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Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four
The final full weekend of the Autumn Nations Series 2024 gets underway on Friday with the majority of teams looking to end the year on a high.
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France and Argentina kick things off at Stade de France before Ireland host Fiji, South Africa travel to out-of-form Wales and Italy bid for an historic win against New Zealand.
On Sunday, Australia will hope to maintain their grand slam charge while Eddie Jones takes Japan back to south-west London to take on England.
To whet your appetite for what is to come on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we give you the lowdown on the fourth round of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.
What is the Autumn Nations Series?
The Autumn Nations Series is the name given to the end-of-year men’s Tests, featuring some of the best teams in the world.
Between November 2-30, 14 of the top 15 nations in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings will take to the pitch at iconic stadia across Europe.
Friday, November 22
France v Argentina, Stade de France – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Les Bleus lead the head-to-head between the teams, having won 39 of the 55 test meetings to date, with one draw.
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That includes a victory in the first of the sides’ two-test series in July, however, Argentina won the second match meaning Friday’s encounter will be something of a decider for their rivalry this year.
Argentina had lost the first test 28-13 in Mendoza but recovered to win 33-25 the following week. Replacement prop Thomas Gallo scored two tries off the bench in Buenos Aires to secure Los Pumas’ first victory against France since 2016.
Form
Hosts France head into their final match of 2024 on a high having earned a nail-biting victory against the All Blacks under the lights in Saint-Denis last weekend.
Tries from Romain Buros, Paul Boudehent and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, allied to 15 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos, helped Les Bleus home 30-29.
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France will now have a perfect November in their sights, but Argentina will be confident they can upset the party.
Having enjoyed a big win against Italy in Udine a fortnight ago, Los Pumas pushed Ireland all the way in Dublin last weekend before falling to a narrow 22-19 defeat.
Rankings
France can climb as high as second this weekend if they beat Los Pumas and New Zealand and Ireland both lose – the latter by more than 15 points.
However, if they are beaten at Stade de France they would swap places with Argentina, who can climb as high as third if they win by more than 15 points and the All Blacks lose by the same margin.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are available to buy from the official ticketing website.
Saturday, November 23
Ireland v Fiji, Aviva Stadium – KO 15:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Ireland have won all five of their previous Test meetings with Fiji, dating back to a 44-8 victory at Lansdowne Road in November 1995.
The teams met most recently two years ago in Dublin. Nick Timoney scored two of Ireland’s five tries as the hosts overcame opponents reduced to 14 players when Albert Tuisue was sent off in the second half.
Coincidentally, Ireland and Fiji have only ever played each other in Dublin, with all of those matches falling in November.
Form
Having lost their opening match of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series against New Zealand, Ireland got back to winning ways against Argentina last Friday.
The manner of the victory, a 22-19 win secured without scoring in the second half, did little to raise the Irish mood, however, and with Australia to come next Friday night, the hosts will want to inject some momentum.
As they proved in Cardiff a fortnight ago, Fiji will be no pushovers, though, and followed up their defeat of Wales with a five-try 33-19 win against Spain in Valladolid.
Rankings
Ireland cannot improve their rating in victory, due to the gulf between the teams in the rankings, so cannot reclaim top spot from South Africa if the Springboks win in Cardiff.
A Springbok defeat would open the door for Ireland to leapfrog them, however. The hosts can drop as low as fourth if Fiji secure a first win in the fixture. If the Fijians win by more than 15 points then an all-time high ranking of sixth is possible, depending on other results.
Can I buy a ticket?
A limited number of tickets are available to buy from the official ticketing website.
Wales v South Africa, Principality Stadium – KO 17:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Wales fans looking for some solace at the end of a long and painful year won’t find it in their historic head-to-head against the Springboks.
South Africa have triumphed in 34 of the 42 previous meetings between the sides and ran out comfortable winners in the most recent of those, a 41-13 victory in Twickenham in June.
Remarkably that result was a slight improvement for Wales on their previous meeting, a record 52-16 home defeat in Cardiff in August 2023.
Wales’ only victory in their last seven matches against the Springboks came in Bloemfontein in July 2022 when the tourists secured a narrow 13-12 win.
Form
The Springboks warmed up for their trip to Cardiff with an impressive 29-20 defeat of England at Allianz Stadium, which was probably more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
It was the world champions’ 10th Test win in 12 matches this year and their dominance in 2024 was subsequently underlined by the inclusion of three of their players on the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year shortlist.
Wales, by contrast, suffered a record 11th successive defeat against Australia, by a record margin, and limp into Saturday’s contest.
Warren Gatland’s beleaguered side need a victory, however unlikely it would be, to avoid going winless through a whole calendar year for the first time since 1937.
Rankings
Due to the 18.77-point difference in the rankings, the Springboks cannot improve their rating even with a big win but a second defeat in eight meetings with Wales could result in them losing top spot.
Wales would drop to an all-time low of 12th if they lose to South Africa and England are beaten by Japan on Sunday.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets remain available via the official ticketing website.
Italy v New Zealand, Allianz Stadium – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
The All Blacks have won all 16 meetings between the sides by an average score of 60-10.
Italy last faced New Zealand at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, falling to a 96-17 defeat in Lyon.
