As the anticipation grows ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France, all eyes are on how the title contenders will fare in the autumn internationals.
All of the four Rugby Championship sides are in action this weekend, starting with the All Blacks making the trip to Cardiff.
All Blacks out to restore aura
| What | Wales v New Zealand |
| Where | Cardiff, Wales |
| When | 15:15, Saturday 5th November 2022 |
| How to watch | Amazon Prime |
| Odds | Wales 7/2, New Zealand 1/5 |
Having once seemed like an unbeatable force, New Zealand have shown frailties in the last year as they head to Cardiff to face Wales.
An unthinkable home Test series defeat at the hands of Ireland over the summer was followed by a home defeat at the hands of Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
Pressure has been mounting on head coach Ian Foster and he will be looking for a string of positive results this month to take back to New Zealand.
Wales have their own Kiwi coach under pressure, with Wayne Pivac looking to prove he is the right man to lead the Welsh into the World Cup next year.
Finishing the 2022 Six Nations down in fifth place, Pivac's Wales need to start delivering performances to change the feeling about the national side going into the World Cup.
Facing a New Zealand side with a point to prove might not be the ideal next opposition for the Welsh, with the All Blacks at 10/11 to win with a -12.5 handicap.
A great acid test for Ireland
| What | Ireland v South Africa |
| Where | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| When | 17:30, Saturday 5th November 2022 |
| How to watch | Amazon Prime |
| Odds | Ireland 8/15, South Africa 6/4 |
An Ireland side that are hoping to do great things in France next year, Andy Farrell's team will have a good test to see where they are at when they welcome South Africa to Dublin.
That three-match series win in New Zealand was a landmark achievement for Irish rugby and just shows how far the team have progressed since the sides of the 1990s.
The next World Cup will be the last for a number of Ireland’s greats, with the likes of Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Peter O'Mahony approaching the end of their careers.
South Africa will pose a big test this weekend, having just missed out on the Rugby Championship to New Zealand by a single point.
The Springboks are 10/11 with a +4.5 handicap to come away from Dublin with a big win.
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International Rugby: Five players to look for in the autumn internationals
France's golden generation back on show
| What | France v Australia |
| Where | Stade de France, Paris |
| When | 20:00, Saturday 5th November 2022 |
| How to watch | Amazon Prime |
| Odds | France 1/8, Australia 5/1 |
If France are to get their hands on the World Cup for the first time, this current crop of players feels like the team to do it.
Australia head to Paris in need of vast improvement after just edging their way to a 16-15 victory over Scotland last weekend.
The Wallabies had to cling on to stay in the game at times at Murrayfield and had Scotland fly-half Blair Kinghorn to thank for a penalty miss in the dying seconds.
France look to be the team to beat ahead of the 2023 Six Nations and it will have been some years since a French side was 1/8 to win against the Wallabies in a Test match.
England eyeing winning momentum
| What | England v Argentina |
| Where | Twickenham, London |
| When | 14:15, Sunday 6th November 2022 |
| How to watch | Amazon Prime |
| Odds | England 1/9, Argentina 11/2 |
England head coach Eddie Jones is also looking for some positive form as his side builds towards the Six Nations and the next World Cup.
The Red Rose finished the last Six Nations with just two wins from their five games, with a poor return for a side that should be challenging for the title every year.
Argentina will have their dangerous strike runners, with Newcastle Falcons winger Mateo Carreras a player to look out for on Sunday.
Los Pumas have a pack to also cause England problems but if the hosts do make a positive start at Twickenham, this could then be a one-sided affair.
