The 2022 Autumn Nations Series got underway in earnest this weekend with all of the World’s biggest rugby nations on display.

In an ever-expanding rugby calendar, round one of the series saw just two major fixtures with the All Blacks narrowly seeing off Japan in Tokyo whilst Australia snuck by Scotland in Edinburgh.

Week two of the series was the true beginning of this Autumn’s rugby festivities and boy did it deliver.

So let’s take a look at the highlights from a truly memorable weekend of Rugby Union.

Match Of The Week– Les Bleus Hold Off Resurgent Wallabies

Undoubtedly the heavy favourites heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup, France survived an almighty scare at the Stade de France as an ever-improving Wallabies team took them to the wire. 

Little was expected of Australia coming into this fixture having narrowly scraped past Scotland the week before and having lost a home series to England before struggling in the Rugby Championship earlier in the season. 

Perhaps this is just the way they would’ve wanted things, as a nation used to sporting excellence it is rare that an Australian team is an underdog. Equally the “Us against the world attitude” is often a characteristic that brings out the best in a team and this would appear to be the case with this group.

One point in particular will live long in the memory as the Wallabies sprung an attack from deep in their own territory which resulted in perhaps the try of the year. Chasing back to clear up a probing French kick, the Wallabies flipped the game on its head as they went the length of the field before inside centre Lalakai Foketi went crossed the whitewash.

Whilst the Wallabies deserve a ton of credit for coming so close to the upset, Les Bleus crucially still held on for a 30 – 29 win.

Looking somewhat out of sorts and lacking their usual physicality in defence, Fabian Galthie’s side continued their fine run of form as they kept the pressure on Ireland at the top of the World Rankings. 

Missing several key stars most notably giant second row Paul Willemse who bring a real hard edge to the side. His replacement Cameron Woki is more a lightweight, mobile and skilful player who is more adapt at playing a wide attacking game than battling in the trenches.  

Whilst being pushed this hard may have come as a surprise to many it will do the French a world of good to know that they can close out a fixture when their backs are to the wall.

Ultimately it would be winger Damian Penaud who once again underlined his class in getting over for the crucial game winning try.

Performance Of The Week – Ireland Out Bok The Boks In Dublin

If there was to be a battle of the titans in rugby it would currently be the world number one ranked Ireland vs the current World Champions South Africa.

Both sides along with France and New Zealand appear to be the clear four best nations in the game less than a year out from the World Cup.

Billed as contrast of styles with the bemouth Boks coming to Dublin looking to nullify the free-flowing Irish, this fixture did not disappoint.

A tense and tetchy first half ended 6 – 6 with both sides blitzing each other defensively offering little to no space from which to attack. 

Whilst the score line reflected an even ball game, it was anything but in the first half with the Boks enjoying the lion’s share of possession, territory and most crucial opportunities. Yet the World Champions just couldn’t get past the Irish defensive wall. 

As the teams came back out of the Aviva Stadium tunnel for the second half there was an air of expectancy that the game could be blown open at any moment.

This proved to be the case as Ireland outmuscled their larger South African counterparts with a powerful maul that led to player of the match Josh van der Flier bundling over for the opening try. 

Ireland captain and usual sharpshooter Jonathan Sexton missed the conversion but crucially the hosts were now on top.

It would be Ireland who would once again flex their muscles as they scored a sublime try that rivalled any that had been scored this year (including the Wallabies stunner). Winger Mack Hansen would be the beneficiary as he finished off the move by going over in the left corner to give the home side some breathing room.

Sexton would once again miss the conversion which left just the slightest of openings for the Boks to come back.

And comeback they did as they went over for two typically powerful tries firstly to replacement second row Franco Mostert who resembled go-go-gadget-man with his ability to stretch his 6’7” frame over the try line to bring the Boks back in.

Unfortunately for the Boks it was not just Sexton who was having an off day with the boot as Cheslin Kolbe shanked the conversion well wide to leave his time two scores behind.

Next up it would be South Africa’s other second row and arguably their best player Eben Etzebeth who would hold up three Irish defenders before releasing winger Kurt-Lee Arendse for the final score of the match.

Now trailing by just three points, Kolbe once again miscued and with it possibly cost the Boks a genuine chance at victory. Ireland would hold on to close out a 19 – 16 win over their Pool B World Cup opponents and with it gain a psychological advantage before next year’s global showpiece. 

Upset Of The Week – Argentina Derail England’s Chariot

Argentina’s Los Pumas got their northern hemisphere tour off with a bang as they derailed heavy favourites England in an entertaining 30 – 29 win.

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Los Pumas coach Michael Cheika will be particularly happy to get one over his long-time mate Eddie Jones before the two sides meet in Pool D at next year’s World Cup.

England came into the game with several key injuries most notably to the experienced duo of Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes.

Farrell would eventually make it to the game and captain the side, but Lawes did not play and his calming presence and physical edge were both missed.

Ultimately it was a fantastic game of rugby where both sides put on a sensational display with the key difference being the boot of Emiliano Boffelli.

The Edinburgh winger picked up where he left off for the South Americans In the Rugby Championship as he scored a try, a conversion and six penalties in truly world class display.

Continuing with their expansive approach to the game, Los Pumas appear to have added another tactical dimension with their kicking game.

All-in-all they appear to be rounding into form at the just the right time with less than a year to go to the World Cup. 

MVP Of The Week

Having briefly touched on it above, Emiliano Boffelli was truly world class in his side’s victory of England.

In a similar fashion to Ireland’s victory over the Springboks, Los Pumas victory is a significant feather in their cap heading to next year’s World Cup.

Few would’ve given them a chance at “The Home of Rugby” yet they came out and played with a devil-may-care attitude. 

Having beaten both the Wallabies and All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, Los Pumas now appear to be just behind Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand in world pecking order.

Having been drawn on the opposite side of the quarterfinal line-ups to all four of the sides listed above, the possibility of them making the World Cup final is now very real and key to this will be Boffelli’s ability to sustain his high level of play.

Written By Philip Bendon