Autumn Nations Cup: rugby union match previews, free betting tips & TV details

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Autumn Nations Cup matches.

It's the playoff round on the final weekend of the Autumn Nations Cup as the teams ranked second, third and fourth in their groups go head to head before Sunday's final between group winners England and France.

Georgia v Fiji

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, midday Saturday

Best bet

Georgia +14
2pts 10-11 general

Match preview

Fiji finally make their first appearance of the year after their three group matches all had to be called off due to a Covid-19 outbreak in their team camp.

All three games had to be forfeited as 28-0 defeats, while Georgia got to play all of theirs as well as a warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield, venue for this showdown.

Fiji are 11th in the World Rugby rankings while Georgia are 12th, and the Pacific nation were 45-10 winners when the teams last met at the Rugby World Cup a year ago.

That result has to be taken in some context though as Georgia were playing their second game in four days and the difference in preparations as well as the forecast conditions in Scotland should make this a closer affair.

The Fijians have been confined to their training base in France and may take time to get into their stride against a Georgia side who will surely play to their strengths in the set-piece.

Fiji are captained by Bristol centre Semi Radrada, who demonstrated his skills with two tries in that World Cup win. But he and his teammates may find it hard to cut loose in wet conditions and Georgia, with four games under their belts, can stay within a double-figure handicap.

Ireland v Scotland

Where to watch

Amazon Prime & RTE2, 2.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Scotland +10
2pts 10-11 Betfair, BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Match preview

Ireland have a strong home record against Scotland and are favourites to make it nine wins in ten Dublin meetings.

But they have not been convincing this autumn as head coach Andy Farrell has chopped and changed his line-up, and even with a strong side out at the Aviva, it's worth backing the Scots with a handy ten-point start.

In the absence of injured fly-half Johnny Sexton, Farrell has fielded Ross Byrne and Billy Burns in the number ten shirt while also leaving regular scrum-half Conor Murray on the bench.

But the familiar combination of Murray and Sexton are back in tandem for this clash while Scotland have made the big call by giving a first cap to Jaco van der Walt at fly-half.

Scotland have won three of their four autumn matches, their only defeat coming two weeks ago to France, and they showed in a gritty 14-10 victory in Wales that they can front up in a close-quarters battle in tricky conditions.

Light showers are forecast in Dublin, which may take the edge off Scotland's fluent attacking game but may also make for a close contest.

Three of the last four Dublin meetings between these teams have been settled by no more than ten points including this year's 19-12 Six Nations success in February.

Wales v Italy

Where to watch

Amazon Prime & S4C, 4.45pm Saturday

Best bet

Wales -17
2pts 10-11 general
G North to score a try
1pt 15-8Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

Wayne Pivac's reign as Wales head coach has started with two wins in nine matches this year, but the New Zealander is sticking with his ambition of a more expansive game and he may be rewarded in this showdown with Italy.

The frequent changes in key positions have carried on with inexperienced duo Kieran Hardy and Callum Sheedy named as the starting half-backs.

But behind them there is a backline packed with pace and scoring power, as George North moves to centre to accommodate a back three of exciting teenager Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and the returning Liam Williams.

The Azzurri have made some changes too, giving a first start to Gloucester scrum-half Stephen Varney, whose mother is Italian.

If it's been a difficult year for Wales, the story is worse for Italy, who have suffered seven straight defeats, two of them to nil including a 42-0 reverse in Wales at the start of the Six Nations.

Italy have topped the 20-point mark in just one match, a 35-22 defeat to France, and their limited scoring power could hamper them in trying to stay within even a handicap in the high teens. Four of Wales's last five wins against the Azzurri, including the last three on home soil, have been by more than 20 points.

Even with so much attacking potential in the Wales backline North's record of nine tries in his last six matches against Italy make him stand out a tryscorer bet.

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