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The Breakdown: A statistical look at Saturday's rugby internationals
New Zealand will face England for the first time in four years and Wales get another opportunity to end their Australia hoodoo on a mouthwatering Saturday of Test rugby.
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England edged a battling 12-11 victory over South Africa in their opening November international last weekend, but Eddie Jones’ side will have to raise their game against the world champions at Twickenham.
Wales have lost 13 consecutive Tests since last beating the Wallabies a decade ago and they will see the clash in Cardiff as a great chance to end that sequence before they meet in the World Cup next year.
France and the Springboks do battle in what promises to a physical encounter in Paris, while Ireland will look to follow up their thrashing of Italy by putting Argentina to the sword and Scotland host Fiji.
With the help of Opta, we take a statistical look at the action this weekend.
England v New Zealand
New Zealand have proved time and time again that they thrive on the big occasion and they will be expected to have too much for injury-hit England.
The All Blacks have won 14 of their last 15 matches against England and arrived in London on the back of a thumping win against Japan, having rested the big guns.
While England’s victory over South Africa was relatively low scoring, New Zealand have scored 67 tries in 11 games this year – more than twice as many as any other Tier One nation – so it would be no surprise to see far more points on the board.
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Chris Ashton will make his first Test appearance for four years and the wing has fond memories of facing the world champions, having scored when England last beat them in 2012.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Eddie Jones on his selection for All Blacks clash
France v South Africa
France have lost four consecutive Tests, but won their last two home matches against England and Italy in the Six Nations.
South Africa have been beaten in France in four of the last six meetings between the two nations and will be licking their wounds after a lack of ruthlessness cost them against England.
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Willie le Roux, Faf de Klerk and Franco Mostert return after they were unavailable for the Springboks’ opening Test of the tour.
Handre Pollard is just one point shy of becoming the fifth player to rack up 300 points for South Africa.
Ireland v Argentina
Ireland recall captain Rory Best and Johnny Sexton as they go in search of what will be a record 10th consecutive home win.
A Jordan Larmour-inspired Ireland side ran riot against Italy at Soldier Field, winning 54-7.
The Six Nations champions have come out on top in all eight matches at home to the Pumas, who have lost eight of their nine games in Europe since beating Ireland in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final.
Argentina claimed the scalp of Australia in their last away Test, but had only won one of their previous 11 games on their travels prior to that.
Scotland v Fiji
Gregor Townsend was not impressed with Scotland’s display in their 21-10 defeat against Wales and they should respond with a victory over Fiji.
Fiji won the last time they met last year, but Scotland have prevailed in their three encounters at Murrayfield.
The Pacific Islanders have won just three of 56 Tests away to Tier One nations, while New Zealand are the only team to beat Scotland in their last 10 home games.
Watch: Gregor Townsend on the nine changes for the Fiji Test
Wales v Australia
Australia have endured a dismal year, but history would suggest a meeting with Wales could boost morale.
Not since November 2008 have Wales defeated the Wallabies, so they are long overdue and head into the game on a six-match winning run.
Michael Cheika’s men have lost their last five matches in Europe and were consigned to a Bledisloe Cup whitewash by the All Blacks last time out.
Israel Folau has scored three tries in his last four Tests against Wales and switches to the wing at the Principality Stadium.
Watch: Warren Gatland on trying end poor record against Wallabies
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments