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Autumn Tests on horizon

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Bet on the Six NationsThe countdown is now well and truly under way for the rugby union autumn internationals, with the world champion All Blacks venturing north for games against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England (3/1 – 2013 Six Nations outright).

ENGLAND

England head into Tests against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand very much under the control of Stuart Lancaster who has been head coach since last December.

The 43-year-old is looking towards the next generation of stars ahead of the 2015 World Cup but he knows there are important milestones to pass on the way.

The old guard have either retired from international rugby, or been edged out, and, at 33, Wasps lock Tom Palmer has suddenly become the oldest player in the squad having made his England debut back in 2001.

However, hooker Dylan Hartley looks like he will miss out this autumn because of a knee injury which is a real blow given the fact his understudies have just two caps between them.

Lancaster will hope the Northampton man can somehow get himself somewhere near full fitness for the New Zealand game.

Fixtures: Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand

WALES

The Welsh won the Six Nations Grand Slam again last season but they have a real doubt over back-row star Ryan Jones (shoulder) while fellow flanker Dan Lydiate (ankle) is already out of the autumn Tests.

Wales followed up the Six Nations with three summer defeats Down Under to Australia and although they were competitive in those Tests, the Wallabies are not the team they once were so there will have been a certain level of disappointment.

But make no mistake, Wales face some big games this autumn and they will also be without veteran prop Adam Jones (knee).

An opening clash with Argentina is a tough assignment given the Pumas’ displays in the inaugural Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere and things will not get easier after a sure-to-be physical clash with Samoa.

Fixtures: Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia

2013 Six Nations outright odds: 7/4

IRELAND

Quite simply, Ireland without captain Brian O’Driscoll are a different proposition but the veteran centre will be missing due to an ankle problem which needs surgery.

In addition, hooker Rory Best is missing with a neck problem so four Ulster players have been added to the Ireland squad this week.

And that might not be a bad development for coach Declan Kidney given the province’s march to the final of last season’s Heineken Cup final where they went down to Leinster.

With just two big games this autumn, Kidney must get the best from his depleted ranks – especially lock Paul O’Connell who has not played too much rugby over the last few months.

Fixtures: South Africa, Fiji (an Ireland VX), Argentina

2013 Six Nations outright odds: 9/2

SCOTLAND

An opening game this autumn against the world champions is daunting enough, but Andy Robinson’s men will be doing it with a new captain in the shape of Saracens back-rower Kelly Brown.

The 30-year-old is his country’s fifth skipper in two years as they look to rebuild after a disastrous Six Nations in the spring which saw them ‘win’ the Wooden Spoon after defeat to Italy in Rome.

Scoring tries against top nations has been a problem for the Scots although they did recover to beat Australia in the summer, and whether or not subsequent wins away from home over minnows Fiji (37-25) and Samoa (17-16) will help to remedy the problem remains to be seen.

Fixtures: New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga

2013 Six Nations outright odds: 20/1


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