Europe will again become the centre of attention for international rugby union as top southern hemisphere countries arrive for this month’s end-of-year Tests.
This latest round of November internationals has additional significance as the matches will take place less than a year before the start of the 2015 World Cup in England.
Reigning world champions New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia will all face England at Twickenham, the venue for next year’s World Cup final.
Observers will be looking to see if an England side that won the 2003 World Cup appear to have what it takes to win a second crown on home soil.
Wins against such stiff opposition would buoy the the side heading into 2015, but even losses, says Owen Farrell, wouldn’t deter their spirit.
“I can’t imagine walking onto a pitch not believing England were going to win,” the 23-year-old Saracens star told Britain’s Sunday Times.
England produced one of their greatest performances of all time to beat New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham two years ago.
However, since then they’ve lost their last four Tests against the All Blacks and another reverse this coming Saturday would put serious doubt in Farrell’s claims of a resolute squad.
England fly-half Farrell, who played in the team that beat New Zealand in 2012, dismissed all talk of “scarring” should New Zealand win on November 8, though.
“When it comes to the 2015 World Cup, we will have unbelievable belief,” he said.
England are dealing with injuries to key personnel, the latest seeing powerful second row Joe Launchbury ruled out of the whole November campaign with a neck problem on Sunday, while – with the possible exceptions of full-back Mike Brown and Farrell – it appears England coach Stuart Lancaster has still to decide on his first-choice back division.
Meanwhile the Big Three of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will also play Wales in Cardiff this month.
Both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have already had a hit-out, with New Zealand thrashing the United States 74-6 in Chicago on Saturday, hours after Australia were pushed all the way before seeing off the invitational Barbarians 40-36 at Twickenham.
One benefit of the match in Chicago was that it allowed All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter to make a return from his latest leg injury.
“Absolutely stoked to get back on the field,” Carter said after starring at Soldier Field.
“It was important for us. We have an important game against England next week. We worked on a couple things for that match.”
The furore surrounding the fall-out from the Kurtley Beale text scandal that led to the resignation of former Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has overshadowed the fact they lost by just one point to New Zealand in their previous Test last month.
Australia have a back-line the envy of many a country, although both England and Wales – two of the Wallabies’ opponents in the World Cup – will look to exploit any hint of the scrum weakness that has been a feature of the green-and-golds’ recent World Cup campaigns.
Michael Cheika’s reign as Australia coach began with a win over the Barbarians but he expects a much sterner contest in Cardiff on Saturday.
“Wales will lift the physicality and aggression side of things considerably,” he said. “That’s when the real physical business will start in earnest.”
And yet Wales, for all they have won three Six Nations titles and reached a World Cup semi-final during coach Warren Gatland’s six years at the helm, have a dire recent record against the Big Three.
They’ve lost their last nine Tests against Australia, have beaten South Africa just the once, in 1999, while you have to go back to 1953 for their last victory over New Zealand.
“When you lose, it motivates you to go again,” said Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones. “We are not in the business of dwelling on the past.”
South Africa look to be adding backline flair to their traditional crushing forward power, a combination that enabled them to beat New Zealand in Johannesburg in October and which makes them especially dangerous opponents first-up for an Ireland side who’ll also play Georgia and Australia in Dublin this month.
Argentina arrive fresh from an inaugural Rugby Championship win over Australia and the Pumas should provide stern opposition for Scotland, Italy and France.
As for France, it is remarkable to recall that after the supposedly volatile Marc Lievremont stood down as coach after Les Bleus had come within one offside decision of winning the 2011 World Cup, there was much talk of how new boss Philippe Saint-Andre would bring order amid the chaos.
Yet the fact Saint-Andre has started six players at fly-half alone during his time in charge, is an indication of how rarely France have hit the heights which their player pool suggests are still within their grasp.
Victories over Fiji, Australia and Argentina this month may not silence the doubters, but they would do wonders for France’s esprit de corps.
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