Gearing up for Round 2 of the Autumn Nations Series

The 2021 Autumn Nations Series kicked off in style over the past weekend with the Wallabies showing good determination on the pitch to see off Japan 32-23.  

The All Blacks were on fire from the first whistle, dotting down for their first try against the USA before the clock had hit the 30-second mark. What followed was a merciless display by Ian Foster’s men which took their score all the way 104 while the USA, in response, could manage only 14. 

The coming weekend will see another brace of matches as Scotland tackle Tonga at Murrayfield before a depleted Wales do their best to contain the rampant All Blacks. 

Scotland vs Tonga: 

The last time Scotland hosted Tonga was twenty years ago – a game which ended in a comfortable, 43-20 victory for the home side. 

Since then, the teams have only met twice, with one win apiece.  

For the first time, the Scots will be represented by co-captains in the form of scrumhalf Ali Price and flanker Jamie Ritchie. 

Head coach Gregor Townsend is clearly using the game as an opportunity to blood some youngsters at Test level with four uncapped players in the starting XV (Pierre Schoeman, Jamie Hodgson, Rufus McLean and Sione Tuipulotu) and a further four on the bench (Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosby, Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson). 

“As a playing and coaching group we are looking forward to returning to international rugby over the coming four weeks in the Autumn Nations Series,” said Townsend. 

“This week has been our first opportunity since the Six Nations to come together as a team, and our goal is to become a better team over the next month. Saturday will also be a huge occasion for a number of players in our squad who have the honour of playing for their country for the first time.” 

Wales vs New Zealand: 

In light of recent events, expectations of a big New Zealand victory are running high throughout the rugby world. 

Last weekend, Ian Foster’s All Blacks mercilessly crushed the USA 104-14: 

This result, coupled with the fact that the Welsh are missing a number of key players, does not bode well for the chances of the latter team.  

Wayne Pivac has made do with what he has, however, and selected the following squad, led by Alun Wyn Jones, who will surpass Richie McCaw’s record of 148 Tests: 

“The focus for this group has been two weeks of training, they’ve worked really, really hard and it has galvanised them. We’ve been low on numbers this week so it hasn’t been the normal preparation in terms of exact numbers to train against each other, so that’s been a challenge,” said Pivac. 

“The guys are really excited but they know it’s a big task at hand. The reality is we’re two years away from a Rugby World Cup and we’re building towards that. We’ve got a Six Nations around the corner to defend, and try to win that tournament again.  

“They know it’s a massive challenge ahead. Every young Welsh player when they’re growing up want to play at the Principality in front of seventy-five thousand, and if you ask them who they want to play against New Zealand would be one of the top couple of sides they’d choose.  

“With injuries and unavailability it’s another great opportunity for players like Taine Basham and Ben Thomas to come into the group and gain valuable experience. They’re going to come away from this test match knowing what it’s like to play one of the best teams in the world.  

“To win a World Cup you have to play against teams like New Zealand at some stage in the tournament and you have to win those games. It’s going to be a great experience for those guys who haven’t played a lot of test rugby and they’ll certainly know they’ve been in a match afterwards.” 

Meanwhile, Ian Foster has rung the changes for his team this weekend, recalling the big guns to do battle at the Principality Stadium – indicative of the fact that he is not taking this fixture lightly. 

“It’s exciting to be back here in the North, albeit in very different circumstances,” he said.   

“The All Blacks have always loved touring North, these Test matches are a big part of our history as a rugby team and it’s been three years since we played in Europe, so there’s a real sense of excitement. What a better place to start than at a packed-out stadium here in Cardiff. 

“The Welsh will play with their traditional passion and their fans singing in the Stadium, and they’ll throw everything at us.  They are Six Nations champions and a very good team.  They have a group of young players coming through who’ll be excited to play so we will have to be ready, and we are.” 

Foster touched on how he thought the squad was progressing as they enter the final stage of a long season. 

“We have a short-term focus because the length of the tour is so unique to us.  Clearly, there have been a lot of obstacles we’ve had to go through - and will go through - but I’m incredibly proud of how the team has responded to the challenges. 

“But we are focussed on what each week holds and putting all our energy into that. Ultimately, we will be judged on our performance on Saturday and that’s what we love. We have got to be clear when we play and go out and do what we do, and we’re certainly ready to do that.” 

It will be an especially big occasion for flyhalf Beauden Barrett who will become the 11th All Black to reach the 100-cap milestone.