Wounded All Blacks on revenge mission

Re-matches, ranking points and Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification ensures this should be another fascinating weekend of international rugby.

Much of the focus will be on Dublin where Ireland are bidding to become the first team to register back-to-back wins against the All Blacks since South Africa in 2009.

However, New Zealand, who claimed the Team of the Year, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honours at the World Rugby Awards in London last Sunday, will be fired up and ready to put the record straight.

"Of course we are hurting," said Kieran Read, restored to the captaincy after being rested for last weekend's 68-10 win over Italy in Rome. "Every time you lose it stings a little bit but we can't expect things to turn around just because we are hurting or whatever. It's down to our preparation and how we work towards this game.

"We are pretty fortunate to get another crack at them while we are over here. We've got a chance to rectify what happened a couple of weeks ago and we are looking forward to a massive challenge in Dublin."

Three other re-matches take place this weekend - two of them from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England v Fiji and Romania v Canada.

RWC 2015 REWIND

On Saturday, it will be 428 days since England and Fiji kicked off the tournament at Twickenham and the fortunes of both countries have turned around since then.

England have put their pool exit behind them to boast an unblemished record under Eddie Jones, achieving a Six Nations Grand Slam, a 3-0 series win over Australia and a first win over South Africa in 10 years along the way. As for Fiji, the whole island is still buzzing from the sevens team’s historic Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.

Including the win over Uruguay in their final RWC 2015 pool game – Stuart Lancaster’s last as coach – England have reeled off 11 straight wins and they stand to match their all-time record of 14 set in Clive Woodward’s reign (March 2002-August 2003) if they beat Fiji, Argentina and Australia in their remaining tests in November.

“If we want to be the best of the world then yes, four out of four is definitely the goal,” said World Rugby Player of the Year nominee and England number eight Billy Vunipola.

Akapusi Qera, who captained Fiji in that RWC 2015 curtain-raiser and does so again on Saturday, believes England already enjoy that status. “Right now, we can say they are the best side in the world, because they are undefeated and the All Blacks lost to the Irish.”

Cementing their place in the top 10 of the World Rugby Rankings is the primary focus of the reigning World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup champions.

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“The teams below us are Georgia and Japan and they are really playing well at the moment,” Qera said. “It is a wake-up call for us and we need to push forward and try to better our standing after this November tour.”

All the other tier one nations are in action in Europe on a weekend when a total of 17 test matches will take place around the globe. In Hong Kong, a thrilling denoement to the Cup of Nations is in prospect as the host nation face Russia in a repeat of the 2015 title decider.

In South America, Chile get the chance to back up last weekend's win over Korea, while in Paraguay it will be the end of the line in terms of RWC 2019 qualification for the loser of the Americas repechage play-off between the Yacarés and Colombia. RWC 2019 qualification matches are also taking place on Saturday in the Rugby Europe Trophy.

ENGLAND v FIJI

Teimana Harrison starts at flanker in the only change to the England pack that helped seal a first victory over the Springboks in 10 years. Elsewhere Jonathan Joseph is named at outside-centre with Elliot Daly moving to left wing. Alex Goode starts at full-back and there is a return for Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing, having not played for England since his debut in 2014.

On the bench, uncapped second-row forward Charlie Ewels is included for the first time in an England match-day 23 and there is also a return for utility back Henry Slade.

Qera plays his first match since Fiji’s RWC 2015 campaign, as captain and number eight. All bar one of the Fijian side, scrum-half Serupepeli Vularika, play their rugby in France or the United Kingdom. Qera is joined in the back row by Clermont's Peceli Yato and Brive's Dominiko Waqaniburotu. Leone Nakarawa partners Agen's Api Ratuniyawara in the second row while Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto and Manasa Saulo form the front row.

Josh Matavesi is handed the fly-half responsibilities, alongside Vularika, while the centre pairing is Albert Vulivuli and Asaeli Tikoirotuma. Nemani Nadolo takes one wing spot with Benito Masilevu on the other and Metu Talebula is at full-back.

