Looking ahead to an action-packed round of Autumn Nations Series

A feast of rugby awaits fans around the world as Round 3 of the Autumn Nations Series offers a total of nine Test matches in what is sure to be an action-packed weekend. 

 

Italy vs All Blacks: 

The mighty All Blacks, fresh off two blockbusting performances seeing them pick up dominant victories against the USA and Wales in Rounds 1 & 2 respectively, will be expected to put Italy through the mill as the two face off at the Stadio Olimpico.  

 

The All Blacks and the Azzurri have locked horns a total of 14 times with the former emerging victorious on every occasion. The closest result between the two occurred during the 1991 World Cup where NZ won by a margin of just 10 points (31-21).  

 

The last time they met was towards the end of 2018, with the All Blacks romping home 66-3.  

 

 

The All Blacks have a well-balanced, well-drilled squad brimming with talent on both attack and defence while Italy are in a dark place at the moment. In short, an Italian victory in this fixture would be a dramatic upset. 

 

 

Ireland vs Japan: 

The Brave Blossoms will throw all they have at the Irish when they face off at the Aviva Stadium.  

 

The teams did battle earlier this year, producing a wonderfully exciting spectacle which was eventually won by the Irish, 39-31. 

 

It is a young rivalry, with the teams only having met on 8 occasions. The results are currently skewed in favour of the men in green who have emerged victorious on 7 occasions. Japan’s solitary victory is a famous one, as they sprung one on their opponents during the World Cup, 19-12. 

 

 

This should be another entertaining clash with high expectations from both teams. 

 

Portugal vs Canada: 

The Portuguese will host the Canadians at Estadio de Rugby Jamor. Canada have been having a trying time of late in terms of results, winning only one of their last five encounters. 

 

Portugal have been looking better, with three victories from their last five games. Should they be able to overcome Canada, it will be their fourth win on the trot.  

 

Portugal are currently ranked higher than Canada – 19th and 23rd respectively. 

 

 

Spain vs Fiji: 

Fiji travel to Estadio Nacional Complutense to take on the Spanish. The Fijians have had a tough season – taking on the All Blacks twice in recent months – and have won only two of their last five fixtures. 

 

Spain are currently on a losing streak of three matches and will be eager to enact a positive change, though they will find it difficult against a Fijian side who, under the wise guidance of Vern Cotter, have shown themselves to be very capable when they put their minds to it. 

 

 

England vs Tonga: 

 

The Tongans are in for a tough outing on Saturday as they take on England at Twickenham. 

 

Although England do appear to have a few injuries to some key individuals, Tonga are expected to struggle in this one. They were crushed last weekend at Murrayfield by a determined Scotland outfit: 

 

 

The last time England were in action, they punished a Canadian side which had little answer to the former’s gusto. 

 

 

  Romania vs Uruguay: 

 

At the venue of Arcul de Triumf, Romania will face off against Uruguay. The latter have proved themselves to be pretty capable customers in recent years as their admiral performance in the recent 2019 World Cup showed, which included a victory over Fiji.  

 

As for Romania, they have won just two of their last five Tests and, should they come unstuck against the Uruguayans, will have lost three in a row.  

 

 

Wales vs South Africa: 

 

A massive battle is brewing in Cardiff where the Springboks and the Welsh are preparing to lock horns at the Principality Stadium. In front of a passionate, vociferous crowd, the World Champions will have to contend with a somewhat rejuvenated Wales outfit after the Premiership contingent joined the squad after the All Black Test. The latter occasion came with a significant cost, however, as captain Alun Wyn Jones and workhorse back-rower Ross Moriarty have both been sidelined with shoulder injuries and may have to miss out on next year’s Six Nations competition.  

 

Pivac has, however, selected a strong side who will need to be on their game – especially up front – if they hope to maintain their good, recent record against the Boks in Wales. 

 

Meanwhile, Jacques Nienaber’s charges will be hungry to overturn the hoodoo which has grown around their presence in Wales in recent times. Before the Boks’ gritty victory over the men in red in the World Cup semi-final in Japan, Wales had defeated them three times in Cardiff between 2016 & 2018. 

 

Nienaber has stuck largely with the same troops but has, however, tinkered with the backline out wide, starting Damian Willemse at fullback in place of Willie Le Roux and also slotting usual centre Jesse Kriel on the wing. 

 

Interestingly, young Ulster hooker Bradley Roberts – who was born and grew up in South Africa – has been named on the Wales bench. Roberts qualifies for Wales through a grandparent and was called up to the squad by Pivac after the withdrawal of Ken Owens.   

 

France vs Argentina: 

Los Pumas face a tough obstacle in the form of France when they meet at Stade de France. 

 

The South Americans are coming off a poor run of results having tasted defeat in all of their last five Tests in a troubled Rugby Championship. A victory over arguably the best team in Europe at present, while decidedly hard to come by, would do wonders for the Argentinian morale.  

 

France despatched a young, inexperienced outfit to Australia a few months ago who, while just unable to clinch the series, showed that Les Bleus are on very strong ground in terms of skill and depth – it is sure to be a tough night for Argentina, but if their physical pack of forwards are up to the mark, they could also make things difficult for their opponents. 

 

 

 Scotland vs Australia: 

The round will conclude at Murrayfield where the Scots will have a crack at the Dave Rennie’s Wallabies. 

 

Australia enjoyed an eventful Rugby Championship competition this year, falling to the All Blacks in their first two fixtures before putting South Africa away twice in consecutive matches. Thereafter, they had the best of Argentina with a brace of good results; 27-8 and 32-17. 

 

The Scots are looking solid, coming off a strong victory against Tonga last weekend. 

 

 

While there will be a significant step up in opposition this weekend, Scotland have proved that they have cultivated a very decent attack – thanks in no small part to the wonderful running abilities of their exciting young wings – Rufus McLean and Kyle Steyn. 

 

Rennie had a coaching headache shortly before the journey north as the heavyweight trio of Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon pulling out of the tour for personal reasons. While they will be missed, Rennie has put together a very competent squad for the tour, one that is sure to be competitive against all opposition.