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Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round two
Following the amuse-bouche that was the opening weekend of the Autumn Nations Series 2024, the action gets underway in earnest this Friday.
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A blockbuster encounter between Ireland and New Zealand in Dublin will be followed by a further five mouth-watering matches featuring some of the best teams in the world.
To whet your appetite for the action in Europe, we give you the lowdown on the second weekend 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.
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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.
The second round will kick-off with the All Blacks‘ visit to Dublin, before England take on Australia, Italy face Argentina and France host Japan.
On Sunday, meanwhile, Fiji travel to Cardiff to play Wales and Scotland take on Rugby World Cup 2023 winners South Africa in Edinburgh.
Friday, November 8
Ireland v New Zealand, Aviva Stadium – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
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The All Blacks have won 31 of the teams’ 37 meetings, including last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in France, but they have not tasted victory in Dublin since 2016.
It took Ireland 111 years to record their first victory in the fixture, but they have won five of their last nine matches against New Zealand.
That run includes victories in the two most recent matches at the Aviva Stadium, recording a 16-9 win in 2018, their first at home against the All Blacks, and following that up with a 29-20 triumph three years later.
Form
Ireland’s agonising 28-24 defeat to the All Blacks at Stade de France last October ended their 17-match winning run, but they rebounded to win the 2024 Six Nations, losing only one game along the way.
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Andy Farrell’s side followed that success up with a 1-1 series draw in South Africa in July, sealed with a last-gasp drop goal from Ciaran Frawley.
New Zealand head into the match on the back of a narrow 24-22 victory against England in Twickenham last Saturday in which they came within the width of the post of defeat.
It was the All Blacks’ third win against England this year but their early results under Scott Robertson have been mixed. They lost three matches during the Rugby Championship.
Rankings
Ireland will retain top spot if they secure a third successive home victory against the All Blacks.
However, New Zealand can climb to the summit for the first time in five years if they win by more than 15 points and South Africa fail to beat Scotland on Sunday.
Can I buy tickets?
Friday’s match at the Aviva Stadium is sold out.
You can check availability for Ireland’s remaining Autumn Nations Series matches here.
Saturday, November 9
England v Australia, Allianz Stadium – KO 15:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Saturday will be the first time the teams have met since July 2022, when England claimed a 2-1 series victory and the inaugural Ella-Mobbs Cup.
Those wins mean that England lead the head-to-head between the teams 28 wins to 26 from the 55 fixtures that have been played.
England have won the last four meetings at home, the Wallabies most recent victory in the fixture in Twickenham coming in the pool stage of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Form
England’s frustrating form continued last weekend, as they were beaten by the All Blacks despite leading by eight points with less than 15 minutes to go.
It was their fifth defeat in nine matches in 2024, three of which have come against New Zealand.
The Wallabies began life under Joe Schmidt with a 2-0 series win against Wales and one-off defeat of Georgia in July, but then finished bottom of the Rugby Championship standings with only one win in six matches.
Rankings
England are one of four teams that could finish the weekend in fourth but they would need to beat Australia while hoping Argentina, Scotland and France all lose – the latter by more than 15 points against Japan.
The Wallabies can climb as high as seventh with a victory at Allianz Stadium, a result that could drop England as low as eighth depending on the scoreline and other results.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are still available via the official England Rugby ticketing site.
Italy v Argentina, Bluenergy Stadium – KO 17:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Argentina lead the head-to-head 17 wins to five from the 23 fixtures and have not lost since a 13-12 defeat in Cordoba in June 2008.
Los Pumas have won the last eight, including a 37-16 victory at Saturday’s venue three years ago, and have not tasted defeat on Italian soil in 26 years.
Form
A disappointing defeat to Samoa in Apia in July aside, Italy have made a good start to life under Argentine Gonzalo Quesada.
The Azzurre lost only two of their five matches during the Six Nations, ending the tournament with back-to-back victories against Scotland and Wales. Following their loss against Samoa, Italy beat Tonga and Japan.
