2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals

The 2021 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were rugby union test matches during October and November 2021, mainly involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. These international games counted towards World Rugby's ranking system, with teams typically playing from two to four matches in this period.

Matches hosted by teams from the Six Nations Championship were branded the Autumn Nations Series for marketing purposes.[1]

Fixtures

[edit]

23 October

[edit]
23 October 2021
13:45 JST (UTC+9)
Japan 23–32 Australia
Try: Lemeki 26' c
Nakamura 56' c
Con: Matsuda (1/1) 27'
Tamura (1/1) 57'
Pen: Matsuda (2/2) 16', 33'
Tamura (1/1) 74'
ReportTry: Wright 7' c
Petaia 22' c
Tupou 43' m
Leota 52' m
McInerney 79' m
Con: Cooper (2/4) 9', 24'
Pen: Cooper (1/2) 41'
Oita Stadium, Oita[2]
Attendance: 17,004
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Notes:


23 October 2021
15:30 EDT (UTC−4)
United States 14–104 New Zealand
Try: Augspurger 40' c
Matyas 53' c
Con: Carty (2/2) 40+1', 53'
ReportTry: Jacobson (2) 1' c, 21' c
De Groot 6' c
Jordan (3) 10' m, 30' m, 70' c
McKenzie 13' c
Mo'unga 25' c
Ta'avao (2) 34' c, 41' c
Tupaea 37' c
Papalii 48' c
Lienert-Brown 55' m
B. Barrett 67' c
Coles 79' m
Perenara 80+2' c
Con: Mo'unga (9/12) 1', 6', 13', 21', 25', 34', 37', 41', 48'
McKenzie (3/4) 68', 72', 80+3'
FedExField, Washington[4]
Attendance: 39,720
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Notes:

  • Chad Gough, Ryan James, Fakaʻosi Pifeleti (all United States) and Josh Lord (New Zealand) made their international debuts.
  • New Zealand recorded their biggest win over the United States.
  • This was the United States' biggest-ever loss.
  • This was the first time New Zealand scored 100 or more points in multiple games in the same calendar year, having scored 102 against Tonga in June.

30 October

[edit]
30 October 2021
14:30 BST (UTC+1)
Scotland 60–14 Tonga
Try: McLean (2) 7' c, 15' c
Steyn (4) 22' m, 32' m, 39' m, 80+1' c
Schoeman 29' c
Turner 50' m
Haining 71' m
Kebble 76' c
Con: Kinghorn (3/7) 8', 17', 30'
Thompson (2/3) 77', 80+2'
ReportTry: Lolohea 59' m
Pen: Faiva (3/3) 13', 20', 27'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh[5]
Attendance: 32,371
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

Notes:


30 October 2021
16:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Spain 11–13 Italy A
Try: Bell 47' m
Pen: Güemes (2/2) 12', 71'
ReportTry: Marin 61'
Con: Marin (1/1) 62'
Pen: Marin (2/2) 52', 64'
Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)

30 October 2021
17:15 BST (UTC+1)
Wales 16–54 New Zealand
Try: J. Williams 61' c
Con: Priestland (1/1) 61'
Pen: Anscombe (2/2) 6', 40+3'
Priestland (1/1) 52'
ReportTry: B. Barrett (2) 4' c, 79' m
Perenara 34' m
Jordan 54' c
Papalii 64' c
Reece 66' c
Lienert-Brown 71' c
Con: J. Barrett (5/7) 4', 56', 65', 68', 73'
Pen: J. Barrett (3/4) 18', 26', 46'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff[6]
Attendance: 74,500
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Notes:

  • Ken Owens (Wales) was named to start but withdrew shortly after the team announcement after failing a late fitness test; Ryan Elias replaced Owens in the starting XV and Kirby Myhill took Elias's place on the bench.
  • Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) earned his 149th test cap to become the most capped international player (excluding Lions tests), surpassing Richie McCaw's record.[7]
  • Kirby Myhill (Wales) made his international debut.
  • Beauden Barrett became the 11th New Zealand player to earn 100 test caps.
  • New Zealand's 54 points scored were the most they had scored away to Wales, and the 38-point margin equalled New Zealand's largest winning margin when away to Wales.

6/7 November

[edit]
6 November 2021
13:00 WET (UTC+0)
Ireland 60–5 Japan
Try: Lowe 4' c
Conway (3) 11' c, 19' m, 74' m
Gibson-Park 34' c
Sexton 48' c
Aki 55' m
Ringrose 70' c
Healy 80+1' c
Con: Sexton (4/6) 6', 13', 36', 50'
Carbery (2/3) 71', 80+2'
Pen: Sexton (1/1) 24'
ReportTry: Fifita 57' m
Aviva Stadium, Dublin[9]
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Notes:

  • Dan Sheehan (Ireland) made his international debut.
  • Johnny Sexton became the seventh Ireland player to earn his 100th test cap.

6 November 2021
14:00 CET (UTC+1)
Italy 9–47 New Zealand
Pen: Garbisi (3/3) 37', 40+2', 57'ReportTry: Christie 28' c
Coles (2) 31' c, 39' c
Reece 63' c
Aumua (2) 69' c, 76' m
Sotutu 71' c
Con: Mo'unga (6/7) 29', 32', 40', 64', 69', 72'
Stadio Olimpico, Rome[10]
Attendance: 28,956
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Notes:

  • Ivan Nemer (Italy) made his international debut.
  • New Zealand broke the record for the most points scored in a calendar year (675), surpassing the 658 points scored by South Africa in 2007.