The closest the Azzurri have ever come to beating the All Blacks was a 31-21 loss at Welford Road, during the 1991 World Cup.
Form
New Zealand lost their first match of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series last weekend, coming out on the wrong side of a 59-point thriller against France at the Stade de France.
Coming on the back of wins against England and Ireland, that defeat robbed the All Blacks of a chance of completing a perfect November campaign this Saturday.
Italy came from behind to secure their first victory of this year’s Autumn Nations Series against Georgia last Sunday, turning a 17-6 half-time deficit into a 20-17 victory.
Having lost heavily to Argentina the previous weekend, they will hope it might prove a precursor to an historic result in Turin.
Rankings
The All Blacks can improve their rating against Italy, but they must win and hope both Ireland and South Africa lose – the latter by more than 15 points – to return to the top of the rankings.
For Italy to equal their all-time high of eighth they must secure an historic win and hope that both England and Fiji lose.
Can I buy tickets?
A very limited number of tickets remain available via the official ticketing website.
Sunday, November 24
Scotland v Australia, Scottish Gas Murrayfield – KO 13:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Australia lead the head-to-head between the sides, having won 22 of the 35 matches played to date.
The most recent of those came in the most recent fixture as Bernard Foley kicked 11 points to help secure a 16-15 victory and the Hopetoun Cup.
Defeat ended a run of three successive victories against the Wallabies for Scotland.
Form
Following victories against England and Wales, Australia will want to keep their grand slam dreams alive with another win in Edinburgh.
Despite a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, the Wallabies have clicked under new coach Joe Schmidt and look capable of beating allcomers.
Scotland, though, have lost just one of the last seven Tests – against South Africa two weeks ago – and warmed up for this weekend’s encounter with a 59-21 victory against Portugal.
This could well be the match of the weekend.
Rankings
Scotland cannot improve on sixth even with a win by more than 15 points but a defeat to the grand slam-chasing Wallabies would result in Australia becoming the higher-ranked nation.
The hosts could fall as low as 10th if they suffer a big defeat and other results fall in line.
Can I buy tickets?
Saturday’s match at Murrayfield is sold out.
England v Japan, Allianz Stadium – KO 16:10 GMT
Head-to-head
England have won all five capped matches they have played against Japan, the most recent of which came just five months ago in Tokyo.
Eight different Englishman scored tries in the 52-17 victory, which was the first match of Eddie Jones’ second stint in charge of the Brave Blossoms.
The closest Japan have come to beating England in a Test came in Twickenham six years ago. The Brave Blossoms led 15-10 with more than 10 minutes of the second half played, before their hosts rallied to win 35-15.
Form
England head into the match on a run of five consecutive defeats and with pressure mounting on head coach Steve Borthwick.
The first three matches of that sequence were all against the All Blacks, while England have since lost to Australia and South Africa on consecutive weekends.
The home crowd will turn up in expectation of a morale-boosting win but a young Japan side believe they can cause an upset on Sunday.
Japan ended a run of three successive Test defeats – against Fiji, New Zealand and France – with a win against Uruguay in Chambery last Saturday.
Rankings
England cannot improve their rating but could end the weekend as low as 10th if they are beaten, Italy win and Fiji and Australia avoid defeat.
Japan would finish the weekend in 11th if they win and Wales lose to South Africa.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are still available via the official ticketing website.
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The big match this week is Scotland against Australia. Australia's plan pre tournament was to beat Scotland and to target a win against one of England and Ireland. It is clear that England was that target. Australia in 8th ranking position will achieve clear 6th and knock Scotland down. 6th is key because the Top 6 fall into the no1 Seeding band for the 2027 draw and Australia must be there to have a chance of getting deep into that RWC. Expect things to get a bit more real tomorrow: Scotland won't be surprised. After going to the well tomorrow I don't see Australia having the depth to beat Ireland with mounting fatigue. It's all on tomorrow.
I expect France to inflict a significant defeat against Argentina tomorrow. France might ease off and allow Argentina some respect but the victory is going to France.
I hope our Welsh friends can pull out some magic tomorrow. The series needs it.
France got a typically french 14 point try last week and they'll need to look for chances for another couple to be comfortable in the win against Argentina.
Fiji could actually be the ones for upset of the week. Typically clunky with players always in and out of their team this would be about the time they put another England beating performance in against Ireland.
SA to be as strong again this week carrying away from their opposition. Probably an underpar performance though.
New Zealand will be determined to actually put the triple figure score on the Azzurri this time. In actual fact a tired and physically beaten AB side has been chosen for this one so expect to see some space and free flowing rugby from both teams but still nothing more than a 30 point gap between them.
Aussie will be thwarted by a draw in their Slam attempt, otherwise another 1 point game either way.
Lets hope Japan is selecting more of its stop starters like France's Tavita Tatafu's cousin, Tavita Tatafu, otherwise it could be the biggest scoreline game of the weekend.
Can't have a Kiwi comment without blaming someone else for their defeats. A 14 point try to France apparently the culprit last week!!
Australia definitely the game of the weekend. Wallabies by 3.
Australia to be brought a little down to earth in this one. This is a hardened Scottish team.
i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.