Its Friday and that means that it is preview day today. The
first match that I will focus on today is the main one which is Ireland v Australia
IRELAND V AUSTRALIA
With Jared Payne ruled out, D'Arcy, 34, retains his place at
centre after starting against Georgia last weekend.
Robbie Henshaw switches to outside centre after wearing the
number 12 jersey against the Springboks.
Hooker Best missed the shock win over South Africa because
of a calf injury but returns in place of Sean Cronin.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has made four changes from
last weekend's 29-26 defeat by France which includes handing a debut to
Fiji-born winger Henry Speight.
Speight, who only qualified to play for Australia on
residency in September, replaces his ACT Brumbies team-mate Joe Tomane while
another change in the backs sees Matt Toomua taking over from Christian
Lealiifano.
In the pack, Luke Jones takes over at blindside flanker from
Sean McMahon while Sam Carter displaces former skipper James Horwill at lock
TEAMS
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Robbie Henshaw, Gordon
D'Arcy, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best,
Mike Ross: Devin Toner, Paul O'Connell (capt); Peter O'Mahony, Rhys Ruddock,
Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You,
Dave Foley, Tommy O'Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones
Australia: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevenia
Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Henry Speight; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; James Slipper,
Saia Fainga'a, Sekope Kepu; Sam Carter, Rob Simmons; Luke Jones, Michael Hooper
(capt), Ben McCalman.
Replacements [from]: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben
Alexander, Tetera Faulkner, Will Skelton, James Horwill, Jake Schatz, Will
Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale.
I THINK THAT THIS MATCH IS GOING TO BE INCREDABLY CLOSE AND
NOT WON BY MORE THAN 3 POINTS. I WOULD GIVE IT TO IRELAND BUT I THINK THAT IT
WILL BE A TENSE AFFAIR FROM THE START TO THE FINISH WITH NO TEAM EVER GETTING
MORE THAN AN 8 POINT LEAD AT ANY GIVEN TIME
WALES V NEW ZEALAND
Hansen said of 33-year-old flanker McCaw: "He is now
one of the all-time great leaders of any sports team."Ben Smith remains at
full-back for the All Blacks, so Israel Dagg misses out. Conrad Smith is back
to partner Sonny Bill Williams at centre.
Wales centre Jonathan Davies and wing Alex Cuthbert are
among those to express a belief they can end their losing streak on Saturday.
TEAMS
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff
Blues), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro),
George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys);
Paul James (Bath), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake
Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (unattached), Sam
Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Ospreys),
Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric
(Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), James Hook (Gloucester), Liam Williams
(Scarlets).
New Zealand: Ben Smith; Charles Piutau, Conrad Smith, Sonny
Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane
Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw
(capt), Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina,
Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty.
NEW ZEALAND ARE PREPARED TO WIN THIS MATCH AND HAVE PROVEN
OVER TIME THAT THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD AND I CAN NOT SEE WALES
GETTING CLOSE TO THEM AT ANY TIME I CAN SEE THIS GOING TO NEW ZEALAND BY 20
POINTS. I DO FEEL THAT THERE WILL BE PARTS OF THIS MATCH WRER IT IS VERY CLOSE
AT THE START AND WILL TAKE NE ZEALAND SOME TIME TO GET GOING.
ENGLAND V SAMOA
Ben Youngs replaces Danny Care at scrum-half, while Rob
Webber at hooker relegates Dylan Hartley to the bench.
Ben Morgan ousts Billy Vunipola at eight and Wasps' James
Haskell starts.
Haskell, 29, has impressed for his club this season and
returns to the starting XV at blind-side flanker, having made his most recent
start in the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland in June, with Tom Wood
dropping to the bench.
England team in full: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Anthony
Watson (Bath), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jonny May
(Gloucester), George Ford (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Joe Marler
(Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Dave Attwood (Bath),
Courtney Lawes (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins,
captain), Ben Morgan (Gloucester).
Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Matt Mullan
(Wasps), Kieran, Brookes (Newcastle), George Kruis (Saracens), Tom Wood
(Northampton), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester),
Marland Yarde (Harlequins).
THIS IS A GAME THAT ENGLAND MUST WIN BY 14 POINTS TO BE A GOOD
PREFORMANCE FOR SAMOAH THEY HAVE TO KEEP IT VERY CLOSE AND I FEEL THAT ENGLAND
WILL WIN IT BUT NOT BY MUCH
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