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 earnt victories over Uruguay and Chile. Namibia hosted a tournament including Spain and Zimbabwe, with Spain winning both tests to clinch the tournament.
Matches 20 October
Team detailsAustralia FB 15Mike HarrisRW 14Nick Cummins OC 13Ben TapuaiIC 12Pat McCabeLW 11Adam Ashley-CooperFH 10Kurtley BealeSH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Scott HigginbothamRL 5 Nathan Sharpe (c)LL 4 Sitaleki Timani TP 3 James Slipper HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16James Hanson PR 17Sekope Kepu LK 18Kane Douglas FL 19Dave Dennis FL 20Liam Gill SH 21Brett Sheehan CE 22Drew Mitchell Coach: Robbie DeansNew Zealand FB 15Israel Dagg RW 14Cory JaneOC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Ma'a Nonu LW 11Hosea GearFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Liam Messam RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Charlie Faumuina HK 2 Keven Mealamu LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Andrew Hore PR 17Owen Franks LK 18Luke Romano N8 19Victor Vito SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Aaron Cruden WG 22Ben Smith Coach: Steve Hansen Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia) 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
Team details FB 15Cătălin FercuRW 14Mădălin LemnaruOC 13Ionel Cazan IC 12Csaba GálLW 11Ionut BotezatuFH 10Andrei Filip SH 9 Florin SurugiuN8 8 Mihai Macovei (c)OF 7 Viorel Lucaci BF 6 Vasile Rus RL 5 Marius SirbeLL 4 Valentin Ursache TP 3 Horaţiu Pungea HK 2 Otar TurashviliLP 1 Petru TambaReplacements:HK 16Andrei RădoiPR 17Vlad Bădălicescu LK 18Alin Coste FL 19Alexandru Manta SH 20Grigoras DiaconescuFH 21Ionuț Florea WG 22Constantin Gheară PR 23Romulus BoarCoach:Haralambie Dumitras FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Toshiaki Hirose (c) OC 13Tomohiro Senba IC 12Harumichi TatekawaLW 11Hirotoki OnozawaFH 10Kosei OnoSH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Takashi KikutaniOF 7 Michael LeitchBF 6 Hendrik Tui RL 5 Luke Thompson LL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 Hiroshi Yamashita HK 2 Shota HorieLP 1 Yusuke NagaeReplacements:HK 16Haruki OtaPR 17Takuma AsaharaPR 18Kensuke Hatakeyama FL 19Koliniasi Holani LK 20Michael Broadhurst SH 21Atsushi Hiwasa FH 22Yu TamuraCE 23Go Aruga Coach: Eddie Jones Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France) Stéphane Pomarede (France)
Team details FB 15Andrea MasiRW 14Tommaso IannoneOC 13Tommaso BenvenutiIC 12Alberto SgarbiLW 11Luke McLeanFH 10Kris BurtonSH 9 Tobias Botes N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c) OF 7 Robert Barbieri BF 6 Alessandro Zanni RL 5 Joshua FurnoLL 4 Quintin Geldenhuys TP 3 Lorenzo Cittadini HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Replacements:HK 16Davide Giazzon PR 17Alberto de Marchi PR 18Martin Castrogiovanni LK 19Antonio Pavanello FL 20Simone Favaro SH 21Edoardo Gori FH 22Luciano OrqueraWG 23Giovanbattista VendittiCoach: Jacques Brunel FB 15Vunga Lilo RW 14Fetuʻu VainikoloOC 13Suka Hufanga IC 12Sione Piukala LW 11William HeluFH 10Fangatapu Apikotoa SH 9 Taniela Moa (c) N8 8 Viliami MaʻafuOF 7 Sione Vaiomoʻunga BF 6 Steve MafiRL 5 Lua Lokotui LL 4 Joe Tuineau TP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis TaioneLP 1 Sona Taumalolo Replacements:HK 16Ilaisa Maʻasi PR 17Tevita Mailau PR 18Hale T-Pole N8 19Paula Kaho SH 20Samisoni Fisilau WG 21Alipate Fatafehi WG 22Viliame Iongi PR 23Soane Tongaʻuiha Coach:Mana Otai Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Team details FB 15Alex GoodeRW 14Charlie SharplesOC 13Manu TuilagiIC 12Brad BarrittLW 11Ugo Monye FH 10Toby Flood SH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Thomas WaldromOF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom Johnson RL 5 Geoff ParlingLL 4 Tom Palmer TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Tom Youngs LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16David Paice PR 17David Wilson PR 18Mako Vunipola LK 19Joe Launchbury FL 20Tom Wood SH 21Ben Youngs FH 22Owen Farrell FB 23Mike Brown Coach:Stuart Lancaster FB 15Simeli Koniferedi RW 14Samu Wara OC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Sireli NaqelevukiLW 11Watisoni Votu FH 10Metuisela TalebulaSH 9 Nikola MatawaluN8 8 Akapusi QeraOF 7 Malakai Ravulo BF 6 Api Naikatini RL 5 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa LL 4 Leone Nakarawa TP 3 Deacon Manu (c) HK 2 Viliame Veikoso LP 1 Penijamini Makutu Replacements:HK 16Seremaia Naurere PR 17Setefano Somoca PR 18Manasa Saulo LK 19Sekonaia Kalou FL 20Iliesa Ratuva SH 21Kelemedi Bola CE 22Ravai Fatiaki CE 23Josh Matavesi Coach:Inoke Male Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
