New Zealand vs Wales

Wales will know that their best chance of getting a result in the land of the long white cloud is in this first test. The All Blacks almost always take a little while to blow the cobwebs away and get their game going.

To be brutally honest, however, these are the only straws they can clutch at. Despite the retirements/exiles of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, New Zealand’s excellent succession plan means they have a host of experienced players to step into the breach. Aaron Cruden is one of the most skilled playmakers on the planet, Sam Cane is an old school poacher, Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa mix dangerous running with solid defence. In short, it’s hard to argue that this team is any worse than its World Cup-winning predecessor.

The return of captain Sam Warburton is a boon for Wales – he will need to hit the ground running, alongside what is, on paper, a very tasty back-row with Ross Moriarty and Taulupe Faletau. Dan Biggar will need to show more desire and capability to set the undoubted talents of Wales’ outside backs free – Warrenball will be nowhere near good enough to beat New Zealand in their backyard.

Expect Wales to make a good fist of it in the first half, but the All Blacks to loosen the shackles in the second half and ultimately canter to victory. New Zealand by 12.

Australia vs England

England arrive in Australia with a very achievable hope of winning their first series Down Under since 2003. Eddie Jones has steered the side to six wins from six games, and there is a buoyancy to the team that suggests the utter disaster of the World Cup has all but been forgotten.

The Wallabies, of course, were bullies-in-chief at that tournament, tormenting a limited England side. They, though, also have some sizeable changes. Matt Giteau’s absence in the midfield is possibly the biggest loss to any side this June; with Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua injured, and Christian Leali’ifano only recently returned to the squad after the birth of his child, they have opted for two bashers in midfield in Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani.

England’s gameplan will revolve around solid set piece ball, and first phase strike moves that pull in powerful runners like Marland Yarde and Luther Burrell. The main surprise is the absence of both Jack Clifford and Teimana Harrison from the squad, leaving no specialist back-row cover on the bench against arguably the best back-row in the world. Jones is trusting everyone to chip in at the breakdown to nullify the influence of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.

In many ways this is very difficult to call. The Wallabies were the second best team in the world last year, but they have lost some of their most experienced lieutenants. England are a team with similar parts but a different outlook to last year, and confidence is high. Whether they can win the series or not, the first test is probably their best chance to get one over a Wallaby side that has not been together since the World Cup final. England by 3.

South Africa vs Ireland

Super Saturday concludes in Cape Town as a South Africa side adapting to new management takes on an Ireland side under old management, but in need of some new ideas. The visitors’ limited game plan was exposed badly by Argentina at the World Cup, and even in this year’s Six Nations where they only managed to win two games.

Making matters worse is the absence of Johnny Sexton, the man they could perhaps least afford to lose. Paddy Jackson, who steps into the breach, is a fine playmaker but his mental fortitude – something you need in abundance to win in South Africa – is not on Sexton’s level. The return of Iain Henderson, however, is a huge boost to their chances – the Ulster forward can go toe to toe in terms of physicality with the likes of Etzebeth and de Jager.

Allister Coetzee has outlined his intentions for the Springboks by selecting sparky Lions scrum-half Faf de Klerk for his debut, a man who was always overlooked by Heyneke Meyer in favour of the pragmatism of Ruan Pienaar or Fourie du Preez. Of course, the Boks will still play to their traditional strengths, and will look to the powerful carrying of the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Adriaan Strauss to kick-start their attack.

South Africa is a tricky place to win at the best of times, but with Ireland’s list of absentees they face a massively uphill battle. Most interesting will be whether their gameplan evolves from the rather pragmatic, kick-chase dominated fare we have become used to under Joe Schmidt. Either way, it’s tough to see them winning this one. South Africa by 8.

How do you see the weekend going? Leave your thoughts below.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images