Predictions: June Tests, Week Three

Editor

Ahead of the third full weekend of the June international fixtures, we are putting our head on the block and picking our winners.

The big three games once again sees New Zealand take on France, Australia face Ireland and South Africa host England, with the most interesting encounter taking place in Sydney.

Elsewhere, after their shock defeat to Gary Gold’s USA, Scotland head to Resistencia in an attempt to overcome Argentina. Gold’s men are also in action, facing rivals Canada, while Fiji v Tonga and Japan v Georgia are the other matches this weekend.

Here we go…

June Tests:

New Zealand v France

Preview: New Zealand and France will bring down the curtain on what has been an eventful three-Test series when they do battle in Dunedin on Saturday.

Prediction: France will be highly motivated after last week’s impressive effort and will run the All Blacks close, but the home side will be triumphant again. New Zealand to win by 10 points.

Australia v Ireland

Preview: The Wallabies and Ireland face off in a do-or-die series decider at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday in the most anticipated match of the weekend.

Prediction: A close, cagey encounter with Ireland to prevail by 3.

South Africa v England

Preview: With the series already decided, England will look to end their barren spell in the third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Prediction: Both have made a few changes but the tourists need this result more than South Africa, so we think that they will regain a semblance of pride. England by 6.

Argentina v Scotland

Preview: Argentina and Scotland will be determined to bounce back from disappointing results when they clash in their June Test finale on Saturday.

Prediction: Argentina surely cannot play any worse than last week and we expect an improvement against a Scottish side that will also be looking to right some recent wrongs. We’re going with a positive farewell for Hourcade. Argentina by 3.

Other international predictions:

Fiji v Tonga: Fiji by 9
Japan v Georgia: Japan by 6
Canada v USA: USA by 15