Argentina secured a 1-1 series draw against France in July before beating Uruguay comfortably and winning three of their six Rugby Championship matches. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia each lost one match against Los Pumas.
Rankings
Argentina can climb to fourth if they beat Italy and France lose to Japan. The hosts cannot improve on eighth place, their highest-ever position.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets are still available via the official ticketing website.
France v Japan, Stade de France – KO 20:10 GMT
Head-to-head
France have never lost to Japan in seven previous meetings that were capped matches for both teams, winning six and drawing one.
The teams last met in Toulouse two years ago when Damian Penaud crossed the whitewash twice and Thomas Ramos kicked 15 points in a 35-17 victory for Les Bleus.
The closest Japan have come to recording a victory in the fixture was a 23-23 draw in Nanterre.
Form
Having finished second behind Ireland in the Six Nations, France travelled to South America in July where they secured a 1-1 series draw against Argentina and a midweek win over Uruguay.
That tour was overshadowed by off-field disciplinary issues, however.
It took Eddie Jones four matches to record the first win of his second spell in charge of Japan and that was followed by victories against USA and Samoa to reach the final of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup.
The Brave Blossoms lost the final to Fiji, however, and headed to Europe on the back of a 64-19 defeat to the All Blacks.
Rankings
France cannot improve their rating by beating but could fall as low as sixth in defeat, depending on other results.
A surprise Japan win could lift the Brave Blossoms up to 11th if Wales lose at home to Fiji.
Can I buy tickets?
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s match at Stade de France from the official ticketing website.
Sunday, November 10
Wales v Fiji, Principality Stadium – KO 13:40 GMT
Head-to-head
Wales have won 12 of the 14 meetings between the teams ahead of Sunday, including a tense 32-26 victory during the pool stage of last year’s World Cup.
Their sole defeat in the fixture came at the same stage of the 2007 World Cup, which was also played in France, Fiji edging them to a place in the quarter-finals with a famous 38-34 win.
Fiji’s best result in Cardiff remains the 16-16 draw they secured 14 years ago.
Form
It’s fair to say Warren Gatland’s return to Wales has not gone as well as he, or the team’s supporters, might have hoped.
On the back of their quarter-final exit at last year’s World Cup, Wales are yet to win a Test match in 2024. They suffered a 2-0 series defeat to Australia in July and needed a last-minute Sam Costelow conversion to win their tour match against Queensland Reds.
Fiji arrived in Europe as Pacific Nations Cup winners but were beaten comfortably by Scotland in Edinburgh last weekend.
Rankings
Wales cannot climb back into the top 10, even with a big win in Cardiff, but can drop to 12th if they lose by more than 15 points and Japan beat France by the same margin.
A big victory for the Flying Fijians could lift them up to eighth.
Can I buy tickets?
A limited number of tickets remain available via the official ticketing website.
Scotland v South Africa, Scottish Gas Murrayfield – KO 16:10 GMT
Head-to-head
Scotland have beaten South Africa only five times in 29 meetings, and not since a 21-17 win at Murrayfield in November 2010.
The Springboks are on an eight-game winning streak against Sunday’s hosts, the most recent of those victories coming in the pool stage of last year’s World Cup.
Second-half tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse secured an 18-3 win for the Springboks in Marseille 14 months ago.
Form
Scotland will equal their longest ever winning run of six matches if they beat the Springboks in Edinburgh on Sunday.
Gregor Townsend’s side followed up a fourth-placed finish in the Six Nations with four victories on their tour of the Americas and added a fifth against Fiji last weekend.
The Springboks beat Wales and Portugal either side of a 1-1 series draw against Ireland in June and July.
Rassie Erasmus’ world champions then won the Rugby Championship, their only defeat coming in Argentina.
Rankings
The Springboks will return to the No.1 spot if they win on Sunday and Ireland fail to beat the All Blacks. They can fall to third in defeat, however.
Scotland can climb as high as fourth in victory, if France lose to Japan and other results go their way.
Can I buy tickets?
Sunday’s match is sold out.
You can check availability for Scotland’s remaining Autumn Nations Series matches here.
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.
