Autumn international predictions and rugby union tips: England to come up short

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's autumn internationals.

Scotland v Japan

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 1pm Saturday

Best bet

D van der Merwe first tryscorer
1pt 15-2 Hills

Match preview

Scotland are 20-point favourites to exact World Cup revenge on Japan, who condemned the Scots to a pool-stage exit at the 2019 tournament.

The Brave Blossoms also beat Ireland in their home tournament two years ago but were on the end of a 60-5 hammering in a Dublin rematch this month, and Scotland have the attacking tools to run up another decent score.

The Scots put 60 points on Tonga in their opening Test of the autumn as Rufus McLean scored the first two tries and fellow winger Kyle Steyn bagged four scores.

Full-back Stuart Hogg scored both tries in defeat to South Africa last week, when Scotland could not cope with the Boks' set-piece and intense physicality. In between those games Scotland dogged out a scrappy win over Australia.

This looks another occasion for Scotland's back three to sparkle and winger Duhan van der Merwe can take the opportunity to show the form that made him top tryscorer in this year's Six Nations.

The 6ft 4in, 16-stone winger made some good breaks against the Boks and can make his physical presence count against Japan.

England v South Africa

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 3.15pm Saturday

Best bet

South Africa -1
3pts Evs bet365, BoyleSports

Match preview

England were favourites when they faced the Springboks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan, but are underdogs as they look to avenge that 32-12 loss.

South Africa's record against England, including at Twickenham where they have won on five of their last seven visits, plus the inexperience of England's pack, makes them worthy favourites to keep up their winning ways this autumn.

The Springboks dominated the scrum and line-out in their victory over Scotland last week, and those are areas of concern for England.

First-choice hookers Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie are missing so Jamie Blamire starts. His line-out throwing was wayward in England's win over Australia, and South Africa will need no second invitation to kick for touch deep in England territory and challenge for the ball.

Blamire earns his fifth England cap alongside prop Bevan Rodd, who wins his second, with Joe Marler only ready to make the bench, Ellis Genge injured and Mako Vunipola overlooked entirely.

South Africa may well have the best front row in the business in Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane. Indeed, replacements Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch have claims to being the second best, so England look set to be under huge pressure from the off.

The Red Rose have won their last two home meetings with the Boks - winning by a single point in 2018 and recording a far more comfortable 37-21 success in 2016.

But the tide looks to have turned, and with captain Owen Farrell also on the injured list, it's hard to see England holding out.

Wales v Australia

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Wales -2
2pts Evs Hills

Match preview

With a host of key names missing, Wales began their autumn campaign with defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, then had to come from behind to overhaul 14-man Fiji last week.

But one thing Wales never lack is spirit and they showed enough in their first two games to suggest they can finish with a flourish against Australia.

A record defeat to the All Blacks was skewed by a salvo of four tries in the last quarter and the 54-16 scoreline wasn't a fair reflection, while a week later the Welsh went toe to toe with world champions South Africa before being edged out 23-18.

A long losing run against the Wallabies finally came to an end in Cardiff in 2018 and Wales followed that up with a significant 29-25 success at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Australia have looked blunt in defeats to Scotland and England, managing one try from flanker Rob Leota in those games, and are missing the playmaking skills of Quad Cooper at fly-half plus the powerful carries of centre Samu Kerevi.

It may be another tight contest - Wales's two treasured wins over the Wallabies have come by four and three points - but the hosts definitely look to have the attacking edge.

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