturday, 11 July – 17:40
As the No. 1 team in the world and back-to-back world champions, Rassie Erasmus’ Boks hold themselves to a very high standard and felt they didn’t tick all the boxes despite their dominant 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park last weekend that see them top the Southern Hemisphere table.
After racing into a 17-point lead early on, the men in Green and Gold would’ve been disappointed that they allowed the English back into the game and cut the deficit to just three at the break. However, their maturity shone through in the second stanza, ensuring there would be no repeat of the shocking implosion against Australia at the same venue last year.
The most worrying takeaway from the Boks’ performance for Scotland is the fact that they managed to triumph soundly without their traditional strengths, namely their set-piece dominance. Scrums were few and far between, whereas the late injury-enforced changes to the pack led to a rough night in the lineouts.
Erasmus, who’s made 10 changes to the starting XV, has smartly backed several Bulls players who know Loftus Versfeld like the back of their hands. Four members of the tight five are Bulls brutes, so expect them to stamp their authority on the Scots and provide ideal platforms for the backline – driven by Bulls duo Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard – to attack from.
Even though Scotland have never tasted victory in the Republic, and have won just five of the 30 Tests between the sides – the last a 21-17 triumph in 2010 – they’re daring to dream following a good Six Nations campaign and an impressive 47-38 win over Argentina last weekend.
Ranked fifth in the world, it’s no secret that they’ll look to play a fast-paced game, especially with star flyhalf Finn Russell back from injury.
However, their inability to match power with the Boks will be their undoing again, with the hosts – further bolstered by their Bomb Squad – set to make it 10 straight wins over the Scots.
Prediction: South Africa by 21.
Suggested Bet: South Africa -19 at 1.86.
Argentina vs Wales
Saturday, 11 July – 21:10
Felipe Contepomi would’ve read his team the riot act after last weekend’s nine-point home loss to Scotland. Guilty of being lacklustre on defence, the key word for Los Pumas this week should be effort. Wales may not be as dynamic as the Scots but they are grafters, so Argentina will have to be willing to front up more than they did last weekend.
The Dragons are the surprise leaders of the Northern Hemisphere standings following their 39-27 opening round win over Fiji but expect them to plummet down the log after this weekend. While they’ve taken some positive steps and enter the clash on a three-match winning streak, they’ve won just one of the last five meetings against Argentina.
The hosts should be hungrier and sharper than last weekend and pick up their first win of the season.
Prediction: Argentina by 10.
Suggested Bet: Wales +17.5 at 1.85.
Note: Odds subject to change.
Quintin van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 20 years of experience.