In brief

• England have won all nine previous matches with Fiji
• The closest Fiji came to victory was a 13-12 loss in the first meeting in August 1973
• Last meeting was 35-11 win for England in opening match of RWC 2015 at Twickenham
• England’s biggest win over Fiji was 54-12 win in November 2012
• This will be only fourth meeting in last two decades

Rankings predictor

Due to the eight-place differential, before the home advantage weighting is factored in, between the teams in the rankings England do not stand to gain any points in victory. A loss, however, would cost them two rating points – enough to see them drop to third if Australia beat France at the Stade de France. Fiji can only improve their position if they win by more than 15 points and Argentina do the same against Scotland at Murrayfield. In that instance, Fiji would replace the Scots in ninth.

IRELAND V NEW ZEALAND

Sean O’Brien comes in for the injured Jordi Murphy as the only change to the Ireland XV that started the historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago.

Rory Best captains the side on his 99th cap and again partners Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong in the front row. Devin Toner and Donnacha Ryan are the second row pairing with O'Brien joining IRPA Try of the Year 2016 winner and World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Jamie Heaslip and CJ Stander in the back row. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton again combine at half-back, while Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne continue their midfield partnership. The back three sees Rob Kearney at full-back with Andrew Trimble and Simon Zebo on the wings.

In the New Zealand pack, the starting front row from the first test against Ireland of props Joe Moody and Owen Franks and hooker Dane Coles, has been bolstered by the return of second-rows Brodie Retallick and Samuel Whitelock, while in the loose forwards Read returns at number eight and is joined by last weekend's captain Sam Cane and Liam Squire.

In the backs, Aaron Smith and World Rugby Player of the Year 2016 Beauden Barrett are selected at half-back, while World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Anton Lienert-Brown and Malakai Fekitoa make up the midfield. The All Blacks field their first-choice back three of full-back Ben Smith and wings Israel Dagg and Julian Savea.

In brief:

• Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time in Chicago two weeks ago to end New Zealand’s record-equalling 18-match run of consecutive victories
• They last met in Dublin in November 2013 when New Zealand sneaked a 24-22 win at death with Aaron Cruden’s retaken conversion
• New Zealand's biggest win over Ireland was 60-0 in Hamilton in June 2012
• The All Blacks have scored four or more tries in 12 consecutive matches this year

Rankings predictor

New Zealand, who on Wednesday celebrated their seventh anniversary as the number one side in the World Rugby Rankings, can extend their cushion at the top of the rankings by between two and three tenths of a rating point depending on the margin of victory. Any form of victory would see Ireland replace South Africa in fourth regardless of how the Springboks fare in Italy. Third place is also within their grasp, too, but they’d need to win by more than 15 points and hope Australia lose to France for that to happen.

FRANCE v AUSTRALIA

France coach Guy Noves has named Fijian-born wingers Noa Nakaitaci and Virimi Vakatawa on either flank, with Scott Spedding in his regular slot at full-back. Nakaitaci comes in for Yoann Huget as one of five changes to the team that started the 52-8 win against Samoa last weekend. Jean-Marc Doussain takes over at fly-half after Francois Trinh-Duc was ruled out for the rest of the November internationals with a broken forearm.

In the back row, Charles Ollivon replaces the injured Loann Goujon, while second-row Sebastien Vahaamahina takes Julien Le Devedec's place and prop Cyril Baille gets his first start in place of the injured Jefferson Poirot after making his test debut off the bench against Samoa.

Australia coach Michael Cheika has himself made wholesale changes from the team that edged Scotland 23-22 last time out. Only Will Genia, Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani retain their starting spots while David Pocock shifts to the number seven jersey and will captain the side – for the first time in over four years – with Stephen Moore named among the replacements. Inside-centre Kyle Godwin is set to become the Wallabies’ 13th debutant of 2016.

In brief

• France won the last meeting between the sides, 29-26 in November 2014
• Australia’s last win in France was 59-16 in November 2010 at the Stade de France with a Drew Mitchell hat-trick among the seven tries scored that day
• Prior to the win over Samoa the last time France scored a half-century of points in a match was against Italy in March 2009 (50-8)
• Virimi Vakatawa’s hat-trick against Samoa was the first by a Frenchman in a test match for two years (Teddy Thomas v Fiji, November 2014)

Rankings predictor

Australia will cement third place in the rankings if they win and they can actually close the gap between themselves and England to as little as 1.39 points if they win by more than 15 points. Lose by more than 15 and they could drop to fourth – but only if Ireland beat New Zealand. France can move up to sixth on the back of a 2.07-point gain if they beat the Wallabies by more than 15.

