Ting Ting… Round 3 of the End Of Year Tours and it is another weekend filled with lots of rugby. This weekend has a total of 11 clashes and some great ones to predict.

When the Southern teams go North, every match is hyped up as both hemispheres want to prove a point and claim global domination. The big games this weekend to look forward to is England vs New Zealand, Ireland vs Australia and finally Scotland vs South Africa. All in all a good weekend ahead for rugby and it should be enjoyed the world over.

Here’s a Preview of the weekend’s matches:

Match 1

Japan vs Russia

Eirias Park, Colwyb Bay, Wales
15 November 2013
k/o: 19:30  (Local) / 21:30 (SA)

These sides have met on 4 previous occasions with Japan leading 3 games to 1. This clash is usually a high scoring game for Japan as was shown in 2010 when Japan crushed Russia 75-3. This will be the first time these sides meet since 2010 and it is unlikely that Russia has improved much since 2010. Japan will take this one quite easily and should win by no less than 35 points.

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Match 2

Georgia vs USA

Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
16 November 2013
k/o: 14:00 (Local) / 12:00 (SA)

These sides have only met twice and share the spoils, one game a piece. They first met in 2009 where the USA beat Georgia 31-13, Georgia followed this up in 2010 with a win over USA by 19-17. If one looks at the stats it does feel like USA has a slight edge here and should win by at least 8 points.

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Match 3

Italy vs Fiji

Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
16 November 2013
k/o: 15:00 (Local) / 16:00 (SA)

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (Captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Valerio Bernabo, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Michele Campagnaro.

Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Nemani Nadolo, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Serenaia Bai, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (Captain), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotukula, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Apisai Naikatini, 3 Setefano Somoca, 2 Viliame Veikoso, 1 Jereremaia Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements: 16 Seremaia Namaralevu, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Sisa Koyamaibole, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Nikola Matawalu, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Adriu Delai.

These sides have met 8 times in the past and the split is 4 wins each. This is going to be a fun battle to watch as these nations are evenly ranked. One feels that with Italy having the home advantage, they should sneak a win here with  a scoreline close to 24-23.

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 Match 4

Wales vs Argentina

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
16 November 2013
k/o: 19:30 (Local) / 21:30 (SA)

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Warburton (Captain), 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Rhodri Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Ryan Jones, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Ashley Beck.

Argentina: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Captain), 7 Julio Farias Cabello, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Matías Díaz, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Gabriel Ascárate, 23 Lucas González Amorosino.

These sides have met 15 times in the past with Wales leading with 9 wins to only 5. This stat is not likely to change in Argentina’s favour anytime soon. Having said that, the Pumas always come to the party to make any clash a fun one to watch. Wales have to prepare themselves for 80 minutes of rugby and should take this one with a scoreline close to 28-25.

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 Match 5

England vs New Zealand

Twickenham Stadium, London, England
16 November 2013
k/o: 14:30 (Local) / 16:30 (SA)

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (Captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 David Wilson, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Toby Flood, 23 Alex Goode.

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Ben Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements; 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ryan Crotty.

How do you prepare a team for a clash against the All Blacks, specially if you have only managed 7 wins in the last 35 clashes? It is doubtful that England will make it win number 8 this weekend, as the All Blacks are having a very good season this year and are the number 1 side in the world. England won the encounter last year with a score of 38-21, but it is not 2012 anymore. The All Blacks should take this one, however I predict it will not be by much. A scoreline close to 24-14 should be a safe bet.

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 Match 6

France vs Tonga

Stade de France, Paris, France
16 November 2013
k/o: 18:00 (local) / 19:00 (SA)

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Sofiane Guitoune, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (Captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastian Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Pascal Pape, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Jonathan Pelissie, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Will Helu, 10 Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 ‘Opeti Fonua, 7 Nili Latu (Captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joe Tu’ineau, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Tevita Mailau, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Alisona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 ‘Ilaisa Ma’asi, 17 Taione Vea, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Viliami Ma’afu, 20 Hale T Pole, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 Tevita Halaifonua.

These sides have met only 4 times in the past and amazingly share the spoils at 2 wins each. Tonga won the last encounter in 2011 with a score of 19-14. One feels that France will just be too good for Tonga though and that they will take this one quite easily with a scoreline close to  28-14 at least.

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 Match 7

Romania vs Canada

Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest, Romania
16 November 2013
k/o: 18:30 (Local) / 19:30 (SA)

These sides have met 3 times in the past with Canada leading 2 games to 1. The last time these sides met was in 2005 with Romania the victors by 22-20. It seems unlikely that we will see the same type of result as in 2005 and Canada should win this one, with a scoreline close to 25-12.

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 Match 8

Ireland vs Australia

Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
16 November 2013
k/o: 17:45 (Local) / 19:45 (SA)

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Paul O’Connell (Captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Kevin McLaughlin, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Rob Henshaw.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben Mowen (Captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Nic White, 22 Christian Leali’ifano, 23 Joe Tomane.

This year will most likely be the best chance the Irish have to beat the Wallabies. Australia has had a poor season, battling against stronger opposition. The Irish have however only managed 9 wins in 30 previous encounters between these sides. So, they will need the luck o’ the Irish in this one. If we look at the stats, the Wallabies should take this one with a scoreline close to 21-14, but I feel the Irish have an outside chance and could just edge it by 3 or 4 points.

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 Match 9

Uruguay vs Spain

Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay
16 November 2013
k/o: 16:00 (Local) / 20:00 (SA)

These sides have met 6 times in the past, having each won 3 of these clashes. Spain has however won the last two encounters in 2001 and 2011. This one is hard to pick and a draw is highly unlikely. This one is a toss-up, your choice. It really is a 50/50.

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 Match 10

French Barbarians vs Samoa

Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
16 November 2013
k/o: 20:00 (Local) / 21:00 (SA)

I searched long and hard for a previous fixture between these two side and found none, so I cannot predict the outcome. Samoa is a hard team, they play hard, they run hard, they defend hard and they do all of this for the full 80 minutes. This will be a fun clash to watch and anyone who has the opportunity should do so, this will be running rugby all the time.

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Match 11

Scotland vs South Africa

Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland
17 November 2013
k/o: 15:00 (Local) / 17:00 (SA)

Scotland:15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Greig Laidlaw (Capain), 8 David Denton, 7 John Barclay, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson
Replacements:16 Scott Lawson, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Geoff Cross,  19 Jonny Gray, 20 John Beattie, 21 Chris Cusiter, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Max Evans

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts  / Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Frans Malberhe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Morné Steyn  / Another, 23 JJ Engelbrecht.

These sides have met 22 times in the past with the Springboks leading the wins by 17 to 5. The Springboks have had a good season, only losing to the All Blacks and are unlikely to lose to Scotland. All in all the Springboks are a much stronger side on paper and should take the game quite easily, with a scoreline of no less than 25-11.