Here are the 2012 Autumn Internationals fixtures, featuring all the top teams
All times UK. Deduct 6 hrs for Houston
Saturday 10 November 2012
England v Fiji, Twickenham, 14.30,
Wales v Argentina, Millennium Stadium, 14.30,
Ireland v South Africa, Aviva Stadium, 17.30
France v Australia, Stade de France, 20.00
Sunday 11 November, 2012
Scotland v New Zealand, Murrayfield, 14.30
Friday 16 November 2012
Wales v Samoa, Millennium Stadium, 19.30,
Saturday 17 November 2012
England v Australia, Twickenham, 14.30,
Scotland v South Africa, Murrayfield, 14.30
France v Argentina, Stade de France, TBC
Saturday 24 November
England v South Africa, Twickenham, 14.30,
Wales v New Zealand, Millennium Stadium, 17:15,
France v Samoa, Stade de France, TBC
Ireland v Argentina, Lansdowne Road, 14.00
Scotland v Tonga, Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, 15.00
Saturday 1 December
England v New Zealand, Twickenham, 14.30,
Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, 14:30
November Tests for Tiers Two and Three
Russia, USA, Samoa, Canada, Tonga, Fiji, Romania, Japan, Uruguay, Portugal, Georgia and Chile will all be in action with the three Pacific Island teams facing up against top level teams.
The announcement further underlines the IRB's commitment to an expanded annual calendar for Tier Two teams and builds on similar schedules in place during previous seasons. One of the highlights of this busy programme of international fixtures will take place in Colwyn Bay, Wales, with a mini tournament being played over two match days with some mouth-watering fixtures arranged, including Russia v USA and Samoa v Canada.
Other highlights include England v Fiji in London, Wales v Samoa in Cardiff, Canada v Maori All Blacks in Oxford, France v Samoa in Paris, Scotland v Tonga in Aberdeen and Uruguay v Portugal in Montevideo.
RANKINGS RUMBLE SET TO BEGIN
VICTORIES DURING the November test window will carry even more importance this year.
That’s because the International Rugby Board rankings released on December 3 will determine what pools the 12 automatic qualifiers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be in.
There are five bands each containing four countries. Nations seeded one to four comprise band one, those who are placed five through eight are in band two and the teams ranked nine to 12 make up band three.
Bands four and five will be filled by the winners of the various RWC qualification tournaments.
If current IRB standings were used, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England would top pools A, B, C and D respectively at the 2015 World Cup.
The All Blacks would be grouped alongside France (fifth) and Scotland (ninth) in Pool A.
Pool B would include the Wallabies, Wales (sixth) and Samoa (10th), Pool C the Springboks, Ireland (seventh) and Italy (11th) and Pool D England, Argentina (eighth) and Tonga (12th).
The goal for France and Wales – which trail England on the IRB rankings by .06 and .83 points respectively – will be to secure fourth spot and thus avoid playing the three Southern Hemisphere heavyweights, who have won six of the seven World Cups between them.
The only way England, France and Wales can really bolster their positions is if they secure victories against outfits ranked higher than them.
England plays three of them – New Zealand, Australia and South Africa – Wales two (the All Blacks and Wallabies) and France one (Australia) during the November window.
Argentina and Ireland have plenty to play for as well. Ditto for Scotland, Samoa, Italy and Tonga.
With so much riding on these tests, expect the teams to give it plenty as they look to improve their IRB rankings and, by association, their pool placement at the 2015 RWC.
IRB RANKINGS (as at November 5, 2012)
1 New Zealand (92.91)
2 Australia (86.37)
3 South Africa (84.69)
4 England (83.09)
5 France (83.03)
6 Wales (82.26)
7 Ireland (79.85)
8 Argentina (78.63)
9 Scotland (77.97)
10 Samoa (76.23)
11 Italy (76.03)
12 Tonga (74.79)
According to many experts France could strike the first blow against southern hemisphere rugby domination when they meet Australia in Paris on Saturday Nov 10.
I have to point out that this amateur does not think this will happen. French Top 14 has been bereft of any imagination or flair. To expect the style to change at International level would be a stretch. Even though Campese has slammed Robbie Dean's style, I don't think the Wallabies have played too conservative. Just more so than usual, which is a hard standard given that they have always liked to freely throw the ball around.
The Wallabies have struggled all season, despite an 18-all draw with New Zealand in their last match.
France too have struggled, finishing a poor fourth in the Six Nations, after almost defeating New Zealand in the World Cup Final last year.
The team has lost key players due to retirement and injury, but will be dangerous against the Wallabies, who are ranked second in the world.
France coach Philippe Saint-André said his young players were growing in confidence.
“On Saturday we are going to need soldiers,” he said, “but we are also going to need leaders on the field.”
For example, young hooker Dimitri Szarzewski “… it’s up to him to show leadership.”
Meanwhile, Wallaby coach Robbie Deans said the Paris Test was crucial: “It’s very important that we get off to a good start.”
Deans is under huge pressure in Australia, where there are on-going calls for his sacking.
This week, Wallaby legend David Campese slammed Deans’s conservative style.
“Now you can see why some players are upset with the way the team is being coached,” Campese said. “They [the players] want to attack; the coach wants to kick goals.”
Campese said the Wallaby tactics under Deans were “predictable and boring”.
Ireland vs South Africa
Ireland will be without iconic skipper Brian O’Driscoll when they play South Africa in Dublin on Saturday – he will be injured through the November Tests.
Because of injuries, Ireland have named Taranaki prop Michael Bent.
The 26-year-old New Zealander qualifies through his grandmother and is expected to make his Ireland debut during the November internationals, despite having played no games for his club side, Leinster.
The dramatic call-up has offended many Irish fans, including former Ireland skipper Keith Wood, who said it was wrong.
“How in the name of Jesus are we getting to the point where a guy flies into the country and he will play for Ireland?” Wood said.
For South Africa, the opposite is true. Springboks fans find coach Heyneke Meyer too traditional. Meyer maintains that the Boks strengths of forward-might, tactical kicking and territorial-dominance were valid still.
Circumstances mean Meyer may be forced to play the popular youngster Patrick Lambie, 22, at flyhalf. Recently promoted fly-half Johan Goosen is out of the squad with injury.
“I wasn’t impressed with Pat’s tactical kicking before and I asked him to work on that aspect,” Meyer said. “He showed me in the Currie Cup that he has done the necessary work and I have been very impressed.”
New Zealand vs Scotland
New Zealand plays Scotland on Sunday in Edinburgh, after going through their home season unbeaten.
Coach Steve Hansen said the All Blacks were focussing on their own game in the build-up to the Scottish Test.
He said the team had played badly in the draw with Australia.
“Our set-piece was poor, out back attack was poor, our defence was poor.” said Hansen.
“We need to have a look at ourselves and fix that,” he said. “We’re well and truly capable of doing that.”
Scotland coach Andy Robinson has seven uncapped players in his squad.
“New Zealand are formidable opponents,” Robinson said. “They do the basics exceptionally well and play with a pace and ruthlessness. It’s no coincidence that they are the best team in the world.”
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