July rugby internationals: Everything you need to know for the weekend

Sports

The two rugby hemispheres are back together for the first time since the Rugby World Cup, with a bumper Test calendar set to play out across the globe in July.

World champions South Africa welcome Ireland to the Republic for a showdown that has already had quite the build-up, while Scott Robertson’s first assignment as All Blacks coach comes against England.

Meanwhile, Australia and Wales do battle with both nations looking for a reversal in recent fortunes, while France are in Argentina and Scotland head to North America.

It really is a tantalising few weeks of rugby.

Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it comes to hand, plus our match previews and the odds.

Saturday, July 6

Samoa vs. Italy, Apia Park, Apia, 5:00pm [2:00pm AEST, 5:00am GMT]

Samoa: TBA

Italy: TBA

Team news:

Prediction:

New Zealand vs. England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:05pm [5:05pm AEST, 8:05 GMT]

New Zealand: TBA

England: George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (capt), Joe Marler. Replacements: Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Ollie Sleightholme

Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] New Zealand $1.18, -11.5 $1.90; England $4.60, +11.5 $1.90

Team news: England coach Steve Borthwick has made two changes to the starting side that defeated Japan in Tokyo a fortnight ago, with Joe Marler and Will Stuart replacing Bevan Rodd and Dan Cole at loosehead and tighthead respectively. Cole drops back to the bench while Rodd is out of the matchday 23 altogether. Meanwhile, prop Fin Baxter and winger Ollie Sleightholme are in line to make their Test debuts after being named among the replacements.

Prediction:

Australia vs. Wales, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 7:45pm [10:45am GMT]

Australia: TBA

Wales: TBA

Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Australia $1.15, -12.5 $1.90; Wales $5.20, +12.5 $1.90

Team news:

Prediction:

South Africa vs. Ireland, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 5:00pm [1:00am Sun AEST, 4:00pm GMT]

South Africa:

Ireland:

Odds: [tab.com.au, Aus only] South Africa $1.42 -5.5 $1.85; Ireland $2.80, +5.5 $1.95

Team news:

Prediction:

Argentina vs. France, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, 4:00pm [5:00am Sun AEST, 8:00pm GMT]

Argentina:

France:

Team news:

Prediction:

Canada vs. Scotland, TD Place, Ottawa, 5:00pm [7am Sun AEST, 10:00pm GMT]

Canada:

Scotland:

Team news:

Prediction

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