The 2023 Summer Nations Series will draw to a dramatic conclusion this weekend, with five matches taking place across Saturday and Sunday.
The World Cup is now just two weeks away and these matches will offer an intriguing final look at how the teams are shaping up.
Who is playing?
Australia will contest their first and only game of the 2023 Summer Nations Series when they face France on Sunday.
Les Bleus started August with a loss against Scotland but bounced back to beat Gregor Townsend’s side before recording a 34-17 victory over Fiji last week.
Eddie Jones’ Wallabies suffered a disappointing start to the summer, finishing fourth in the 2023 Rugby Championship, but there were encouraging signs in their 23-20 defeat to the All Blacks earlier this month.
Saturday will see several sides go head-to-head in their last chance to impress ahead of the start of the World Cup.
The action will get underway when England welcome Fiji to Twickenham, with Steve Borthwick’s side eager to recover from last week’s defeat at the hands of Ireland in Dublin.
That match is followed by a double bill of action at 5.30pm, with Italy taking on Japan and Scotland hosting Georgia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
The Azzurri are coming off the back of a convincing 57-7 win against Romania, while Japan will be competing in their first match of the 2023 Summer Nations Series.
Two excellent performances against France have given Scotland fans cause to dream, and they will now have to navigate a tricky Test against Georgia.
This will be Georgia’s first game of the Summer Nations Series, but Levan Maisashvili’s squad have recorded two wins over Romania and the USA in recent months.
Saturday’s fixtures will draw to a dramatic conclusion when Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland face Samoa.
Andy Farrell’s team will look to make it three wins from three when they take to the field in Bayonne, having beaten England and Italy this summer.
What’s the key team news?
Courtney Lawes will win his 100th England cap when he captains England against Fiji.
Borthwick has made nine changes to the side that fell to defeat against Ireland, with Alex Mitchell set to make his first appearance of the summer after coming back into the squad in place of the injured Jack van Poortvliet.
Ollie Lawrence starts alongside Manu Tuilagi in the midfield, while in the pack, Theo Dan will make his first international start.
Simon Raiwalui has made seven changes to the side that lost to France last week.
Waisea Nayacalevu returns to the Fiji starting XV to form a dangerous centre partnership alongside Semi Radradra.
Kieran Crowley has made four changes to the Italy team that comfortably beat 14-man Romania last weekend.
Tommaso Allan will start at full-back, with Ange Capuozzo moved to the wing.
The other change in the backs sees Stephen Varney start at scrum-half, while in the forwards Federico Ruzza will start in the second row with Lorenzo Cannone named at No.8.
Japan have made eight changes to the side that was beaten by Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup three weeks ago.
Former captain Michael Leitch is back in the starting XV after returning from suspension, but Kazuki Himeno will lead the Cherry Blossoms.
Ben White has recovered from an ankle injury sustained against France three weeks ago and will start against Georgia.
He is part of a full-strength back line, with Ollie Smith set to win his sixth cap from full-back.
Shalva Mamukashvili will make his 100th appearance for Georgia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, having made his international debut in 2011.
Misha Nariashvili comes into the front row as one of three changes to the forward pack from the 22-7 win over USA in Tbilisi.
There are two changes in the backs, with Demur Tapladze starting in the centres and Miriani Modebadze coming onto the wing
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made 12 changes to the team that defeated England last week, with Tom Stewart set for his first Ireland start at hooker.
Iain Henderson returns to lead the side after not featuring against England, while Jack Crowley will get the chance to impress at fly-half.
Saracens star Theo McFarland starts in the engine room for Samoa, with Lima Sopoaga expected to pull the strings from ten.
McFarland’s second-row partner Chris Vui will captain the side, while Duncan Paia’Aua starts at full-back.
France have named a strong starting XV to face The Wallabies.
Matthieu Jalibert starts at fly-half alongside Antoine Dupont, who will captain Les Bleus.
Jean-Baptiste Gros will get the chance to make a statement in place of Cyril Baille, who is not expected to return from injury until the end of the pool stages.
Taniela Tupou will start in Australia’s front row, with Will Skelton set to captain the side from the engine room.
Carter Gordon starts at fly-half for the third match running, while Lalakai Foketi and Jordan Petaia are named in the centres.
Where can I watch/listen?
Viewers in the UK can watch all the action on Amazon Prime, while Ireland v Samoa is live on RTÉ 2 with live radio coverage from Bayonne available on RTÉ and Talksport.
French viewers can catch the action on TF1, while Sky Italia is the place to go in Italy.
Where to watch and listen to the Summer Nations Series around the world
For viewers in the USA, Flo Rugby is the place to catch all the action.
