International Rugby Predictions – 19 July

The All Blacks will be out to sweep their series against France 3-0 when they meet for the final time in Waikato before it’s time for the first showdown between Australia and the Home Nations all-stars in Brisbane.

The other big game is in Mbombela, where South Africa go at it against Georgia. 

New Zealand v France

Saturday, 19 July – 9:05 SAST

After putting up a good fight in the opening Test to lose just 31-27, the Les Bleus second-stringers offered little opposition in Wellington last week, going down 43-17 as the All Blacks took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

It was the step up that New Zealand coach Scott Robertson would’ve asked for as his charges found their clinical edge, both in general play and in the set pieces. The Kiwis have largely kept things direct to start their 2025 campaign, and their forwards well and truly dominated last weekend.

With the French being understrength and having little to play for with the series already lost, the All Blacks should canter to a clean sweep.

Prediction: New Zealand by 28.

Suggested Bet: New Zealand -21 at 1.90.

Australia v British & Irish Lions

Saturday, 19 July 12:00 – SAST

The Wallabies have their work cut out for them against a roaring Lions side high on momentum.

The star-studded visiting team are unbeaten on their tour Down Under, having racked up wins over the Western Force (54-7), Reds (52-12), Waratahs (21-10), Brumbies (36-12), and AUNZ Invitational XV (48-0).

They’ve picked up a number of injuries along the way, but the key core of players tasked with leading them to Test series glory – headlined by captain Maro Itoje – are available and relishing their shot at immortality.

Andy Farrell’s men are strong favourites to win the series at 1.30 as they’ve had the aforementioned games to gel and superior depth. Australia have had only one outing to prepare for the long-awaited series and did little to strike fear into the Lions as they pipped Fiji 21-18.

However, with a chance of taming the Lions only coming around once every 12 years, the Wallabies aren’t lacking in motivation and will be at the peak of their powers, so expect them to be much improved from their season opener.

Adding fuel to their fire is the big talk coming out of the Lions’ camp, with 20-year-old Henry Pollock, the youngest member of the squad and the most talked-about player in the world at the moment, stating that “3-0 is definitely on the table.”

The Lions have had great success against Australia. They’ve won seven of the nine series between the teams, including the first in 1899 and last in 2013, and 17 of the 23 Tests. 

Though less than impressive, the Wallabies’ recent win over Fiji saw them snap a two-match losing streak. They had a losing record of 6-7 last season, but the Australian Super Rugby franchises were more competitive this year, and the national side should benefit from that.

The Lions aren’t the finished product just yet, so the Wallabies can’t be counted out. However, Itoje and company should draw first blood in Brisbane.

Prediction: British & Irish Lions by 7.

Suggested Bet: Australia +13 at 1.61.

South Africa v Georgia

For as much as Georgia is a developing rugby nation, there’s no other scenario than the mighty South Africans mauling them at Mbombela Stadium.

The Lelos won their eighth consecutive Rugby Europe Championship title in March but started this month with a 34-5 home defeat to a second-string Irish outfit and lost 24-20 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last Friday. 

Nothing if not passionate, Georgia should offer some resistance up front initially as they have a solid pack and showed off their scrummaging prowess against the Free Staters.

This will be the third meeting between the teams with the Boks having won the previous encounters 46-19 and 40-9 in 2003 and 2021, respectively.

For the Boks, who’re fresh off blanking Italy 45-0 to wrap up the two-Test series, every match is important as they continue to evolve and build depth, and as the last hit-out before the Rugby Championship, they’ll have several boxes they’ll want to tick.

The performance will be more important than the scoreline for the back-to-back world champions, and with competition in the Bok squad being as strong as it is, every player will be fully locked in. That spells doom for the Georgians, who’ll be game but outclassed.

Prediction: South Africa by 50.

Suggested Bet: South Africa -46 at 1.90.