The autumn rugby internationals are heating up as the competition enters its third week. After a string of upsets and nail-biting finishes, the pressure is mounting on the northern hemisphere teams to turn the tables on their southern rivals. With a fresh slate of matches on the horizon, fans are eagerly anticipating another round of top-tier international rugby action.
Thrills and Spills from Week 2
Last weekend delivered no shortage of drama, as the rugby world witnessed several shocking results. Perhaps the biggest surprise came in Dublin, where New Zealand stunned Ireland with a hard-fought 23-13 victory. The loss was Ireland’s first on home soil since 2021, ending a remarkable 19-game unbeaten streak at the Aviva Stadium.
Meanwhile, Australia mounted a thrilling comeback to edge out England at Twickenham. The Wallabies, trailing for much of the match, snatched a last-gasp 27-26 win thanks to a clutch conversion by fly-half Bernard Foley. The result piled more pressure on England coach Eddie Jones, whose side has now lost six of their last nine Tests.
We’re obviously disappointed with the result, but credit to Australia for the way they fought back. We need to be better at closing out games when we have the lead.
– England captain Courtney Lawes
In other action, South Africa continued their impressive form with a commanding 32-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. The Springboks ran in four unanswered tries to solidify their status as one of the teams to beat heading into next year’s World Cup. And in the weekend’s biggest upset, Fiji stunned Wales 24-19 at the Principality Stadium for their first-ever win over the Dragons on Welsh soil.
Mouthwatering Matchups in Week 3
As the autumn internationals hit the midway point, there’s no letup in the action. Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s key fixtures:
- Ireland vs Argentina (Friday, 8:10pm UK): After their first loss of the autumn against the All Blacks, top-ranked Ireland will look to get back on track against a dangerous Argentina side. Los Pumas are coming off a solid win over England and will fancy their chances of an upset in Dublin.
- England vs South Africa (Saturday, 5:40pm UK): This clash of rugby heavyweights has an added edge, with England desperate to bounce back from successive narrow defeats. But they face a daunting task against the in-form Springboks, who demolished Scotland last week.
- France vs New Zealand (Saturday, 8:10pm UK): Reigning World Cup champions France host the All Blacks in a mouth-watering repeat of the 2023 final. New Zealand edged to victory in a thriller on that occasion, but France will be out for revenge in front of a partisan crowd at the Stade de France.
Permutations and Implications
Beyond the individual match-ups, this weekend’s games could have significant implications for the global rugby pecking order. A win for Ireland over Argentina, coupled with an England loss to South Africa, would see Andy Farrell’s men tighten their grip on the number one spot in the world rankings.
Conversely, victories for the Springboks and All Blacks would confirm the southern hemisphere’s dominance and raise further questions about the northern teams’ ability to compete at the very highest level. As one former international told ESPN:
The pressure is really on the home nations this weekend. They’ve talked a lot about closing the gap to the southern hemisphere, but based on what we’ve seen so far this autumn, that gap looks as wide as ever. Big performances are needed to turn the tide.
– Former England international Austin Healey
Team News and Injury Updates
As ever, the team selections and fitness of key players could prove pivotal in deciding this weekend’s matches. Here’s the latest news from the camps:
- Ireland have made just one change for the visit of Argentina, with Robbie Henshaw replacing Bundee Aki at inside center. Captain Johnny Sexton has been declared fit after missing the All Blacks loss with a calf injury.
- England welcome back powerful center Manu Tuilagi, who slots into midfield alongside Owen Farrell. But Courtney Lawes misses out again as he continues his recovery from a head knock.
- South Africa have made wholesale changes, with 14 players coming into the starting XV that beat Scotland. Only winger Kurt-Lee Arendse retains his place as the Boks manage their squad ahead of next year’s World Cup.
- New Zealand are boosted by the return of fly-half Beauden Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor, both of whom have completed concussion protocols. But influential flanker Sam Cane misses out after suffering a knock against Ireland.
How to Watch
Fans hoping to catch all the action live have several viewing options:
- In the UK, all matches are being shown live on TNT Sports and streamed via Discovery+
- For viewers in Ireland, Virgin Media is providing live coverage of Ireland’s clash with Argentina
- US-based fans can watch on Florugby, while viewers in Australia can tune in via Stan Sports
- Full global broadcast details are available on the official Autumn Nations Series website
With no shortage of intriguing storylines and world-class talent on display, it promises to be another unmissable weekend of international rugby. Will the northern teams rally after a disappointing start, or will the southern hemisphere powers maintain their grip? All will be revealed over the next three days of scintillating test match action.