ITALY v SOUTH AFRICA

Azzurri coach Conor O’Shea has made four changes to his line-up as Italy look to bounce back from the 68-10 loss to New Zealand. Giovanbattista Venditti makes his first appearance of this November series on the left wing, while in the pack Francesco Minto replaces Maxime Mbanda on the flank and Ornel Gega and Sami Panico step into the front-row. Meanwhile, uncapped front-rows Nicola Quaglio and Simone Ferrari are set to graduate from U20s rugby to full honours after being named on the bench.

South Africa's record try-scorer Bryan Habana is back on the left wing for the Springboks to face Italy in Florence, while Nizaam Carr will get his first start against the opponents he made his test debut against two years ago. In a third change to the starting line-up Pieter-Steph du Toit will move back to second-row in place of Eben Etzebeth, whose run of 31 consecutive test appearances is over due to the concussion he suffered against England. Du Toit’s move, which will see him partner Lood de Jager, opens up a position in the back row, where Carr will start following his stint off the bench last week at Twickenham.

In brief

• This will be 13th meeting between sides since November 1995 – all won by South Africa
• The last meeting was a 22-6 win for South Africa in Padova in November 2014, the closest Italy have come to a win
• Bryan Habana will become the most capped Springbok against Italy in this test with his seventh appearance
• Australia are the only previous test-playing nation to take on Italy at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence

Rankings predictor

A win for South Africa would not carry any rating points due to the nine places and 12.26 rating points between the sides in the rankings, although the Springboks can only be ousted from fourth spot if Ireland are victorious against New Zealand. Two rating points are on offer for an Italian win – three if they win by more than 15 points. A one-place rise to 12th is possible if the Azzurri win and Georgia are either held to a draw or lose at home to Samoa. Win by more than 15 points and 11th is possible for Italy but Japan would have to be beaten heavily in Wales for that to happen.

WALES v JAPAN

Gareth Anscombe makes his first start for Wales at fly-half in a team showing 10 changes from the one that defeated Argentina 24-20 last weekend He is partnered at half-back by Cardiff Blues team-mate, Lloyd Williams. Jamie Roberts returns to the midfield alongside Jonathan Davies, while the only change in the back three sees Alex Cuthbert come in for George North.

The Welsh pack has an all-new front row of Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin and Samson Lee, while Cory Hill packs down in the second row with Alun Wyn-Jones and Warburton is joined in the back-row by Dan Lydiate and James King.

Lomano Lemeki, Japan’s two-try hero from the 28-22 win against Georgia, is ruled out through injury and is replaced on the wing by Akihito Yamada, while Kenki Rukuoka takes Karne Hesketh's place on the other wing. In the forwards, Samuela Anise comes in for Kotaro Yatabe in the second row, with Kensuke Hatakeyama replacing Heiichiro Ito at tight-head prop in the only other changes to the team.

In brief

• Japan won their first match against Wales when the sides last met, 23-8 in Tokyo in June 2013
• Wales had won the 12 previous meetings with Japan
• Wales’ highest score against Japan was 98-0 in November 2004
• Wales’ win over Argentina ended a run of five successive test defeats
• Japan have never won a test away from home against a current tier one nation and have only won five of their 68 all-time matches at that level.

Rankings predictor

For Wales to move up to fifth, they would need to beat Japan and hope France fail to win at home to Australia and South Africa come away from Florence having been beaten by more than 15 points. Rob Howley’s side could slip to as low as ninth if well-beaten. A Japan draw or victory (worth a minimum of 1.95 rating points) combined with defeat for Fiji at Twickenham would see the Brave Blossoms return to the world’s top 10. Ninth is possible if both Scotland and Fiji lose heavily.

SCOTLAND v ARGENTINA

Edinburgh’s Magnus Bradbury wins his first Scotland cap as one of four changes to the starting XV edged by Australia. His inclusion as blindside flanker sees John Barclay move to number eight, with Hamish Watson returning to the openside. Grant Gilchrist – who captained Scotland to victory over the Pumas in Cordoba two years ago – and hooker Fraser Brown replace Richie Gray and Ross Ford respectively. They will pack down with returning tight-five forwards Zander Fagerson, last week’s debutant Allan Dell, and try-scoring second-row Jonny Gray.