6 November 2021
15:00 WET (UTC+0)
Portugal 20–17 Canada
Try: Appleton 4' c
Storti 52' m
Pinto 78' m
Con: Guedes (1/2) 5'
Pen: Guedes (1/1) 39'
ReportTry: Keith 22' m
Thomas (2) 65' m, 70' c
Con: Povey (1/3) 71'
CAR Rugby do Jamor, Lisbon[11]
Attendance: 0
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)

Notes:

  • Peter Nelson (Canada) was named to start but withdrew after the captain's run and was replaced by Robbie Povey, who was replaced on the bench by Lockie Kratz. Tyler Rowland was also named on the bench but withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Foster DeWitt.
  • André Arrojado (Portugal) made his international debut.
  • This was Portugal's first win over Canada.

6 November 2021
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Spain 13–43 Fiji
Try: Mora 3' c
Con: Güemes (1/1) 3'
Pen: Güemes (2/3) 9', 34'
Try: Kunavula 12' m
Tuicuvu 25' c
Nayacalevu 43' c
Ravai 47' c
Tuimaba 57' m
Matavesi 65' c
Tuisova 74' m
Con: Volavola (4/7) 26', 43', 47', 66'
Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Notes:


6 November 2021
15:15 GMT (UTC+0)
England 69–3 Tonga
Try: Radwan 3' m
George (2) 13' m, 70' c
May (2) 29' c, 60' c
Itoje 33' c
Youngs (2) 40+1' m, 51' m
Smith 73' c
Blamire 78' c
Mitchell 80' c
Con: Slade (2/6) 30', 34'
Smith (5/5) 61', 71', 74', 79', 80+1'
ReportPen: Takulua (1/2) 19'
Twickenham Stadium, London[12]
Attendance: 81,022
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Notes:

  • Owen Farrell was initially named to start at fly-half but was ruled out before the match after a positive COVID-19 test; George Furbank replaced Farrell at fly-half, and Mark Atkinson took Furbank's place among the replacements.
  • Mark Atkinson, Alex Mitchell (both England), Solomone Kata and Afusipa Taumoepeau (both Tonga) made their international debuts.
  • Lopeti Timani (Tonga) made his Tongan international debut having previously represented Australia.

6 November 2021
17:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Wales 18–23 South Africa
Pen: Biggar (6/6) 10', 14', 27', 32', 51', 65'ReportTry: Marx 73' m
Pen: Pollard (4/4) 12', 18', 40+2', 60'
Steyn (1/1) 55'
E. Jantjies (1/1) 80+1'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff[6]
Attendance: 70,353
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Notes:


6 November 2021
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
France 29–20 Argentina
Try: Flament 50' c
Mauvaka 71' c
Con: Jaminet (2/2) 51', 72'
Pen: Jaminet (5/6) 3', 19', 35', 65', 80'
ReportTry: Cubelli 22' c
M. Carreras 78' c
Con: Boffelli (1/1) 23'
Sánchez (1/1) 78'
Pen: Boffelli (2/3) 48', 60'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis[13]
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Notes:


6 November 2021
Georgia Cancelled[14] Samoa
Not announced

7 November 2021
14:00 CET (UTC+1)
Romania 29–14 Uruguay
Try: Roșu 1' c
Vaovasa 44' c
Con: Melinte (2/2) 1', 45'
Pen: Melinte (5/7) 9', 23', 50', 58', 66'
ReportTry: Silva 15' m
Pen: Favaro (3/3) 4', 30', 37'
Payanini Center, Verona, Italy[15][a]
Attendance: 150
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Notes:


7 November 2021
14:15 GMT (UTC+0)
Scotland 15–13 Australia
Try: Watson 22' c
Ashman 59' m
Con: Russell (1/2) 24'
Pen: Russell (1/1) 69'
ReportTry: Leota 44' c
Con: O'Connor (1/1) 46'
Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 40', 65'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,144
Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Notes:

13/14 November

[edit]
13 November 2021
14:00 CET (UTC+1)
Italy 16–37 Argentina
Try: Varney 47' c
Con: Garbisi (1/1) 49'
Pen: Garbisi (3/3) 32', 40+2', 51'
ReportTry: Kremer 9' c
González 28' c
Moroni 42' c
Cordero 55' m
Bosch 76' m
Con: Boffelli (3/4) 10', 30', 43'
Pen: Boffelli (1/2) 15'
Sánchez (1/1) 64'
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso[10]
Attendance: 3,750
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Notes:


13 November 2021
13:00 GMT (UTC+0)
Scotland 15–30 South Africa
Try: Hogg (2) 34' c, 57' m
Con: Russell (1/2) 34'
Pen: Russell (1/3) 16'
ReportTry: Mapimpi (2) 28' m, 42' c
Con: E. Jantjies (1/1) 43'
Pen: E. Jantjies (3/3) 23', 50', 55'
Pollard (2/2) 68', 77'
Steyn (1/1) 70'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,144
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Notes:


13 November 2021
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Belgium 0–24 Canada
ReportTry: Thomas 3' c
Braude 76' m
Con: Povey (1/1) 4'
Pen: Povey (1/3) 13'
Jones (3/3) 56', 63', 65'
Sportscentrum Nelson Mandela, Brussels
Attendance: 200
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)