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The Rugby Pod delivers its round one Autumn Nations Cup predictions

(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

The brand new four-round Autumn Nations Cup kicks off in Dublin on Friday and The Rugby Pod have been busy making their round one match predictions. 

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Ireland open the tournament by hosting Wales at Aviva Stadium and the action then switches to Florence on Saturday where Italy take on Scotland. 

Next up after that is the Twickenham meeting between England and Georgia. 

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Ex-All Black John Kirwan claims rugby doesn’t need red cards

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      Ex-All Black John Kirwan claims rugby doesn’t need red cards

      The Eastern Europeans received an invite to participate after Japan pulled out of the tournament, while the round one schedule is then completed on Sunday when France play Fiji at Vannes.  

      The Six Nations teams have all been in action recently with the conclusion of the delayed 2020 championship culminating in a title victory for Eddie Jones’ England.

      Now the champions have been tipped by Rugby Pod hosts Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode to get off to a handsome start versus the Georgians.

      Here is how the panel’s Autumn Nations Cup predictions for this weekend unfolded on the latest episode of their show:

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      IRELAND vs WALES (Friday, Aviva Stadium – 7pm)

      JH: Ireland by eight. No, Ireland by ten. No, Ireland by twelve. Wales will be better. 

      AG: I’m going to go Ireland by ten. 

      ITALY vs SCOTLAND (Saturday, Stadio Artemio Franchi – 12.45pm)

      AG: It’s got to be Italy. I really want to go Italy but I can’t do it because of Stuart Hogg, how good Stuart Hogg is. Although did you see the advert for Amazon Prime Sport? 

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      JH: He came through the TV. 

      AG: The kick-off came off his shin. 

      JH: Well, that’s why it went through the TV.

      AG: Exactly. I’m going to have to go Scotland by twelve.

      JH: That’s what I was going to do because it will be closer than you think. Not because of Duncan (Weir) but because it is in Italy and the travel. 

      AG: Why are you being horrible to Duncan?

      JH: I’m not being horrible to Duncan. I was just about to talk up Jake Polledri… Scotland by 13. 

      ENGLAND v GEORGIA (Saturday, Twickenham – 3pm) 

      JH: I don’t want to be horrible but David Humphreys, you’ve got to keep it under 50. Who knows what Eddie Jones is going to do. England by 50. 

      AG: Having spoken to David Humphreys and realised they haven’t played too much, it has been difficult, they have lost a load of senior players, I might go a few more, England by 58. 

      JH: England are as good as New Zealand now arguably. New Zealand would put 50 on an Italy or a Georgia. That is what we are talking about here.      

      FRANCE vs Fiji (Sunday, Stade de la Rabine – 3pm)

      JH: Closer than you think. 

      AG: France by twelve. 

      JH: France by ten. I might change it when the teams come out. 

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      Comments on RugbyPass

      C
      Cantab 16 days ago
      Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

      Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

      4 Go to comments
      J
      James 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

      37 Go to comments
      d
      dw 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

      37 Go to comments
      d
      dw 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

      37 Go to comments
      d
      dw 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

      I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.


      Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

      37 Go to comments
      R
      RedWarriors 16 days ago
      'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

      I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

      Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

      Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

      Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

      91 Go to comments
      J
      JM 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

      Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

      I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

      Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

      I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

      37 Go to comments
      R
      RedWarriors 16 days ago
      'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

      He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

      Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

      4 Go to comments
      O
      OJohn 16 days ago
      Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

      Hooray

      0 Go to comments
      C
      Carlos 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      He was also a YC magnet.

      37 Go to comments
      C
      Carlos 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

      37 Go to comments
      S
      Solenn Bonnet 16 days ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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      0 Go to comments
      M
      Mzilikazi 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

      37 Go to comments
      M
      Mzilikazi 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

      37 Go to comments
      M
      Mzilikazi 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.


      Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

      37 Go to comments
      B
      BC 16 days ago
      Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

      I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

      1 Go to comments
      O
      Otagoman II 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

      37 Go to comments
      N
      NB 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      👍

      37 Go to comments
      N
      NB 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

      37 Go to comments
      N
      NB 16 days ago
      'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

      Hang on to Miz Carlos!

      37 Go to comments
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