England v New Zealand
Following last year’s unexpected victory over the World
Champions, England will be hoping to deliver a similar result this time around.
However, unconvincing performances against Australia and Argentina have left
many wondering if this England team is capable of recording back-to-back wins
against the All Blacks.
New Zealand come into the game on an impressive unbeaten
run, looking to become the first team in the professional era to go an entire
season without a defeat. As if such a record was not motivation enough, they
will be aching to avenge the upset from last year. Few would argue that there
is a better team in the world than New Zealand; everything they do is to the
highest standard. That does not make them unbeatable, but it does make playing
against them incredibly difficult.
England will need to bring their very best game to be in
with a shot. If their concentration slips like it has done against other
Southern Hemisphere sides, New Zealand will capitalise ruthlessly. With a
centre partnership that is far from threatening, and second choice wingers on
both sides of the field, there are more weak spots in the squad than there
arguably should be. To be in with a shot, England will need to score tries, and
I am not convinced this is something they are capable of doing consistently,
especially against the world’s number one team.
Prediction: New Zealand by at least 10.
Wales v Argentina
Wales will be aching after last week’s disappointing loss to
South Africa, a brutal encounter which saw several more key players sidelined
through injury. Warren Gatland is now without both of his first choice centres,
and the front row will not be the fortress it usually is with Adam Jones
missing. Strength in depth has been a real weakness of this Welsh side, as the
summer tour to Japan demonstrated. Whilst the loss of key players is not ideal,
this will give Gatland an opportunity to blood some new players and develop the
squad beyond the all-star starting fifteen.
It is fortunate that Argentina are the side that he has to
do this against; the Pumas have had a woeful season that has yet to feature a
win. Despite England going to sleep for a good thirty minutes last week, they
never really looked threatening. A lot can certainly change in a week, and the
Argentines will be hoping to demonstrate as much in Cardiff. A loss for both
teams would be a massively disappointing result, but this is very much Wales’
game to lose. With home advantage, they will want to put in a scintillating display
in order to get the march towards World Cup Glory back on track.
Prediction: Wales by 10.
Scotland v South Africa
Scotland come off the back of a convincing win against Japan.
Such a result is hardly surprising, but it should serve to give the side
winning confidence as they come into this clash. The gap in the rankings
between these two sides may make the result appear predetermined, but previous
encounters at Murrayfield have proven otherwise. Scotland have a good record of
playing hard, attritional rugby against the world’s top sides, and will look to
do the same in this match.
Despite this, South Africa will be expecting a win. They
looked comfortable for much of the game against Wales and seem to have cemented
their reputation as the world’s number two side. If conditions allow, they will
hope to play a more expansive game, taking on Scotland in the backs. However,
if it comes down to it, the Boks are more than capable of playing the power
game up front, something they did with tremendous effect against New Zealand in
the Rugby Championship.
Prediction: South Africa by two scores.
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