Team details FB 15Leigh Halfpenny RW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Scott WilliamsIC 12Jamie Roberts LW 11George NorthFH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Tavis Knoyle N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Josh Turnbull RL 5 Ian Evans LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones TP 3 Aaron Jarvis HK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17Ryan Bevington PR 18Paul James FL 19Rob McCusker FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Mike Phillips FH 22James Hook FB 23Liam Williams Coach:Rob Howley FB 15Juan Martín Hernández RW 14Gonzalo CamachoOC 13Gonzalo TiesiIC 12Felipe Contepomi LW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Nicolás Sánchez SH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Leonardo Senatore OF 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón BF 6 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) RL 5 Julio Farías Cabello LL 4 Manuel CarizzaTP 3 Juan Figallo HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú LP 1 Marcos Ayerza Replacements:HK 16Agustín Creevy HK 17Bruno Postiglioni PR 18Juan Gómez LK 19Tomás Vallejos FL 20Tomás Leonardi SH 21Nicolás Vergallo WG 22Horacio Agulla FB 23Joaquín Tuculet Coach:Santiago Phelan Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Dudley Phillips (Ireland) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland) Notes: Argentina's victory came exactly 11 years after their last win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Team details FB 15Simon Zebo RW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Keith EarlsIC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Andrew Trimble FH 10Johnny SextonSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) OF 7 Chris HenryBF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 Mike McCarthy LL 4 Donnacha Ryan TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Richardt Strauss LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Michael Bent LK 19Donncha O'Callaghan FL 20Iain Henderson SH 21Eoin Reddan FH 22Ronan O'Gara WG 23Fergus McFadden Coach:Declan Kidney FB 15Zane KirchnerRW 14JP Pietersen OC 13Jaco TauteIC 12Jean de Villiers (c)LW 11Francois HougaardFH 10Pat LambieSH 9 Ruan PienaarN8 8 Duane VermeulenOF 7 Willem Alberts BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Juandré KrugerLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Adriaan StraussLP 1 CJ van der Linde Replacements:HK 16Schalk BritsPR 17Heinke van der Merwe PR 18Pat Cilliers LK 19Flip van der Merwe FL 20Marcell Coetzee FH 21Morné Steyn CE 22Juan de Jongh WG 23Lwazi Mvovo Coach:Heyneke Meyer Touch judges: Steve Walsh (Australia) Luke Pierce (England) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy) Notes: Michael Bent, Iain Henderson, Dave Kilcoyne and Richardt Strauss (all Ireland) made their full international debuts. The starting hookers, Adriaan (South Africa) and Richardt Strauss (Ireland), are cousins, the latter qualifying on residency grounds. Ronan O'Gara (Ireland) earned his 127th international cap (125 with Ireland and 2 with the British and Irish Lions) and overtook Brian O'Driscoll as the sole second most-capped player in rugby union history behind Australia's George Gregan (139).
Team details FB 15Brice Dulin RW 14Wesley FofanaOC 13Florian Fritz IC 12Maxime MermozLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10Frédéric Michalak SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Yannick Nyanga RL 5 Jocelino Suta LL 4 Pascal Papé (c)TP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski LP 1 Yannick Forestier Replacements:HK 16Benjamin Kayser PR 17Thomas Domingo PR 18Vincent Debaty LK 19Sébastien Vahaamahina N8 20Damien Chouly SH 21Morgan Parra FH 22François Trinh-Duc WG 23Yoann Huget Coach:Philippe Saint-André FB 15Mike Harris RW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Ben TapuaiIC 12Pat McCabeLW 11Nick CumminsFH 10Kurtley BealeSH 9 Nick PhippsN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Dave Dennis RL 5 Nathan Sharpe (c) LL 4 Kane DouglasTP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17James Slipper PR 18Paddy Ryan LK 19Rob Simmons N8 20Radike Samo FL 21Liam Gill SH 22Brett Sheehan FH 23Berrick Barnes Coach: Robbie Deans Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Neil Paterson (Scotland) Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales) 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).
Team details FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Sean LamontOC 13Nick De Luca IC 12Matt ScottLW 11Tim VisserFH 10Greig Laidlaw SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Kelly Brown (c)OF 7 Ross Rennie BF 6 Alasdair StrokoschRL 5 Jim Hamilton LL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Geoff CrossHK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Allan Jacobsen PR 18Kyle TraynorLK 19Alastair Kellock FL 20Dave Denton SH 21Henry Pyrgos FH 22Ruaridh Jackson WG 23Max Evans Coach: Andy Robinson FB 15Israel Dagg RW 14Cory JaneOC 13Ben SmithIC 12Tamati EllisonLW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Dan Carter SH 9 Piri Weepu N8 8 Victor VitoOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 Luke Romano TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Wyatt Crockett Replacements:HK 16Dane Coles PR 17Tony Woodcock PR 18Ben Franks LK 19Ali Williams FL 20Sam Cane SH 21Tawera Kerr-Barlow FH 22Beauden Barrett CE 23Ma'a Nonu Coach:Steve Hansen Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) 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.