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Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round three
The Autumn Nations Series 2024 resumes this weekend and the southern hemisphere sides will hope to continue their dominance.
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New Zealand, Argentina, Australia and South Africa were all victorious during the second round and will head into their matches in round three full of confidence.
For Wales, England and Ireland, meanwhile, it has been a week of introspection but they have an opportunity to put things right this weekend.
To whet your appetite for what is to come on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we give you the lowdown on the third 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.
Ireland will kick-off the third round against Argentina in Dublin on Friday, before Scotland host Portugal, England take on South Africa and France face New Zealand on Saturday.
On Sunday, meanwhile, Italy play Georgia before beleaguered Wales take on Australia in Cardiff.
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Friday, November 15
Ireland v Argentina, Aviva Stadium – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Argentina’s players will not have fond recent memories of playing at Aviva Stadium, having suffered their biggest loss in the fixture, a 53-7 defeat, on their previous visit to Dublin in November 2021.
That was Ireland’s 13th victory in 19 capped Tests against Los Pumas – and third in a row – but an average score of 24-19 from those matches suggests many have been closely fought.
Argentina have not beaten Ireland since a 43-20 win in Cardiff, during Rugby World Cup 2015.
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Form
The hosts head into the match having lost their first match at the Aviva Stadium in three and a half years.
Prior to last Friday’s loss to the All Blacks, Ireland had enjoyed an impressive 2024, winning the Six Nations title and then earning a 1-1 series draw in South Africa. They will be keen to get back to winning ways here.
Los Pumas warmed up for the encounter in Dublin with a big win in Udine, running in seven tries to beat Italy 50-18.
That victory came on the back of a Rugby Championship campaign in which they beat Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and with Pablo Matera back in the starting line-up they will fancy their chances of springing a surprise.
Rankings
Ireland need to beat Argentina if they are return to the top of the rankings, but could equally slip as low as fifth in defeat, depending on the margin and other results.
Los Pumas could climb up to third if they win by more than 15 points and other results go their way. It would be the first all-southern hemisphere top three since November 2021.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are available to buy via the official ticketing site.
Saturday, November 16
Scotland v Portugal, Scottish Gas Murrayfield – KO 15:10 GMT
Head-to-head
The teams have met just once previously in a capped Test, Scotland beating Portugal 56-10 at the 2007 World Cup.
Scotland also beat Portugal 85-11 during qualifying for the 1999 World Cup, but the victors did not award caps for that match.
Form
Scotland’s five-match winning run came to an end at Murrayfield last weekend as South Africa proved too strong in a 32-15 defeat.
But despite the six-day turnaround, Gregor Townsend’s side will be confident of starting a new one when Portugal come to town on Saturday.
Os Lobos prepared for their visit to Edinburgh with a narrow home defeat to USA as Kapeli Pifeleti’s late try proved decisive in a 21-17 win for the Eagles.
Following a stellar 2023 in which they won a first World Cup match, and drew another, they have found results harder to come by this year. Last weekend’s loss was their fourth in eight Tests in 2024.
Rankings
Scotland cannot improve their rating due to the points difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in. That means they can slip to seventh even if they record a big win on Saturday.
Even if they record an historic win at Murrayfield, Portugal can only improve on 15th place if Japan lose to Uruguay.
Can I buy tickets?
Tickets for the match are still available to buy via the official ticketing site.
England v South Africa, Allianz Stadium – KO 17:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Saturday’s meeting in Twickenham will be the 47th between the teams in the 118-year history of the fixture.
The Springboks lead the head-to-head 28 wins to 16, with two draws, the most recent of those being South Africa’s 16-15 victory in last year’s World Cup semi-final in Paris.
South Africa were also victorious on their last trip to Twickenham, despite having prop Thomas du Toit sent off, as Kurt-Lee Arendse and Eben Etzebeth crossed the whitewash in a 27-13 triumph.
Form
The mood surrounding the England camp has darkened over the last fortnight following narrow defeats to New Zealand and Australia.
England raced into an early 15-3 lead at Allianz Stadium last Saturday but were reeled in by a Joseph Suaalii-inspired Wallabies who eventually claimed a see-saw 42-37 victory. The result gives this match the sense of a must-win for Steve Borthwick’s side.
The world champion Springboks arrived in Europe as Rugby Championship winners and opened their Autumn Nations Series campaign with a win in Edinburgh and will hope to make it two from two on Saturday.
