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We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend as the last full course of Autumn Internationals is dished up across Europe.
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Autumn Internationals: Italy vs Tonga (Saturday November 26, 10:00pm HKT)
Italy! No one saw it coming, especially after their 50-point thrashing from New Zealand, but they were great in Florence last weekend, holding their nerve to defeat an uninspired and listless Springboks side. They will be brimming with confidence heading into this Saturday’s game against Tonga in Padua, but shouldn’t take anything for granted – this Tonga side is full of Aviva Premiership and Top 14 campaigners and have had a decent Autumn tour so far, beating Spain (28-13) and USA (20-17).
Autumn Internationals: England vs Argentina (Saturday November 26, 10:30pm HKT)
The likely scenario is that England are simply too good for Argentina (see: last week’s 58-15 annihilation of Fiji, the previous week’s 37-21 win over South Africa etc.) and will win this fairly comfortably. But what about this: England, preoccupied by next weekend’s big showdown with Australia, lose focus and are stunned by an unpredictable Argentina side who finally put a decent game together after losses to Wales and Scotland. It could happen?
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Autumn Internationals: Ireland vs Australia (Sunday November 27, 1:30am HKT)
Australia’s quest for a Northern Hemisphere Grand Slam lives to see another week after they escaped with another heart-stopping win at the Stade de France. But their two toughest tests still lie ahead of them; this weekend’s clash with Ireland shapes as an unofficial decider for third best team in the world right now. Ireland come in off a bruising encounter with New Zealand and without influential centre Robbie Henshaw, but overall their confidence shouldn’t have taken too much of a hit from the 21-9 loss. This should be the match of the weekend.
Autumn Internationals: Wales vs South Africa (Sunday November 27, 1:30am HKT)
The two biggest disappointments of the Autumn Internationals meet this weekend in Cardiff. Wales at least have a winning record, but did little to inspire confidence in their fans in their narrow win over Argentina or even narrower win over Japan. Still, at least they’re not South Africa, whose loss to Italy last weekend means they remain winless going into the final match of their end-of-year tour. Wales have only ever beaten the Springboks twice in test matches, but they have a gold-plated chance to make it three this weekend.
Autumn Internationals: France vs New Zealand (Sunday November 27, 4:00am HKT)
This weekend the All Blacks will be wearing an away uniform that has been dubbed “the worst ever” by almost everyone who has laid eyes on it. If that alone is not reason enough to tune in, there’s also the fact that the French actually looked pretty good against Australia last weekend. New Zealand were ferocious (or, a pack of wanton thugs – depends how you look at it) in their revenge win over Ireland, but lest we forget what happens when New Zealand sides wear ugly away kits against France.
