The 2012 autumn internationals, also known as the autumn tests, November tests and, in the Southern Hemisphere, the end of year tests, were international rugby union matches. They were predominantly played between visiting Southern Hemisphere countries and European nations.
The IRB introduced an International Rugby Series, to improve competitiveness ahead of the next World Cup, that included Tier 2 nations Tonga, Canada, Russia, Samoa and the United States. The first tournament was held at Colwyn Bay's Eirias Stadium in North Wales.
The tournament was in addition to those tests played between Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations. Wales and France hosted Samoa, England and Ireland hosted Fiji and Scotland and Italy hosted Tonga.
Both Georgia and Romania hosted Japan, while Portugal travelled to South America to play a two test tour, where they earn victories over Uruguay and Chile. Namibia hosted a tournament including Spain and Zimbabwe, with Spain winning both tests to clinch the tournament.
Matches
October
Notes:
- James Hanson made his international debut for Australia in this match.
- Keven Mealamu won his 100th cap for the All Blacks, he became the 22nd international player and 3rd All Black to reach the landmark.
- Piri Weepu equalled the record held by Ollie le Roux for most international caps from the bench with his 43rd substitute appearance from his 66 caps.
- Tony Woodcock equalled the All Black record held by Kees Meeuws for most yellow cards in a career with his third yellow card.
- The draw ended New Zealand's 16-match winning streak, also ending their chances of surpassing Lithuania's record streak of 18 wins.
- This match ended New Zealand's sequence of 105 consecutive matches of scoring a try in a match, it was the first match the All Blacks didn't score a try since 2004. The run of 105 consecutive matches of scoring a try in a match remains an international rugby record.
4 November
10/11 November
Notes:
- Argentina's victory came exactly 11 years after their last win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Notes:
Notes:
- Yannick Forestier, Jocelino Suta, Sébastien Vahaamahina (all France) and Paddy Ryan (Australia) made their international debuts.
- This match ended Australia's seven-year winning streak against France, France's previous victory against Australia dating back to 5 November 2005 (26–16).
- The French came within one point of their largest ever victory against Australia (34–6 in 1976).
Notes:
- Henry Pyrgos (Scotland), Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (both New Zealand) made their international debuts.
- Scotland became the first team to score three tries against New Zealand since New Zealand's loss to Australia in August 2011.
13 November
Notes:
- The Tigers returned to using their traditional lettered-flocked jerseys for this non-test match.[6] They last used this system when they hosted Australia in 2010.[7]
16/17 November
Notes:
- This was a non-capped match for Ireland, but was a fully capped match for Fiji. The IRB gave this match a no-test status, which means rankings would not change regardless of the outcome but will be part of the new scheme to increase competitiveness in Tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.
21 November
23/24/25 November
Notes:
- This result was Tonga's first ever win over Scotland.
- This defeat was Scotland's first at Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium.
1 December
Notes:
- Freddie Burns (England) made his international debut.
- England claimed the Hillary Shield for the first time.
- This was England's biggest win over New Zealand, the most points they have ever scored against them, and their first win against them in 10 years.
- This was also New Zealand's joint second-largest defeat; at the time only Australia had beaten them by more.
- This was New Zealand's first defeat since they became world champions, and their first in 22 matches.
Notes:
- Australia captain Nathan Sharpe kicked for the conversion to end his career in the Australian squad.
- No replacement was made when Halfpenny was taken off due to injury.
2012 International Rugby Series
For more details on this topic, see: 2012 International Rugby Series
Effect on 2015 Rugby World Cup seeding
Much like the 2008 end of year series, the final IRB rankings at the end of the international window will play a massive part towards the seeding of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Like the 2011 tournament, the IRB rankings will play a pivotal role in proceedings with the top four placed sides at the end of the international window set to be kept apart in the draw. All 12 of the automatic qualifiers will be seeded based on their ranking and then split three bands of four teams.
- Band 1 will be made up of the top 4 automatic qualifiers
- Band 2 will be made up of the next 4 automatic qualifiers (5–8)
- Band 3 will be made up of the next 4 automatic qualifiers (9–12)
- Band 4 will be made up of the remaining due to qualify places (Oceania 1, Europe 1, Asia 1 and Americas 1)
- Band 5 will include the remaining possible nations (Africa 1,Europe 2, Americas 2 and repechage Winner)
Following the final matches on 1 December 2012, the 12 teams automatically qualified were seeded thus:
See also
References
- ^ "Wallabies halt Kiwis' winning run with draw". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "RUGBY: Oxford University 15, Russia 29". Oxford Mail. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Cariparma Test match, Italia V Tonga a Brescia il 10 Novembre" (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Exciting schedule for Tier Two Unions". 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Tigers celebrate famous win over Maori All Blacks : Match Centre | Rugby | Leicester Tigers | Official Website". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ "Team news: Leicester Tigers v Maori All Blacks". leicestertigers.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Tigers return to lettered jerseys". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Amazing second half comeback secures 31-29 win over Fiji". www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Gloucester v Fiji". Gloucester Rugby. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "FALCONS 24 TONGA 13". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Newcastle Falcons facing an international test". The Journal. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.drfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ RTÉ Accessed 15 April 2012
- ^ "Portugal to tour Chile and Uruguay in November". 19 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Rugby Canada (Design, Hosting, Registration & Administration tools by esportsdeskpro.com)". www.rugbycanada.ca. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3559_8284823,00.html [dead link]
External links
- 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests at ESPN
- "SA Rugby Results – 2012 Castle Outgoing Tours". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- Welsh Rugby Union
- Rugby Football Union
- Planet Rugby