Rankings
England cannot climb higher than sixth, even if they beat the world champions by more than 15 points.
The Springboks will be guaranteed to remain in No.1 spot if they win at Allianz Stadium.
Can I buy tickets?
A very limited number of single tickets are still available via the official ticketing site.
France v New Zealand, Stade de France – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
New Zealand lead the historic head-to-head 48 wins to 14 – with one draw – in the 63 previous meetings but were beaten the last time the teams faced each other.
It is now 14 months since France launched their home World Cup campaign with an impressive 27-13 defeat of the All Blacks at the Stade de France, 17 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos ultimately proving the difference.
That win came on the back of a 40-25 victory for Les Bleus at the same ground in November 2021 and France are looking for their third successive win in the fixture. They have only managed that once before, in 1994-95.
Prior to that France win three years ago, the All Blacks had won 14 matches in a row against Les Bleus.
Form
France followed up their second-place finish in the Six Nations and 1-1 series draw with Argentina with a comfortable defeat of Japan last Saturday night.
They will know, though, that the All Blacks will pose a much sterner test this weekend.
New Zealand arrived in Europe with questions swirling following a mixed Rugby Championship but victories against England and Ireland have eased any pressure on Scott Robertson.
He will hope his team can take another step in its development with a first win in Paris since 2017.
Rankings
The All Blacks will replace South Africa at the top of the rankings if they beat France and the world champions fail to beat England.
Les Bleus can climb to third if they beat New Zealand by more than 15 points and Ireland lose to Argentina by the same margin.
Can I buy tickets?
Saturday’s match at Stade de France is sold out.
Sunday, November 17
Italy v Georgia, Stadio Luigi Ferraris – KO 13:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Italy lead the head-to-head three wins to one in the four matches in which both teams awarded caps.
However, Georgia’s sole victory in the fixture came in the most recent meeting between the teams.
Tedo Abzhandadze scored two tries and kicked a further 10 points as the Lelos claimed a 28-19 victory in Batumi in July 2022.
Form
Italy capitulated in the second half against Argentina last weekend. Having narrowed the deficit to 17-13 with Tommaso Allan’s 43rd minute penalty, the Azzurre collapsed to lose 50-18.
Defeat came on the back of a promising, if not spectacular, start to life under Gonzalo Quesada that yielded victories against Scotland, Wales, Tonga and Japan.
Georgia started the year with another Rugby Europe Championship title and beat Japan, while pushing Fiji and Australia close, in July.
Last weekend the Lelos were beaten 31-13 by the All Blacks XV in Montpellier.
Rankings
Italy can climb from 10th to ninth, but they must beat Georgia and hope Fiji lose to Spain.
The Lelos could replace Wales in 11th if they avoid defeat on Sunday and Gatland’s side lose to Australia in Cardiff.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are available via the official ticketing site.
Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium – KO 16:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Australia won the two-Test series between the sides in July to take their record in the fixture to 33 wins and one draw from 48 matches.
Wales won the previous meeting before that, 40-6 during last year’s World Cup, but the Wallabies won the most recent match in a Cardiff.
A 39-34 Wallabies victory in November 2022 hastened Wayne Pivac’s departure as Wales coach and was the hosts’ ninth defeat in their previous 11 matches against Australia in Cardiff.
Form
Like Pivac two years ago, Wales coach Warren Gatland is feeling the pressure having overseen a run of 10 Test defeats in a row.
A 10th loss in 12 at home against the Wallabies on Sunday will create an unwanted piece of history and leave Wales needing to beat the Springboks to avoid a first winless calendar year since 1937.
The Wallabies, by contrast, are riding the crest of a wave following their rollercoaster 42-37 victory against England in Twickenham last weekend.
Australia arrived in Europe having won just one of their six Rugby Championship matches but their performance at Allianz Stadium – as well as their series win against Wales in July – suggests they are heading in the right direction under new coach Joe Schmidt.
Rankings
The Wallabies can climb up the rankings for the second week in a row but only if they beat Wales by more than 15 points and England lose by the same margin.
Wales could fall to an all-time low of 12th if they suffer an 11th straight defeat.
Can I buy tickets?
Tickets for the match remain available via the official ticketing site.
How can I watch the Autumn Nations Series?
All 21 matches in this year’s Autumn Nations Series will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK and Ireland.
Ireland matches will also be available on Virgin Media, with Wales games broadcast on S4C as well.
A full list of global broadcast partners for the Autumn Nations Series can be found here.
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