The return of wing Tommy Seymour is the only change to the back division, meaning two-time try-scorer Huw Jones and centre partner Alex Dunbar, half-backs Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell, and Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland are retained. 

Los Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade has named an unchanged starting XV for only the second time in his time in charge. Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, who wins his 50th cap, only needs three points to become Argentina’s third highest points scorer in history.

In brief

• There have been 18 previous meetings between sides dating back to 1969
• Scotland won the last meeting, 41-31 at Murrayfield in November 2014
• Argentina’s last win in Scotland was 9-6 in November 2009
• Magnus Bradbury’s mother Dee is vice-president of the Scottish Rugby Union

Rankings predictor

Argentina could climb as high as fifth if they beat Scotland by more than 15 points and Italy and France win at home against South Africa and Australia respectively. A narrow victory would see them climb one place irrespective of how the other nations in and around them in the rankings fare. Scotland can drop to 10th in defeat – but Fiji would have to beat England by over 15 points for that to happen. A Scottish win could see them trade places with Los Pumas. Sixth place is attainable for Scotland if they win and Wales and France suffer home defeats.

ROMANIA v CANADA

Uncapped Ben Lesage will make his test debut at inside centre as one of three changes to Canada’s team. Injury has denied Aaron Carpenter the chance to set a new test appearance record for Canada, meaning Admir Cejvanovic steps up for his first test start at number eight. Openside flanker Matt Heaton also gets a maiden international start in the back-row. Winger DTH van der Merwe, a tr-scorer against Ireland last weekend, will captain the side.

In brief

• Of the six previous meetings Romania have won the last four, including 17-15 at RWC 2015 in what was the biggest comeback in the tournament's history
• Three of the last four meetings have been decided by a single score
• They first met at RWC 1991 where Canada won 19-11
• Canada’s other win also came on the RWC stage, in 1995 when they won 34-3 – easily the biggest margin of victory in the head-to-head record
• Florin Vlaicu became Romania's most capped player as well as points scorer when he made his 93rd test appearance in the win over the USA

Rankings predictor

Romania can move up to 15th with victory if Tonga fail to beat USA in Spain. Should Canada beat them convincingly and the USA Eagles match the winning margin of more than 15 points, the Oaks would drop to 18th. Canada will be rewarded with victory with a minimum of 1.76 rating points, which would be enough for them to leapfrog neighbours USA into 17th place if the Eagles lose or draw against Tonga.

TONGA v USA

Tonga have made just one change from the team that started the 28-13 win over Spain for this weekend's encounter with the USA Eagles in San Sebastien, with David Halaifonua stepping off the bench to take the place of Telusa Veainu at full-back. 

The Eagles have been bolstered by the arrival of eight overseas stars, although Todd Clever misses out through concussion. Their front row consists of props Chris Baumann and Joe Taufete'e and hooker James Hilterbrand. Nick Civetta will partner Cam Dolan in the second row, while blindside flanker Samu Manoa completes an all-professional forward pack with number eight Andrew Durutalo and openside Tony Lamborn.

Will Holder receives the nod for his third consecutive start at fly-half and is partnered half-back by Nate Augspurger. Captain Blaine Scully and Martin Iosefo are on the wings with USA Sevens captain Madison Hughes at full-back. Thretton Palamo is joined in the midfield by Western Force's Marcel Brache, who is set to make his Eagles’ debut at inside-centre.

In brief

• Tonga have won the last seven matches between the teams
• USA’s only win was 30-10 in May 1995 in San Francisco
• The last meeting was a 33-19 win for Tonga at Pacific Nations Cup in Canada in July 2015

Rankings predictor

Tonga will remain in 15th place if they win, however failure to beat the Eagles could cost them a place if combined with a Romanian victory over Canada.

GEORGIA v SAMOA

Milton Haig has made three changes – all in the backline – to his starting XV as the Lelos look to bounce back from the 28-22 loss to Japan. Lasha Malaguradze comes in at fly-half, while Alexandre Todua and Giorgi Koshadze are handed an opportunity on the left wing and at outside-centre respectively.

