Ten tasty dishes from this Autumn’s smorgasbord of Test rugby
WALES V SCOTLAND
(Principality Stadium, November 3)
A bit of a curiosity down at the Principality. Not a Six Nations game and not one of those unsatisfactory World Cup warm-ups matches. Hopefully it will spark off and be played at the intensity we expect from a big November international.
(Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, November 3)
Will be good to get a feel of how the World Cup is going to play out in Japan with this juicy fixture at this attractive 50,000 capacity stadium although the All Blacks will send most of their first choice ahead to England.
ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND
(Twickenham, November 10)
A big match for England against the All Blacks who they haven't played since 2014 when they lost the tour 3-0 and then again at Twickenham in November. A win of any sorts would kick start the countdown to Japan, a sizeable defeat would damage England badly.
ITALY V GEORGIA
(Florence, November 10)
Much hype over this fixture although in the big picture it has little or no bearing on their respective Six Nations claims. What it will be is a passionate dust up between two sides who, for their own reasons, would absolutely hate to lose this game.
USA V SAMOA
(San Sebastian, November 10)
A little treat for the rugby tourist with a much improved USA taking on a Samoan team who need to rediscover their mojo at the beautiful Anoeta Stadium in the Spanish city with more decent restaurants and tapas bars than any rugby venue on the planet.
IRELAND V NEW ZEALAND
(Aviva Stadium, November 17)
Match of the Autumn. Ireland have won 19 of their 23 games over the last two years for a win percentage of 82.60 while New Zealand are 23 out of 28 at 83.92% The world's best two teams, they won't be experimenting or ‘getting experience'. This will be full on.
FRANCE V ARGENTINA
(Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, November 17)
Always a ferocious dust up between the old enemies with the score 5-4 to France over the last decade. The Pumas have fond memories of this part of France having famously beaten Ireland just down the road at Lens at RWC2009.
CHILE V MAORI ALL BLACKS
(Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, November 17)
In the big scheme of things this possibly bats well down the order but the visit of the globetrotting Maoris – who will have played Brazil a week earlier – will be the biggest thing ever to happen to Chilean rugby.
R3 of RWC Repechage: HONG KONG V CANADA; GERMANY V KENYA
(Marseilles, November 23)
In a tight pool that vital final place at RWC 2019 should still be up for grabs when the four combatants go to the well one final time. New Zealand and South Africa, to name just two, await the winner in Japan.
FRANCE V FIJI
(Stade de France, November 24)
With over 150 Fijians playing professional rugby in the T14, ProD2 and Federale 1, this is increasingly becoming a fixture with a real edge. Should hopefully produce a riot of attacking rugby although France, if they have any sense, will turn to their forwards first.
