AUTUMN WEEK 3 LINE UPS AND PREDICTIONS

Ireland v New Zealand

So three weeks into the Autumn Internationals, and here is the big one - the number 1 and 2 ranked sides in the world go head to head. The strength of Ireland is reflected on the bench, where, having unfortunately lost Sean O'Brien and Robbie Henshaw to injury, they still have the likes of Iain Henderson, Jordan Larmour, Jack McGrath and Joey Carbery to fall back on. It will be the ultimate test for Ireland's new talented breed of James Ryan, Dan Leavy and Garry Ringrose, but they have battle hardened Lions in Kearney, Sexton, Best and O'Mahony in key positions, who know how to beat NZ. The AB's replace the injured Williams with Crotty, who looked good in the second half against England last week, with Lienert-Brow coming onto the bench. They will not be as a poor as last week, especially with better weather conditions predicted, and I think although Ireland will be close on the scoreboard after 60 mins, the Kiwis will stretch away to win by 10 points.

Can Ireland replicate their recent Chicago victory?

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Kieran Marmion; Cian Healy, Rory Best (capt), Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Dan Leavy, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu'inukuafe.

Replacements: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown.

England v Japan

England make a few starting team changes, with (18 stone) Cokanasiga and Lozowski coming into the backline, and Williams and Ewels into the forwards, plus some interesting positional switches, with Nowell in the centre, and Wilson to openside. On the bench, 19 year old Ted Hill gets his chance as replacement back row. Japan will be competitive, having scored five tries against NZ (not many teams do that) albeit in a heavy defeat, and they have beaten Georgia and Italy convincingly in last 6 months. Nobody will relish playing Japan in their own backyard in 12 months time , but England at home will be a sterner test, so think England will stretch away in 2nd half to win comfortably by 20 points. 

Japan will be seeking to impress on the big stage

England: Daly; Cokanasiga, Nowell, Lozowski, Ashton: Ford (c), Care; Hepburn, George, Williams, Ewels, Itoje, Lawes, Wilson, Mercer.

Replacements: Hartley, Moon, Sinckler, Hill, Underhill, Wigglesworth, Farrell, Slade.

Japan: Tupou; Yamada, Lafaele, Nakamura, Fukuoka; Tamura, Tanaka; Inagaki, Sakate, Koo, van der Walt, Helu, Leitch (c), Nishikawa, Himeno.

Replacements: Niwai, Yamamoto, Ai Valu, Anise, Tui, Nunomaki, Nagare, Matsuda.

Scotland v South Africa

Following a poor performance against Wales, and a better than expected victory over Fiji, this game will reveal where Scotland are truly at, a year out from the RWC. Scotland replaced Australia this week as 6th in World Rugby rankings, so in theory, pitching 5th (SA) v 6th against each other should be an even contest, but there are some that believe that South Africa are level with Ireland as 2nd best in the world on current form. Scotland bring back Huw Jones, who won the Currie Cup for Western Province, before heading north, move Pete Horne to 12 in place of Dunbar, give Gordon Reid a shout in the front row, and move (last week's MOM) Sam Skinner to back row. 

South Africa unsurprisingly seek contact

South Africa's pack must be almost 950kg, as, despite losing Etzebeth and Whiteley to injury, they have brought in the (giant) Snyman and Mostert into the second row and moved Du Toit to back row. Luckily for Scotland, key playmaker, Faf de Klerk, is replaced by Embrose at scrum half. With no rain and wind forecast, Scotland will be aiming to avoid an arm wrestle, win quick ball, and move the bigger, heavier pack around the pitch. SA will look to batter Scotland up front (that means from position 1 - 12) and tire Scotland out through a high tackle count. Interesting game, between two teams with different styles and game plans, but I think size does matter, and Safa's will win by 5.

Scotland team: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont - captain); Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors). 

Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons).

South Africa team: Willie le Roux, Sbu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Lood de Jager, Francois Louw, Ivan van Zyl, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe.