Internationals this weekend

[Lizard]

I think this is a comprehensive list, probably in order if I've got the time zones right.

Dragons v  Russia
Given that presumably some Dragons players are with Wales, I'm not sure how this side compares with the Dragons "A" team that beat Hong Kong a few weeks back. Go Russia, I say.

Romania  v  United States
USA is on a bit of a roll, but Romania at home could be challenge. I'm picking the Yanks, though.

Hong Kong v Kenya
This is a must-win for both teams if they want to stay even theoretically in contention for RWC2019. HK are the higher ranked team, but it's all bollocks below about 25th place anyway. Last year HK had a win and a draw in Kenya, and beat the Kenyans in Japan. So I'd put your Yuan on James Cunningham and the lads.

Uruguay  v  Fiji
It's a wonder of the modern game that the Pacific champions are playing a South American side in, um, Gloucestershire. Fiji should win at a canter, if they turn up giving a shit.

Italy  v  Australia
I'm not sure which of these sides is the bigger shambles. Aussie have never lost to Italy, and I reckon Italy could have beaten last week's Wales. I can't see the Wallabies getting any worse though, so they will probably scrape through.

Switzerland v Czechia
3rd tier European competition. Are they still going with "Czechia" as a thing? I met a Samoan playing his rugby in Berne once.

Poland v Netherlands
More 3rd tier Europe.

Canada v Germany
Big, big game. The winner of this will probably qualify for RWC2019. Canada have never missed qualification before. Germany have never been this close to it. Failure could doom the sport in either country.

Georgia  v  Samoa
Georgia has 2 wins and a draw since 2013 against Samoa, but the aggregate PD is only 5. Samoa is ranked much higher but this should be a close match and an interesting contrast in style.

Wales  v  Tonga
Wales need to put on their Big Boy Pants and smash this out of the park. It's time they got over this "worrying about Pacific Islander teams" thing.

Spain  v  Namibia
Namibia suck. Go Spain.

England  v  Japan
Japan will try to run this off the park. As fun as an upset would be, mostly for Eddie's reaction, I can't really see it happening, right?

Scotland  v  South Africa
A very interesting match-up. 5 v 6 on the rankings, but Scotland haven beat the Boks in 5 attempts from 2012. They haven't met since pool play at RWC2015. I would love Scotland to get home, but the brain says Boks by a score.

Chile  v  Māori All Blacks
Chile will be worse than Brazil were. Easy win for the Māori

Ireland  v  New Zealand
See the separate Fred.

Paraguay  v South American XV
I think the SAXV will win, only because they beat Chile last week and Chile are the better side.

France  v  Argentina
I bet this will be an entertaining one

[Puja]

Really is a fun slate of games this weekend. I'd generally agree with your predictions, although I'd up Hong Kong from a "probably win" to a "romp home, never in doubt." Kenya look a shambles.

I'm still cheering for Germany at the weekend - a loss for them will almost certainly mean the collapse of German rugby unless Wild has a change of heart, whereas Canada still has their MLR side and private investors who can pick them back up again. Hard to predict though. It's undeniable that Canada have higher quality players in the likes of Ardron, Olmstead, and DTH Van der Merwe, but the whole is definitely less than the sum of its parts and they have definite potential to get battered by a big German pack. Weather forecast says a chance of rain in Marseilles on Saturday, which won't hurt their chances.

I think there are must-wins for Italy and Georgia this weekend - both need a statement of progress at the moment.

Puja

[Lizard]

Putting a “must win” on Italy against the Wallabies is a bit tough, isn’t it? I’d say it’s a “must keep the margin under 14” sort of a game.

[Puja]

Putting a “must win” on Italy against the Wallabies is a bit tough, isn’t it? I’d say it’s a “must keep the margin under 14” sort of a game.

Hmm, you say that, but the Conor O'Shea revolution is stuttering to a halt. They've gained one losing bonus point and 10 losses in the last two Six Nations and his overall record is 6 wins from 26 games (USA, Canada, and South Africa in 2016, Fiji in 2017, Japan and Georgia 2018). They've got a decent crop of players, their domestic sides are finally doing well, they need a Tier 1 victory and frankly Australia are looking the weakest around at the moment.

I don't expect that they will do it, but they really do need to.

Puja

[Lizard]

I completely agree that Italy are well overdue to show some advancement since joining the 6N. If anything, they’re now going backwards. But I don’t see this weekend as a make-or-break moment in particular.

Last weekend v Georgia was a true “must win” as it will to some extent silence the calls for Georgia to join the 6N, replacing Italy.

Unfortunately for Italy, as they and the other 6N unions seem content for them to permanently dwell in the 6N cellar, there doesn’t seem to be much for them to be fighting for. They will only need to see off Namibia and Canada or Germany in Japan to automatically qualify for RWC2023, unless they reduce the automatic spots back to only QFists again.