By Charlie Elliott
Following a clean sweep of wins from the Southern Hemisphere teams, there is bound to be a big response from those on the losing side last week.
France come off a huge win against Japan but face an All Blacks team who have started to grind out results and out of form England square off against the back-to-back world champions.
Whatever happens this weekend, there are a plethora of head-to-head matchups that are likely to determine the fine margins.
Here are The Rugby Paper’s top ten matchups for this weekend’s action:
Ireland v Argentina
Hugo Keenan v Juan Cruz Mallia
Ireland will approach their second Autumn Nations Series game against Argentina hoping to right some wrongs, following a disappointing performance and defeat against the All Blacks last week.
Leinster fullback Hugo Keenan will be the key to this for Ireland, as Argentina will likely be on the back foot for most of the game, the last line of defence for Ireland being solid is crucial, and Keenan will aim to supplement this with some attacking threat.
His opposite number Juan Cruz Mallia, of Toulouse, kicked off the scoring in Los Pumas’ huge win against Italy last time out, with a try that followed an outstanding sidestep on Louis Lynagh.
A high-quality fullback battle is sure to ensue.
Jack Crowley v Tomas Albornoz
There is an interesting dynamic in the battle between Jack Crowley and Tomas Albornoz, as both players are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to international form.
Albornoz has been unstoppable recently and Crowley has left a lot to be desired.
With Crowley needing to pick up his performances if he is to stay in future Irish starting lineups, he has a lot to play for in this head-to-head with Albornoz.
Scotland v Portugal
Darcy Graham v Raffaele Storti
Scotland fans will be excited to see what Darcy Graham has to offer in his first appearance since the four-try haul against Fiji.
Having missed the Springboks game, Graham will be hopeful that he can continue his impressive try-scoring form.
Stade Francais winger Raffaele Storti is one of Portugal’s most impressive players, being the man who continues to step up when needed.
A perfect example of this is the fact that he scored two tries against Georgia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup to give his country their first points in the competition, and scored a try in their first-ever World Cup win against Fiji.
Stafford McDowall v Tomas Appleton (captains)
The two captains face off against each other at centre, with Stafford McDowall making his full-captain debut, having split the duties against Canada in the summer.
Tomas Appleton, although semi-pro for club side Lusitanos XV, has been a stalwart in Portuguese rugby having been involved for ten years now.
A dentist by day, Appleton will be doing everything in his power to make sure McDowall and Scotland don’t have a smile on their face when the full-time whistle blows.
England v South Africa
Chandler Cunningham-South v Siya Kolisi
This game speaks for itself, and all 15 matchups could have made this list.
Because of the nature of South Africa’s physicality, England’s forward players are going to have to be at the absolute top of their game if they are to defeat the back-to-back World Cup champions.
Chandler Cunningham-South has impressed in both games of the Autumn Nations Series, but Springboks captain Siya Kolisi is a completely different test to anyone else on this planet.
The age and experience difference between the two is vast, with 21-year-old Cunningham-South having only made a handful of test appearances, compared to 33-year-old Kolisi pushing towards a century of caps.
If Siya is on his a-game, it could be a rude awakening for his opposite number.
Maro Itoje v Eben Etzebeth
Two of the best locks in the world come up against each other in Maro Itoje and Eben Etzebeth.
Both have had plenty of clashes in the past, no less so than on the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour, in which both had a scuffle while smiling at each other.
Both love the physical battle but also have a good technical side to their game, and Itoje is going to be crucial for England in this monstrous matchup.
France v New Zealand
Louis Bielle-Biarrey v Caleb Clarke
This head-to-head is between two wingers who are quickly rising in the estimations of many, and before long will be considered as being players at the pinnacle of international rugby.
Caleb Clarke is establishing himself as a top-level test player and has begun to cement himself as a New Zealand starter.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey has begun to nail down a starter spot for France and will be hoping to add to his two-try haul against Japan last time out, albeit against a far superior opposition.
Both have immense quality on the ball and dominant physical attributes, and this has all the marks of being one to watch for years to come.
Antoine Dupont v Cam Roigard
Antoine Dupont needs no introduction. The man is unstoppable and by most accounts can be classed as the best player in world rugby right now.
Cam Roigard has had injury issues plaguing his recent ability to get consistent test games, but the class he shows when he plays is evident.
It will be a tough test facing Dupont, but if Roigard can put in a shift it will do his side a world of good.
Wales v Australia
Blair Murray v Max Jorgensen
Max Jorgensen scored the winner for Australia last time out, and with only four tests to his name, is the second least capped (ahead of Joseph Sua’ali’i).
His opposite number comes in the form of Scarlets winger Blair Murray, who scored a try last week against Fiji on his debut.
With Murray being born and raised in New Zealand, and Jorgensen in Sheffield (although the latter was only because his dad was playing at Northampton Saints), there will be an extra edge when these two face off against each other, and with Murray only being 23 years-old compared to Jorgensen’s 20, it will be a test of which youth prospect fares better on the wing, and should be tightly contested.
Aaron Wainwright v Rob Valetini
At number 8 for Australia, John Eales Medal holder Rob Valetini makes his 50th test appearance.
Coming up against 2024 Wales Player of the Year Aaron Wainwright means that it could be a landmark to forget for Valetini if he is not careful.
Wales will be eager to better their previous performance against Fiji, but breaking their winless run of over a year may prove too difficult if Australia are to replicate how they played against England, and some Valetini complacency mixed with Wainwright magic could be the recipe for this, or alternatively if Valetini has a good game he has the quality to win tests on his own.
