Autumn Internationals 2016: Week 1 Predictions

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Autumn Internationals

USA v New Zealand Maori

The NZ Maori is probably the second best team in the world at the moment, and their lineup contains 4 capped All Blacks and a host of others desperate for promotion. That doesn’t bode well for a USA team that hasn’t really progressed as everyone thought they might over the last few years.

The back three of James Lowe, Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie – all stars of Super Rugby – could have a field day. NZ Maori by 43.

Japan v Argentina

This is a strong Argentina side up against 13 debutants in the Japanese matchday 23, so it’s only going to go one way. Argentina by 23.

Wales v Australia

The loss of captain Sam Warburton and talisman Toby Faletau is not ideal, but the back row still looks pretty formidable with Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric coming in. Alun Wyn Jones is also a big loss, but the two teams feel fairly evenly matched.

The Wallabies have been pretty dreadful since the Rugby World Cup, but the bookies have them as slight favourites in this match. Bernard Foley is restored at fly-half, having played 12 outside Quade Cooper in their better performances of the Rugby Championship, whilst both David Pocock and Michael Hooper start in the back row.

This is a great opportunity for Wales to finally win one against Australia, and I’m backing them to do so. Wales by 2.

Barbarians v South Africa

The magic of the Barbarians is starting to fade a little for me, but more as a result of the already-packed Rugby calendar than anything else. They need to win games to stop people questioning their existence, and coaches Robbie Deans and Will Greenwood will prepare them to do so.

The Springboks are also under pressure to win though, and their unforgiving support is looking for more hope from their End of Year Tour. Pat Lambie will pull the strings as Captain and fly-half, and I suspect they’ll have too much for the Baabaas. South Africa by 8.

Ireland v New Zealand

The All Blacks continue their record-breaking run, but Ireland has never lost to New Zealand in the USA so something has to give. I suspect it’s going to be the latter, because nobody has really come close to a win against the world champions for quite some time now.

Ireland will be worthy, but I suspect this match will have an exhibition feel to it in Chicago, with everyone in good spirits after the Cubs’ World Series win, and I fear that is not good news for Ireland. New Zealand by 26.

What do you think of these predictions? The Australia v Wales game feels like the one that will make or break Round 1 on SuperBru.

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Follow Hutch on Twitter: @Hutch_James

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images

14 thoughts on “Autumn Internationals 2016: Week 1 Predictions”

  1. You really think Wales will beat Aus? I just can’t see it despite how bad Aus may have been.

    Wales have lost their two main on field leaders in Warburton and Wyn Jones and their best ball carrier in Faletau.

    One of their best attacking threats Liam Williams is out through injury and Cuthbert is on the wing!!

    Their bench has 76 caps between them compared to Australia’s 193!!!!!!

    They’ve selected a captain who will probably only last 30 minutes before getting injured.

    I simply can’t see past an Aus win with the squad they have. I would love to be pleasantly surprised but I just can’t see it.

    1. Agreed I have Aus by 13. Tight for the first 60 possibly Wales even leading… and then the bench comes on

  2. I think wales could win this game…..but, I don’t think they have the resolve to see it out and Australia will take it in the last 20. Max 10 points in it.

  5. A little out on some of these eh?

    Well done Ireland what a superb achievement. Don’t have BT sports so could not see it.

    Wales..what a total joke. Pathetic..utterly utterly pathetic.

    At least Wales fans now know that Howley is not going to get the job on a permanent basis.

    1. Thinking about it the next day, as good as the victory itself is the manner in which we got it. If you can find a stream/video on YouTube of the full 80, I would. Even the NZ press this morning were mostly just praising Ireland. The All Blacks weren’t just kicked to death, the game wasn’t dominated by the ref, and while they weren’t 100% in performance, it wasn’t a capitulation either, and a lot of the NZ errors could be put down to really good Irish pressure. I personally can’t wait for the rematch/backlash in two weeks.

  6. So delighted for Ireland! Incredible achievement – not just for the Irish but a reminder for all the NH teams that the ABs are human and can be defeated. Connor Murray was immense – has to be shoe-in starting SH for the Lions. I hope Ben Youngs was watching how quickly Murray gets the ball away from the back of a ruck! That quick ball made for immediate Irish yards, and contributed significantly to the ABs’ indiscipline when they couldn’t get their defensive line organized in time (not to mention Murray’s own try).

  7. Awesome display from Ireland and a very poor one from Wales. Predictions not quite on the money eh.

  8. Not too happy about getting stick for my predictions…! Maori game almost spot on, Argentina bigger margin than most people went but still not big enough, Wales were awful (not my fault!), nobody can predict a draw, and nobody really thought Ireland would win.

    I am 19th out 474 people in The Rugby Blog pool!

    Can nobody see the Rate the Match articles? People seem to be commenting here rather than there.

    1. Sorry Hutch, couldn’t resist it, lol!! Never easy trying to predict scores and, as you say no-one thought Ireland would beat NZ.

  9. Nope, can’t see the Rate the Match articles.

    And for what it’s worth, apart from Wales vs Australia (I couldn’t see past an Oz win with Cuthbert in the team…), I thought your predictions were reasonable!

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