International Rugby Predictions – 1 November

The blockbuster at the Stade de France will be preceded by four fascinating fixtures earlier in the day, the first of which will see Ireland host Japan in Dublin.

Scotland square off against the All Blacks at Murrayfield, England face Fiji at Twickenham, and Italy tackle the Wallabies in Udine.

The weekend’s action will wrap up on Sunday afternoon when Wales confront the Pumas in Cardiff.

Ireland v Japan

Saturday, 8 November – 14:40

Like the Boks, Ireland were once stunned by the Brave Blossoms. It was in the 2019 World Cup in the land of the rising sun where Japan produced a historic 19-12 upset, which helped them reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

The Irish have won both games between the sides since (39-31 and 60-5, both in 2021), but will forever be wary of the Japanese. That means Eddie Jones’ men, coming off a 61-7 loss to the Boks, are in for another mauling, with Ireland primed to put last weekend’s 26-13 defeat to the All Blacks behind them with a backlash.

Prediction: Ireland by 40.

Suggested Bet: Ireland -39 at 1.90.

Scotland v New Zealand

Saturday, 8 November – 17:10

Scotland looked like the rugby equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters in their 85-0 whitewash of the USA last weekend.

After putting on quite a show in the 13-try trampling, a real test of their quality now awaits in the form of the All Blacks, who started their quest for a first Grand Slam since 2010 with the aforementioned win over Ireland last weekend.

Scotland failed to knock over one of the big three in this year’s Six Nations, finishing fourth following wins over Italy (31-19) and Wales (35-29), and suffered a shock 29-14 loss to Fiji in July.

That the All Blacks seriously lacked accuracy and still conquered Ireland by 13 points showed just how crafty and determined they are. They’re willing and able to win ugly if need be, however, that won’t be necessary on Saturday.

The last three meetings between the teams at Murrayfield may have been close, with the Kiwis winning 24-16 in 2014, 22-17 in 2017, and 31-23 in 2022, but Scott Robertson’s men should put more daylight between them and the Scots this time.    

Prediction: New Zealand by 14.

Suggested Bet: New Zealand -8 at 1.90.

England v Fiji

Saturday, 8 November – 19:40

England have the longest current winning streak among the top nations with eight. They haven’t lost since their 27-22 season-opening defeat to Ireland in Dublin and made a big statement with their 25-7 triumph over the Wallabies last weekend.

Fiji have won five on the trot and also haven’t lost since their 2025 opener, when they gave Australia a scare before succumbing 21-18. The Islanders upset Scotland 29-14 and most recently beat Japan 33-27 in September to clinch back-to-back Pacific Nations Cup titles.

They’ll be confident and will draw further strength from their famous 30-22 win over the Red Roses in 2023, but this England side are onto something and won’t allow complacency to creep in.

Prediction: England by 30.

Suggested Bet: England -22 at 1.90.

Italy v Australia

Saturday, 8 November – 19:40

After being bullied by England last weekend, Australia need to offer a response and arrest a three-match losing skid. The Azzurri appear to be the ideal opponents for them to achieve those objections against as they’re 2-6 this year.

The Italians’ only wins this season came against Wales (22-15) and Namibia (73-6), and they haven’t been in action since their back-to-back hidings (42-24 and 45-0) by the Boks in July. The Wallabies should run away with this one.   

Prediction: Australia by 22.

Suggested Bet: Australia -11 at 1.90.

France v South Africa

Saturday, 8 November – 22:10

The table is set for a titanic tussle at Stade de France, the very venue where the Boks broke Les Bleus hearts with a 29-28 victory in an instant classic World Cup quarter-final two years ago.

South Africa went on to win the global showpiece for the second successive time and have maintained their status as the best team in the world since. All the while, the French have been fuming and plotting revenge.

A Six Nations title is always something to savour and France did that when they dethroned the Irish as kings of the North in March, but one can’t help but sense it may be viewed as a consolation prize.

Les Bleus fully believed it was their destiny to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time on home soil, and the Boks took that away from them. Whether they admit it or not, France are fixated on revenge.

It’s why a bit of paranoia has set in, with Fabien Galthie limiting media access to training sessions in the fear that South African ‘spies’ might be watching. Indeed, Rassie Erasmus and his troops are living rent-free in French minds, and a win on Saturday is the only way for France to exorcise their demons.

France are the one team who have similar depth to South Africa, and with a number of stars – headlined by Antoine Dupont – unavailable through injury, that depth will be put to the ultimate test by the men in Green and Gold, who themselves has lost a key man in Ox Nche, who suffered a tour-ending injury in last weekend’s demolition job of Japan.

In what should be a cracker, the fact that the Boks are battle-hardened and France – in their true form – haven’t played since the Six Nations (a second-string side toured New Zealand in July) should prove decisive.

Prediction: South Africa by 5.

Suggested Bet: South Africa -2 at 1.90.

Wales v Argentina

Sunday, 9 November – 17:10

New coach Steve Tandy looks to usher in a new era for Welsh rugby on Sunday, but has his work cut out for him.

Professional rugby in the country is in disarray, and even though the Dragons were able to end their record 17-match losing streak with a 31-22 win over Japan last time out, they have deep-rooted problems that’ll take a lot of time, effort, and expertise to fix.

The Pumas have claimed three big scalps so far this season, beating the British & Irish Lions (28-24), the All Blacks (29-23), and the Wallabies (28-26), and pushed the Boks close in the Rugby Championship decider (29-27).

They are inconsistent but are a cut above their hosts and should leave Cardiff with a win to complete a Southern Hemisphere clean sweep.   

Prediction: Argentina by 9.

Suggested Bet: Wales +11 at 1.90.