August Internationals: Round 2 Predictions
There’s a busy weekend of international rugby coming up this weekend, with most of the big teams in action as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
We’re counting down the days here at Superbru HQ, so make sure you get involved in our various games for the big one next month.
Here are my predictions for each match this weekend.
How do your picks compare?
We’re counting down the days here at Superbru HQ, so make sure you get involved in our various games for the big one next month.
Here are my predictions for each match this weekend.
New Zealand v Australia
After a draw and a defeat in their last two matches, the All Blacks have yielded the Rugby Championship trophy to the Springboks and are giving the rest of the world some home ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Fortunately for them, this match is at Eden Park where they never lose, and so they won’t make it three in a row without a win. New Zealand by 16Wales v England
England have kept largely the same side for the return fixture in Cardiff, strengthening the pack with Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes and handing Ruaridh McConnochie his first cap on the wing. Wales have only made minimal changes too, and they’ll be desperate to win at home, given that the next time these teams meet could be in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Home advantage should make them slight favourites, but on the basis of last week’s performance, I’m tipping another win for England. England by 4South Africa v Argentina
Having won by 33 points away from home last weekend, this should be a straightforward home win for Boks at Loftus, despite making plenty of changes. They are timing their run perfectly for the World Cup, and the crowd will be buoyant as they send the team off to Japan. South Africa by 18Italy v Russia
My Russian rugby knowledge is fairly limited, admittedly, but I don’t fancy their chances at all at the World Cup, and although this is an understrength Italian team, this ought to be a home win. Italy by 16France v Scotland
The Scots never win in Paris, and I suspect it will be the same story this weekend. It’s a strong Scotland side, albeit with Adam Hastings at 10 rather than Finn Russell, and it would provide a huge confidence boost if they can pick up an away win. But it’s also a strong France side, with a blend of power and guile, which is rather concerning from an English point of view. France by 7How do your picks compare?
Hutch's picks all seem pretty spot on, imo, but i'm betting on a bigger NZ v Oz margin. Any team taking too much hope from the AB's two recent results may find them handily dashed come WC time.