International Rugby Predictions – 12 July

The encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is one of five key fixtures on Saturday. The action starts in Suva, where Fiji play host to Scotland, before the spotlight shifts to Kobe, where Wales will be desperate to snap their record losing streak against Japan.

New Zealand will be out to clinch the three-Test series against France in Wellington, while Argentina will look to turn the tables on England in San Juan.

Fiji v Scotland

Saturday, 12 July – 5:00 SAST

Fiji will fancy their chances against the Scots after nearly stunning the Wallabies Down Under last weekend. After a poor start, which saw them hand their hosts a 14-0 lead, the Pacific Islanders clicked and led down the stretch only to be undone by a last-gasp Harry Wilson try. They would’ve taken a lot out of the 21-18 loss and will be happy to be back home.

Scotland got ideal preparation for this clash in the form of the Maori All Blacks last weekend. They were in firm control of the clash in Whangarei, leading 29-12, but had to hold on for dear life in the end to edge it 29-26. They’ll look to be a bit more structured against the Fijians and should pip it.

Prediction: Scotland by 3.

Suggested Bet: Scotland at 2.50.

Japan v Wales

Saturday, 12 July – 7:50 SAST

With a commanding 19-7 lead at halftime, Wales were 40 minutes away from finally ending their drought in the first of two Tests against Japan last weekend. Instead, they ran out of steam and succumbed 24-19, which extended their record losing streak for a Tier One nation in the professional era to 18.

Yes, the heat in Kitakyushu was a major challenge for the Dragons, and it won’t be much cooler in Kobe on Saturday, but at this stage, their biggest problem appears to be mental. Their first-half effort last weekend should give them confidence that they can beat the Brave Blossoms if they leave something in the tank for the second half.

However, losing has become a habit for them and their desperation will likely play into Japan’s hands and lead to another loss.

Prediction: Japan by 4.

Suggested Bet: Japan at 2.80.

New Zealand v France

Saturday, 12 July – 9:05 SAST

For all the criticism of France taking an understrength squad to New Zealand, they sure pitched up and gave the All Blacks quite the scare in last weekend’s first of three Tests. The Les Bleus rookies took the outcry personally and nearly pulled off a massive upset.

The 31-27 win was a shaky one for the All Blacks, who were rusty in their season opener. They were a bit off the pace and had a couple of tries disallowed for minor mistakes. Expect them to be better on that front. Even though they avoided disaster, they were left with egg on their faces for struggling against a second-string side and must respond emphatically to set things straight.

Wellington hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them as they’ve won just two of the eight matches they’ve played there since 2007, losing four times. However, with more accuracy and physicality, I see them clinching the series with a more convincing victory.

Prediction: New Zealand by 17.

Suggested Bet: New Zealand -16 at 1.90.

South Africa v Italy

Saturday, 12 July – 17:10 SAST

As the No. 1 team in the world and back-to-back world champions, Rassie Erasmus’ Boks hold themselves to a very high standard and they fell short of that in last weekend’s 42-24 win.

While the young Azzurri outfit deserve credit for their fighting spirit, the Boks just never got into their groove and the Bomb Squad failed to make the expected impact for once. It wasn’t that they just lacked polish – they were sluggish at the breakdown and generally disjointed. Thus, the men in Green and Gold will look to set the record straight. 

Unfortunately for Italy, last weekend was as good as it’s going to get for them against this South African juggernaut.

The Boks will be wiser to the visitors’ flooding of the breakdown, sharper and more unpredictable on attack and more responsible on defence, all of which will see them blow the Italians away in the Windy City.

Prediction: South Africa by 35.

Suggested Bet: Italy +39 at 1.90.

Argentina v England

Saturday, 12 July – 21:40 SAST

Los Pumas showed last weekend that you just never really know what to expect from them.

They were unrecognizable from the world-beaters who opened their season with a famous 28-24 win over the British & Irish Lions as they failed to fire a shot in the first half and crashed to a 35-12 defeat.

England’s victory was so emphatic that one can’t see how Argentina will be able to fix all the issues in the space of a week and yet, I can’t write them off, either. Just look back to this time last year when they lost 28-13 to a weakened French team first up and won the rematch 33-25. 

That said, my money is on England to sweep the two-Test series.

Prediction: England by 7.

Suggested Bet: England at 2.10.