Conor Knight rounds up the matches that lie ahead of Wales this November as the boys take on some of the biggest names in rugby.
Though the leaves are beginning to fall and the days are getting colder, 2016 has not said goodbye to international rugby just yet. The Under Armour Autumn Series returns to the Principality Stadium. Alongside flocking Welsh supporters, the series will greet Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa to Cardiff as they face Wales throughout November. The fixtures are entertaining for diehard rugby followers and enthusiastic Welsh fans alike, as the city centre turns red with passionate hymns and arias. It will also provide a platform for Warren Gatland to assess the state of his team, having only won three matches off the back of their World Cup campaign. Looking forward to the Six Nations, these fixtures will allow players form across the board showcase their talent and impose themselves on a struggling Welsh side. Some may also have one eye for the following summer, as the Lions tour in New Zealand commences in 2017. With Gatland at the helm, players like George North, Jamie Roberts and Dan Biggar will all be vying to be part of his plans, with big performances against southern hemisphere sides guaranteed to help their cause.
Australia: Sat 5 Nov, KO: 2.30pm
The first of the four tests and arguably the toughest, Wales will host Australia. It was just over a year ago that Wales last played Australia, their final pool match in the Rugby World Cup. Though already guaranteed qualification from the pool, there was a general feeling of missed chances in Wales’ 15-6 loss, having had the momentum behind them when Australia were reduced to 13 men. Breaking down the stubborn gold wall that was Australia’s defence proved too difficult – down to both the sheer determination of the Aussies and the uninspiring attack of the Welsh. A year on and Wales will look to vindicate their mistakes and prove their creative worth. Not just for preparation, pride or bragging rights, the winner of the fixture will also secure the James Bevan Trophy. The introduction of silverware is to mark the celebration of one hundred years of rugby between Australia and Wales, inaugurated in 2007.
Commanded by veteran captain Stephen Moore, the hooker led his side to the final of the Rugby World Cup where they lost to New Zealand, and most recently second in the Rugby Championships. Having beaten Argentina twice and South Africa once within the competition, it statistically makes Australia the hardest opponent of the series. You would have to go back to 2008 for the last time Wales were victorious in the fixture, edging to victory by 3 points in a 21-18 game. The wealth of talent at their disposal though is truly worrying. The pace, power and versatility of Israel Folau is a constant menace in the backline, keeping Wales’ rigid defence on it toes. Should David Pocock be available following surgery on his hand then the battle at the breakdown will be ruthless, with Michael Hooper a worthy enough opponent already. Propelled by the anguish of their World Cup defeat, Wales will have to play a disciplined and calculated game if they want to overcome the Wallabies, being clinical with chances and standing firm in defence.
Argentina: Sat 12 Nov, KO: 5.30pm
Following from the momentous task of beating the Wallabies will be to endure the battering assault of Argentina. Where Australia have speed and guile, Argentina have brute strength, namely in their scrum. They showed their class on the world stage in losing only one of their pool games in the World Cup, going on to reach the semi final. Cruising past Ireland with a 43-20 result, they displayed their potential to dismantle northern hemisphere teams, as they are continuingly looking to improve. Although they have looked to a more open, attacking style of rugby, it will be the scrum that will prove the biggest test for Wales – a highly contentious area of the game anyway. Though recently beating South Africa in the Rugby Championships, this was Argentina’s only win and they may feel they have something to prove this autumn. Wales last met the Pumas in 2013 where they triumphed 40-6, and this will be a game that Wales will feel they will be able to win, particularly if they want to lay a mark of intent for the road ahead.
Japan: Sat 19 Nov, KO: 2.30pm
As the games continue to roll on over November, the third week sees Wales line up against Japan. This fixture’s history has a tendency to be epic when hosted at the Principality (formally Millennium) stadium, with the past three meetings amassing a total of 287 points scored. Having witnessed one such game in 2004, a 98-0 victory, I can attest to the fixture’s indulgence for points, only recently realising that it was Wales’ highest winning margin in history.
However, the Cherry Blossoms have claimed victory on their most recent meeting, recording an impressive 23-8 winning margin in Wales’ tour of Japan in 2013. Despite Wales missing a chunk of their starting fifteen due to the Lions selection that summer, nothing can be taken away from Japan’s victory – their first against the Welsh. Indeed, Japan are a determined side, as they showcased in emphatic style with a hard fought 34-32 over South Africa in the Rugby World Cup pool stages. Though it was not enough for them to proceed through the competition, it exhibited their growth and development as a Rugby nation, and by hosting the next World Cup in 2019, only expect this grit and skill to grow. Certainly, despite losing two close games to Scotland in the summer, Japan are in a good run of form, and will be difficult for the Welsh overcome.
South Africa: Sat 26 Nov, KO: 5.30pm
To wrap up the autumn internationals, Wales face the mighty outfit that is South Africa. Similarly to the Australian fixture, the teams will be playing for silverware, this time the Prince William Cup in celebration of 100 years of rugby between the nations. Despite this long history of sportsmanship, there may still be bitterness in the Welsh camp following their last run-in with the Springboks, as it left them knocked out of the World Cup quarter finals. Though a closely fought game, it was the Springboks that edged the tie with their renowned physicality, eventually breaking down the Welsh red wall with a Du Preez try in the last five minutes of the match.
However, Wales will take confidence in the recent performances of South Africa, who only managed two wins in the Rugby Championships. Recently captained hooker Adriaan Strauss will thus be looking for a reaction from his team this autumn. With a 31 game history, Wales have only managed 2 wins against the Springboks, most recently achieved in 2014.Though the idea of the Springboks physical onslaught would be enough to make Jamie Roberts nervous, with the fixture usually entertaining low winning margins, this sharply contested tie will give Wales a sense of optimism. By matching the Springboks physically with the renowned Warrenball, but embracing a more creative alternative where necessary (an aspect of the Wales game that has been criticised of late), Wales should look to this series conclusion as a sight of opportunity.
Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 5 Nov – Sat 26 Nov. Tickets: from £20. Info: 02920822432 / www.wru.wales/tickets
words CONOR NIGHT