International rugby returned last weekend with New Zealand edging past England in Twickenham and Scotland routing Fiji at Murrayfield. But Week 2 of these autumn internationals brings the first full slate of games.
Here's everything you need to know as the southern hemisphere sides take on the northern hemisphere, including team news, how to watch and match previews.
Jump to:
Ireland vs. New Zealand | England vs. Australia | Italy vs. Argentina
France vs. Japan | Wales vs. Fiji | Scotland vs. South Africa
Ireland vs. New Zealand
Time: Friday, Nov. 8 at 8.10 p.m. UK (7.10 a.m. Saturday AEST)
Stadium: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand: Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Will Jordan.
Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.
Team news: Ireland head into this as favourites and the All Blacks' chances were dented further by the injury-enforced absences of both Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor. The hosts will be led by Caelan Doris -- potentially a British & Irish Lions captain-in-waiting -- but will be without Tadhg Furlong through injury. However, they have received the welcome boost of having Ronan Kelleher fit for the hooker spot.
Match prediction: Ireland will be looking for a clean sweep this autumn, but will come up against an All Blacks side who will have taken confidence from their 24-22 win over England last weekend. They had to survive a late attempted drop-goal from George Ford, but after a topsy-turvy year under Scott Robertson where they won just three of their six Rugby Championship matches, last weekend's clash will have given them all sorts of confidence.
Ireland will fancy their chances of knocking over the Kiwis in a rematch of last year's World Cup quarterfinal. On that day, New Zealand won by four points, but this time around, the result could be different. Ireland by 6 -- Tom Hamilton.
England vs. Australia
Time: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3.10 p.m. UK (2.10 a.m. Sunday AEST)
Stadium: Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
England: George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Ollie Sleightholme.
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell.
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen.
Team news: Steve Borthwick has named the same group that started against the All Blacks with Henry Slade shifting to inside centre, and Ollie Lawrence moving to outside centre. On the bench, he has drafted in Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ollie Sleightholme as England move from a six-two split between forwards and backs to a five-three combination.
Cowan-Dickie replaces Theo Dan as replacement hooker, while winger Sleightholme comes in for back-row Ben Curry. If Cowan-Dickie gets his chance from the bench then it will be his first England appearance in two years.
Meanwhile, Australia have handed a rugby union debut to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre, drafting the rugby league convert straight into the side.
Suaalii, 21, has been signed by the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby from the 2025 season, but has yet to play a game of union having been long pursued by Rugby Australia to make the switch of codes.
Match prediction: For all the familiarity of an unchanged England starting team, the Wallabies have thrown a wonderful grenade of unpredictability into the mix with the decision to pick cross-code superstar Joseph Sua'ali'i at outside centre. He last played rugby union in 2019 for Australian Schoolboys but after excelling in rugby league, he makes his return to the 15-player code on Saturday at Twickenham. And all that in a Wallabies team without Samu Kerevi and Will Skelton.
For England, the mission is clear. They simply must win. They fell 24-22 to New Zealand last weekend, while Joe Schmidt's Australia come into this off the back of a Rugby Championship campaign where they won just one of the six Tests. England have tweaked their bench to ensure there's no fourth-quarter regression, they should scrape a win in this one. England by 4 -- Tom Hamilton.
Italy vs. Argentina
Time: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 5.40 p.m. UK (4.40 a.m. Sunday AEST)
Stadium: Stadio Friuli, Udine
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (captain), Sebastian Negri, Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Marco Riccioni, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti, Simone Ferrari, Dino Lamb, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Tommaso Allan, Marco Zanon.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Orlando, Bautista Delguy, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou, Joaquin Oviedo, Santiago Grondona, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Matias Alemmano, Bautista Pedemonte, Gonzalo Garcia, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero.
Team news: Injuries have forced Argentina into a major reshuffle among the backs for Saturday's Test against Italy in Udine but the forward line stays almost intact after coach Felipe Contepomi named his side on Thursday. In the backline, only fly-half Tomas Albornoz and winger Rodrigo Isgro keep their places from the starting lineup that lost 48-7 to South Africa in September's Rugby Championship decider in Nelspruit. With Pablo Matera suspended and Marcos Kremer still injured, the loose forward trio stays the same but in the second row Franco Molina is in for Tomas Lavanini, who has a sprained ankle.
Prediction: Italy have only played three times since this year's resurgent Six Nations performance, during which they earned two rare and memorable wins under head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Their most recent Test was a 42-14 demolition of Japan in July. They should have little trouble at home against a well-rotated Argentinian unit. Italy by 10 -- Connor O'Halloran.
France vs. Japan
Time: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8.10 p.m. UK (7:10 a.m. Sunday UK)
Stadium: Stade de France, Paris
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
France: Leo Barre, Damian Penaud, Emilien Gailleton, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont, Gregory Alldritt, Alexandre Roumat, Francois Cros, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Tevita Tatafu, Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Reda Wardi, George-Henri Colombe, Mickael Guillard, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert, Gael Fickou.
