There are
fewer internationals this week as the Autumn Internationals are on. I will look
at England v Australia and Wales v South Africa. I will also look in detail at Munster v
Ulster and give an opinion on the other Irish provinces in action
ENGLAND V
Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees will start for England in
Saturday's Test against Australia at Twickenham.
The centre, 26, replaces Owen Farrell, who moves to the
bench.
Northampton Saints pair Tom Wood and Dylan Hartley takes
over from James Haskell and Rob Webber at flanker and hooker respectively.
Second-row forward Courtney Lawes, another Saints player,
has recovered from a knee injury sustained in last weekend's 28-9 win over
Samoa.
England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Anthony Watson (Bath
Rugby), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) Jonny May
(Gloucester Rugby); George Ford (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers);
Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), David Wilson (Bath
Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom
Wood (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan
(Gloucester Rugby).
Replacements: Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Matt Mullan (Wasps),
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), George Kruis (Saracens), James Haskell
(Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Marland
Yarde (Harlequins).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/
My analysis
In my opinion this will be a very close match that could go either way. I see it going towards England as I think they will have more of a will to win at home.
WALES V SOUTH AFRICA
- The Springboks face Six Nations champions Wales on Saturday.
- Prop Frans Malherbe will make his Test debut for South
Africa, while wing JP Pietersen also returns to the side.
- South Africa team to face Wales: Pat Lambie; JP Pietersen,
Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie du
Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain), Frans Malberhe, Eben
Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Coenie
Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht,
Willie le Roux.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24837794
Wales team v South Africa:
L Halfpenny (Toulon); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Métro), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets); J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys); D Lydiate (unattached), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements E Phillips (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), R Jones (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing Métro), J King (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Métro), R Priestland (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets).
L Halfpenny (Toulon); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Métro), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets); J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys); D Lydiate (unattached), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements E Phillips (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), R Jones (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing Métro), J King (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Métro), R Priestland (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets).
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/wales-vs-south-africa-we-are-actually-ahead-of-schedule-says-warren-gatland-9888907.html
My Analysis
I feel that this match is a very important match for Wales as it will tell them more where they stand in the world going into the World Cup. I do see this as a very close match not won by more than a score but would have to go with South Africa as they have a better team.
I feel that this match is a very important match for Wales as it will tell them more where they stand in the world going into the World Cup. I do see this as a very close match not won by more than a score but would have to go with South Africa as they have a better team.
PRO 12 TABLE
We will be going back to the pro 12 a little as well as I
first show you the current standings and the fact that Ulster are joint top:
Played
|
Won
|
Tries
|
Lost
|
TP
|
Points
|
||
1.
|
Ospreys
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
225:120
|
30
|
2.
|
Ulster
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
204:98
|
30
|
3.
|
Munster
|
8
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
196:113
|
28
|
4.
|
Glasgow Warriors
|
8
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
202:146
|
27
|
5.
|
Leinster
|
8
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
208:136
|
24
|
6.
|
Connacht
|
8
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
148:131
|
23
|
7.
|
Llanelli Scarlets
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
186:146
|
22
|
8.
|
Edinburgh
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
120:195
|
15
|
9.
|
Cardiff Blues
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
161:228
|
8
|
10.
|
Dragons
|
8
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
113:192
|
7
|
11.
|
Zebre
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
90:217
|
5
|
12.
|
Treviso
|
8
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
100:231
|
4
|
PRO 12 FIXTURES
MUNSTER V ULSTER FRI 7.35PM
Alan O'Connor and Nick Williams also replace Lewis Stevenson and Clive Ross in the pack while Ian Humphreys comes in for injured fly-half Paddy Jackson. Jared Payne remains out after missing Ireland's win over Australia.
The Munster coach hands a first start to South African centre, Pat Howard, who joined the club recently on a three-month contract. Howard takes over for Andrew Smith while other backs changes see Gerhard van den Heever in for Andrew Conway and Duncan Williams taking over from Cathal Sheridan at scrum-half.
In the pack, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha and CJ Stander replace
Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer and Sean Dougall.
Ireland squad members Felix Jones, Dave Kilcoyne and Tommy
O'Donnell are named among the replacements.
Munster: JJ Hanrahan; G van den Heever, P Howard, Denis
Hurley, R O'Mahony; I Keatley, D Williams; J Ryan, D Casey, BJ Botha; Donncha
O'Callaghan (capt), B Holland; R Copeland, P Butler, CJ Stander
Replacements: K O'Byrne, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, T O'Donnell,
S Dougall, N Cronin, A Smith, F Jones
Ulster: S Olding; L Ludik, D Cave, S McCloskey, C Gilroy, I Humphreys, P Marshall; C Black, R Best (capt), W Herbst; A O'Connor, F van der Merwe; R Wilson, S Reidy, N Williams.
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, R Diack, M Heaney, M Allen, P Nelson
My Analysis
With a few
Irish players coming back, the match of the week has to be Munster v Ulster.
What makes this match interesting is you are not sure who is in the stronger
position but Ulster have that little bit of form behind them so I will back
them.
LEINSTER V
My Analysis
This is a match between the biggest team in the league and the best team in the league this season and by the way that Leinster are playing at the moment, I feel that they will find it difficult to get a bonus point loss.
This is a match between the biggest team in the league and the best team in the league this season and by the way that Leinster are playing at the moment, I feel that they will find it difficult to get a bonus point loss.
CONNACHT V SCARLETS
My Analysis
Connacht are a team that are doing a lot better this season than others. This year, Connacht have got the form to win this match but I feel that if they are going to reach the play offs this season this is the type of match that they must win
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