Rugby Union International 2024: Thrilling Recap and Final Match Preview

Rugby Union Internationals of 2024 have brought thrilling matches, surprising results, and brilliant, excellent individual displays to every rugby fan. It has been a fantastic series, bringing together the might of the northern and southern hemispheres and giving us a taste of the intense competition that we can’t wait to see at the World Cup.

This Autumn Internationals allows the northern hemisphere to test itself against the mighty southern hemisphere teams. In this, the teams of the north, like England, Franse, Ireland, and Wales, were geared to build on their momentum from the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations, and the southern hemispheres, such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and Argentina who were ready to continue their dominance. Whereas this autumn international 2024, several teams have young players shaping them for future campaigns, and some rising stars made a significant impact. Following their 2023 Rugby World Cup, the team heads into this rugby union international 2024 by analyzing their performance and tactical approach to create a huge impact. Some coaches planned to continue their successful strategies, and others experimented with a new system.

Overall, this series reflects the excitement for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. In five weeks, only  Ireland and Australia are yet to conclude their campaign on November 30, 2024, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. This article will give a detailed preview of the final match between Ireland and Australia. Still, before heading into this, we will look back into the recap of the Autumn Internationals. Get ready to relive the excitement of the past four weeks as we journey through this article.

Week 1 – Saturday, November 2, 2024

The opening match of the series was between England and New Zealand, which was an unforgettable encounter. The entire game was utterly tight, with England’s key players taking the lead at various points. Smith M. played a crucial role on the game day by marking four penalty goals and one conversion goal. Despite their strong performance, New Zealand secured the victory by two points, 22-24. The second match was between Scotland and Fiji at Murrayfield (Edinburgh). On that game day–Scotland could not be stopped, and their sensational efforts on the field allowed them to trounce Fiji 57-17. Hastings A. was the star for Scotland, scoring seven conversion goals and one penalty goal, giving the team a valuable edge that sealed victory. In addition to this, Graham D. added four tries, and overall, the team coordination and consistent performance gave them a dominant triumph.

Week 2 – Friday, November 8, 2024

In week two of the Rugby Union International 2024, New Zealand won its second match against Ireland 13-23. Despite putting forth their complete effort in the game, Ireland fell short. New Zealand’s solid defense and McKenzie’s consistent performance led the team to victory. After their disappointing defeat in week 1, England entered into week 2 with high hopes, but again, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia 37-42. The same mistake happened this time. Although they started with an early lead, they could not maintain that till the end of the game, and they couldn’t hold onto their lead as Australia’s attacking game took over.

In week two, another crucial match, Argentina defeated Italy with 18-50. It was quite a disappointing defeat for Italy, who struggled in attack and defense. France achieved their biggest-ever victory against Japan with a resounding 52-12. This dominant performance showcased their offensive prowess and strategy execution. Meanwhile, Wales faced a disappointing defeat against Fiji by losing 19-24. Wales’s struggles gave Fiji a clear advantage in securing victory. The South Africans defeated Scotland with a solid 32-15 victory, demonstrating their strength and control throughout.

Week 3 – Friday, November 15, 2024

Following their disappointing result in the prior week, Ireland bounced back by defeating Argentina by a narrow margin of 22-19. Despite Argentina’s relentless effort, Ireland’s strong defense made them win the game. On November 16, 2024, week three continued with a fierce battle between Scotland and Portugal. Scotland’s dominance was evident as they ran in a flurry of tries, demonstrating their attacking prowess and depth, and defeated the opponent 59-21. It was another disaster week for England, where their error-plagued, leading to another defeat against South Africa 20-29. France edged out New Zealand with 30-29 in another nail-biting encounter. Despite both teams exchanging their lead, France’s tactical approach made them emerge victorious. On November 17, 2024, Italy recovered from its past defeat and overcame Georgia by a margin of two points. On the other hand, Wales suffered a defeat to Australia, their 11th straight defeat of the match, which shows their struggle this season.

Week 4 – Friday, November 22, 2024

France wrapped up their Autumn series with a commanding victory over Argentina, marking their perfect campaign and showcasing their consistency and strength. On November 23, 2024, Ireland dominated Fiji by eight tries, giving them a resounding victory of 52-17. South Africa handed Wales a heavy defeat, marking their 12th straight loss. The Springboks were in complete control, leaving Wales with more challenges. The All Blacks celebrated the careers of Sam Cane and TJ Perenara with a solid win over Italy. On November 24, 2024, Scotland performed stylishly against Australia, securing a convincing win 27-13. England broke their losing streak with a dominant win over Japan. This emphatic victory provided a much-needed boost for the English side, helping them regain some confidence 59-14.

Week 5 – Prediction

Ireland vs. Australia

The final Rugby Union International 2024 Autumn Series match will occur on November 30, 2024, at Aviva Stadium (Dublin). Ireland will face Australia in this clash, which will be a fitting final, with both teams trying to finish on a high note.

This upcoming battle between Ireland and Australia will mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish Rugby Football Union. Both teams first met on November 12, 1927, and Australia favored triumph by a score of 5-3. This season, the Ireland teams showcased several strengths and had some areas for improvement. The main strength lies in their defense, effectively stifling numerous opposition attacks and showcasing their resilience. Their high-tempo style made opponents scramble and allowed them to control the game’s flow effectively. When it comes to maintaining their position, they are exceptional, and their disciplined approach was evident by their minimal penalties and errors. Despite their impressive performances, the journey took work; injuries to crucial players significantly impacted their gameplay. Despite these challenges, Ireland’s blend of solid defense, fast-paced play, and disciplined execution kept them competitive and demonstrated their potential for future success. In this Friendly International, even though they started the opening match with a defeat against New Zealand, they found the rhythm and defeated Argentina and Fiji in further weeks.

Ireland starting xv

Replacements

Meanwhile, Australia’s journey in the Autumn Internationals series has been filled with mixed emotions. The team heads into this season with a robust, competitive squad featuring seasoned players and promising newcomers. They kicked off the campaign with an impressive triumph against England, 37-42, and then faced Wales, which gave them a second straight victory with a dominant score of 52-20. Australia has shown agility throughout the series in changing lineups and tactics to remain competitive. Yet their path proved quite rocky. Even with their strengths, there were times when Australia seemed to wobble, as was seen during the 27-13 loss to Scotland. Critical player injuries were considerable obstacles affecting their performance and overall stability on the field. This also highlighted a significant worry about their dependence on a few top players, as more would be needed to break their rhythm and effectiveness, given their absence.

Australia Starting XV

 Replacements

Ireland will have an edge over Australia in this upcoming match based on recent performance and current form. They are currently ranked second in the world, and in their last three meetings with Australia, they have won all three. Therefore, Ireland’s solid defense and home advantage at the Aviva Stadium could be key factors to win this game.