Japan: Malo Tuitama, Jone Nakiabula, Dylan Riley, Siosaia Fifita, Tomoki Osada, Harumichi Tatekawa, Naoto Saito, Faula Makisi, Kazuki Himeno, Kanji Shimokawa, Warner Deans, Epineri Uluiviti, Shuhei Takeuchi, Mamoru Harada, Takato Okabe.
Replacements: Kenta Masuoka, Yukio Morikawa, Keijiro Tamefusa, Amato Fakatava, Tevita Tatafu, Shinobu Fujiwara, Yusuke Kajimura, Takuro Matsunaga.
Team news: Antoine Dupont will skipper France in their first autumn series Test against Japan on Saturday as the scrum-half makes his comeback alongside Toulouse teammate Thomas Ramos after missing this year's Six Nations to focus on the Olympics. Dupont led France to the gold medal at the Games in Paris and has been in scintillating form in the Top 14, looking ready to lead Les Bleus in his first appearance since they lost to South Africa in last year's World Cup.
Prediction: France are one of the best sides in world rugby when they're firing on all cylinders, and the return of Dupont will only help their cause. This is not the toughest test they will face this autumn -- a clash against the All Blacks next week awaits after this one -- but France will be hoping to get off on the right foot. It's hard to predict anything other than a comfortable victory for Les Bleus. France by 14 -- Connor O'Halloran.
Wales vs. Fiji
Time: Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1.40 p.m. UK (00:40 a.m. Monday AEST)
Stadium: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
Wales: Cameron Winnett, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Blair Murray, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Christ Tshiunza, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow.
Fiji: Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuela Tawake, Isoa Nasilasila, Temo Mayanavanua, Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani, Caleb Muntz, Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, Waisea Nayacalevu, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Vuate Karawalevu.
Replacements: Sam Matavesi, Haereiti Hetet, Jone Koroiduadua, Mesake Vocevoce, Albert Tuisue, Simi Kuruvoli, Isaiah Ravula, Sireli Maqala.
Team News: Gareth Anscombe has been selected at fly-half and there is a first cap for wing Blair Murray as Wales seek to end a horror run of nine defeats in a row.
Coach Warren Gatland has selected several less experienced players, including centre Max Llewellyn, who has two previous appearances, his midfield partner Ben Thomas (four caps) and prop Archie Griffin (three).
"We have excellent competition in the squad, so it was a tough selection and there were some close calls but I think there's a really nice balance for Sunday. We have some experienced players back alongside some exciting youngsters," Gatland said.
Anscombe, making a first Wales appearance since last year's Rugby World Cup, has been preferred to Sam Costelow, who is among the replacements, and will have the vastly experienced Tomos Williams alongside him at scrum-half.
Meanwhile, Fiji see the return of a number of their top stars who were ruled out of last weekend's Test due to the international match calendar dates.
Prediction: No Welsh fan needs reminding of their recent record, and nobody can be sure that it will end on Sunday. You can ignore last weekend's result in Edinburgh, with Fiji back to full strength in Cardiff. These two sides met in Pool C at last year's Rugby World Cup -- a common theme among this weekend's fixtures -- and it was one of the most memorable games of the tournament, with Fiji mounting an astonishing late comeback. It ended in a narrow Wales victory that day. Sunday's clash might provide a similar result. Wales by 3 -- Connor O'Halloran.
Scotland vs. South Africa
Time: Sunday, Nov. 9 at 4.10 p.m. UK (3.10 a.m. Monday AEST)
Stadium: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
How to watch: TNT Sports / discovery+
Scotland: Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Jaden Hendrikse, Kwagga Smith, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams.
Team news: South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus named Eben Etzebeth as Springboks captain with Siya Kolisi starting on the bench.
The Boks have opted for a 7-1 split on the bench while making 11 changes to the side that scored a 48-7 over Argentina in the Rugby Championship six weeks ago.
"This is a seasoned and quality team and adding to that, 21 of the 23 players have won a Rugby World Cup title, with some having won two, so they know what it takes to perform at this level," Erasmus said.
World Cup-winning lock Jean Kleyn was called up on Friday as a replacement for Ruan Nortje, who suffered a leg injury at training on Wednesday. Kleyn, 31, has spent a lengthy spell away from the international scene due to an eye injury.
Meanwhile, Scotland have selected fly-half Finn Russell, scrum-half Ben White and wing Blair Kinghorn to start.
The trio missed last week's rampant 57-17 victory over Fiji as the game fell outside of the international window, but are back to bolster the side and add some more attacking verve to the backline.
It's not all good news, though, They will be without wing Darcy Graham, who scored four tries last weekend but has been ruled out with a concussion after failing a head injury assessment.
Prediction: It is the final game of this weekend's action, but by no means is it the least enticing. These two sides memorably met in last year's Rugby World Cup which saw South Africa ruthlessly grind out an 18-3 victory with a defensive masterclass. Have Scotland worked out a way to break their barriers this time? Scotland boast the attacking talent to do it, but it is a tall order.
History is against the Scots, too. The Springboks have beaten them eight times in a row, with only one of those Tests -- a 26-20 Boks' victory at Murrayfield in 2018 -- producing a single-digit winning margin. South Africa by 15 -- Leonard Solms.
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Information from Reuters contributed to this story.