Samoa make five personnel changes and two positional in reaction to the 52-8 loss to France. Logovi'i Mulipola and Anthony Perenise will prop either side of hooker Manu Leiataua, Jeff Lepa is named in the second-row alongside Filo Paulo and Greg Foe comes in at openside flanker. Jack Lam wears the six jersey with Alafoti Fa'osiliva packing down at number eight. The only change in the backline sees Albert Nikoro replace Paul Williams at full-back.

In brief

• This is the fourth meeting between the sides
• Samoa won the first, 46-9 at RWC 2003
• Georgia won 16-15 when sides last met in Tbilisi on November 2013
• The sides met in June on Georgia’s unbeaten tour of the Pacific Islands – drawing 19-19 in Apia

EUROPEAN ROUND-UP

Uruguay’s three-match tour of Europe continues with a game against Spain in Malaga and a second straight defeat, after last weekend’s surprise loss to Germany, could cost them their place in the top 20.

The last meeting between the sides, and the ninth in total, ended in a 16-0 win Los Teros at World Rugby Nations Cup 2016. Spain won 16-13 the last time the sides met on Spanish soil. A Spanish victory could result in Los Leones moving up two places in the rankings to 22nd.

In the rugby-mad city of Heidelberg, buoyant Germany meet Brazil for the first time on European soil. Germany won back-to-back tests in Brazil last year (29-12 and 31-7) and will go into the game full of confidence having climbed to a new high of 23rd on the back of that historic win over Uruguay.

While Germany cannot improve their ranking, Brazil can climb as many as five places to 31st in victory if results elsewhere go their way.

This weekend’s RWC 2019 European qualifiers are in the Rugby Europe Trophy where the Netherlands take on Moldova in Amsterdam and Switzerland are at home to Portugal. The Netherlands and Moldova won their opening matches in the Trophy, while Switzerland’s and Portugal’s road to Japan begins this weekend.

AMERICAS ROUND-UP

The Curupayty Heroes Stadium hosts the RWC 2019 Americas repechage qualifier between Paraguay and Colombia. The sides are playing for a place in next year’s Sudamerica A Championship alongside Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, which forms the next stage of regional qualification for Japan 2019.

Only two ranking places separate the sides, with Paraguay 39th and Colombia 41st. Colombia earned the right to play-off against the Yacarés, the bottom-placed side in the A Championship, after winning the B Championship title for the third year in a row and then beating Mexico, the Rugby Americas North champions, in a one-off, winner-takes-all fixture in Medellin last month.

In Santiago, Chile take on Korea for the second time in as many weeks. The first match ended in a 30-12 win for the hosts but came at a cost. Captain Benjamin Soto picked up a knock and is unavailable, resulting in a call-up for Cristóbal Niedmann. Openside Javier Ricard wears the captain’s armband in Soto’s absence.

ASIAN ROUND-UP

Russia and Hong Kong will play off for the 2016 Cup of Nations title after winning both of their respective opening games.

Hosts Hong Kong have secured a perfect 10 points from 10 after collecting bonus points in their opening matches, wins over Papua New Guinea (51-5) and Zimbabwe (34-11), while Russia bounced back from a hesitant start (a 19-15 win over Zimbabwe) to beat Papua New Guinea convincingly (49-19) and are in second place with nine points in the standings.

Hong Kong lost 31-12 to Russia in last year's final and have never beaten the Bears in four previous outings.

Russia have named an experienced line-up with three of the squad – blindside flanker Viktor Gresev Yurii Kushnarev and wing Vasily Artemyev – each boasting over a half-century of caps.

Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones has made seven changes to his starting XV as they look to combat the physicality of the Russian side. Ben Higgins starts at prop and there are call-ups for Matt Lamming and Dan Falvey in the back row. In the backs, Matt Rosslee takes on the fly-half responsibilities and there is an all-new midfield pairing of Tyler Spitz and Lex Kaleca. The other change comes on the left wing where Salom Yiu Kam-shing replaces Marcus Ramage.

Zimbabwe will play Papua New Guinea in Saturday’s third place play-off at 14.00, followed by the final.