England's Autumn Internationals: Four Tests Against Rugby Powerhouses
England will face a daunting schedule this November as they host four of the world's top rugby nations in their Autumn Internationals series at Twickenham. The fixtures, confirmed earlier this month, will see the Red Rose take on New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Japan in a gruelling test of their mettle.
The series kicks off on Saturday, 2 November, with a rematch against the All Blacks. This encounter marks the unofficial third leg of a trilogy against New Zealand, following their two-match summer tour in July. Despite pushing the All Blacks hard in Dunedin, England were unable to secure a victory, narrowly losing 16-15. The second Test in Auckland saw a more convincing win for the All Blacks, who triumphed 24-17. The upcoming match at Twickenham presents England with an opportunity to finally conquer the mighty All Blacks on home soil.
The following weekend, on Saturday, 9 November, England will face the Wallabies. The last time these two sides met was in the summer of 2022, when Eddie Jones led England on a tour of Australia. England, under Jones' guidance, managed to turn the tables after an initial defeat in Perth, winning the next two matches to secure the series victory. The deciding third Test, a thrilling 21-17 win for England, saw Marcus Smith shine with a decisive try, while Owen Farrell's kicking proved pivotal. The Wallabies, however, have undergone a period of change since then, experiencing a disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign and appointing former All Blacks coach Joe Schmidt as their new head coach.
On Saturday, 16 November, the Springboks will return to Twickenham. South Africa have made the Allianz Stadium feel like a home away from home, having defeated the All Blacks there in the lead-up to the World Cup and more recently, securing a comprehensive victory over Wales in their summer series. This encounter will be a particularly tough one for England, who were eliminated from the Rugby World Cup by the Springboks in a heart-breaking 16-15 semi-final defeat. The formidable South African scrum proved too powerful, and a late penalty kick from Handre Pollard sent England crashing out of the tournament.
The series concludes on Sunday, 24 November, with a clash against Japan. This match will see Eddie Jones return to Twickenham, leading the Brave Blossoms against his former team. Jones last graced the hallowed turf of Twickenham as the head coach of England, but since then, he has been back to lead the Barbarians to victory against a World XV in an exhibition match. England and Japan last met in Tokyo this summer, with Borthwick's side securing a dominant 52-17 win. The match saw impressive performances from rising stars like Manny Feyi-Waboso and Chandler Cunningham-South, while Marcus Smith continued his impressive form with a try and two assists.
England's Autumn Internationals series promises to be a challenging and exciting spectacle for rugby fans. The Red Rose will be looking to build on their recent performances and make a statement against some of the best teams in the world. The series will provide valuable experience for England's squad as they continue their journey towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
