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.
Fixtures 23 October
Team details FB 15Semisi Masirewa RW 14Lomano Lemeki OC 13Timothy LafaeleIC 12Ryoto NakamuraLW 11Siosaia FifitaFH 10Rikiya MatsudaSH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Kazuki Himeno OF 7 Lappies Labuschagné (c)BF 6 Ben Gunter RL 5 James MooreLL 4 Jack CornelsenTP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 Atsushi Sakate LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Yusuke Niwai PR 17Craig Millar PR 18Asaeli Ai Valu FL 19Yoshitaka Tokunaga N8 20Tevita Tatafu SH 21Naoto Saito FH 22Yu Tamura CE 23Dylan Riley Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15Reece Hodge RW 14Tom WrightOC 13Len IkitauIC 12Hunter PaisamiLW 11Andrew KellawayFH 10Quade Cooper SH 9 Nic White N8 8 Rob ValetiniOF 7 Michael Hooper (c)BF 6 Rob Leota RL 5 Matt Philip LL 4 Izack RoddaTP 3 Taniela Tupou HK 2 Folau Fainga'a LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Connal McInerney PR 17Angus Bell PR 18Allan Alaalatoa LK 19Darcy Swain FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Tate McDermott FH 22James O'Connor CE 23Jordan Petaia Coach: Dave Rennie Assistant referees: Takehito Namekawa (Japan) Shuhei Kubo (Japan) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Notes: Ben Gunter, Dylan Riley (both Japan) and Connal McInerney (Australia) made their international debuts. Yoshitaka Tokunaga replaced Michael Leitch on the bench for Japan, after Leitch withdrew due to injury.
Team details FB 15Will HooleyRW 14Ryan James OC 13Tavite LopetiIC 12Bryce Campbell (c)LW 11Ryan Matyas FH 10Luke CartySH 9 Nate AugspurgerN8 8 Cam Dolan OF 7 Hanco Germishuys BF 6 Benjamín BonassoRL 5 Nick CivettaLL 4 Nate Brakeley TP 3 Paul Mullen HK 2 Dylan Fawsitt LP 1 Matt Harmon Replacements:HK 16Chad Gough PR 17Fakaʻosi Pifeleti PR 18Dino Waldren LK 19Siaosi Mahoni FL 20Moni Tonga’uiha FL 21Andrew Guerra SH 22Michael Baska FH 23Mike Dabulas Coach: Gary Gold FB 15Damian McKenzieRW 14Will JordanOC 13Braydon EnnorIC 12Quinn TupaeaLW 11George Bridge FH 10Richie Mo'unga SH 9 Finlay Christie N8 8 Hoskins SotutuOF 7 Dalton Papalii BF 6 Luke JacobsonRL 5 Sam Whitelock (c) LL 4 Tupou Vaa'iTP 3 Angus Ta'avao HK 2 Asafo Aumua LP 1 Ethan de Groot Replacements:HK 16Dane Coles PR 17George Bower PR 18Tyrel Lomax LK 19Josh Lord FL 20Sam Cane SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Beauden Barrett CE 23Anton Lienert-Brown Coach: Ian Foster Assistant Referees: Moe Chaudhry (Canada) Scott Green (United States) Television match official: Brett Cronan (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 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
Team details FB 15Darcy Graham RW 14Kyle SteynOC 13Sione TuipulotuIC 12Sam JohnsonLW 11Rufus McLean FH 10Blair KinghornSH 9 Ali Price (cc) N8 8 Matt Fagerson OF 7 Hamish Watson BF 6 Jamie Ritchie (cc)RL 5 Rob Harley LL 4 Jamie HodgsonTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 George Turner LP 1 Pierre Schoeman Replacements:HK 16Stuart McInally PR 17Jamie Bhatti PR 18Oli Kebble LK 19Marshall Sykes FL 20Luke Crosbie N8 21Nick Haining SH 22Jamie Dobie FH 23Ross Thompson Coach: Gregor Townsend FB 15James FaivaRW 14Atu ManuOC 13Mali HinganoIC 12Vaea Vaea LW 11Walter FifitaFH 10Kurt Morath SH 9 Sonatane Takulua (c)N8 8 Valentino Mapapalangi OF 7 Fotu Lokotui BF 6 Tanginoa HalaifonuaRL 5 Setefano Funaki LL 4 Leva FifitaTP 3 David Lolohea HK 2 Maile Ngauamo LP 1 Loni Uhila Replacements:HK 16Siua Maile PR 17Jethro Felemi PR 18Toma'akino Taufa LK 19Daniel Faleafa FL 20Onehunga Havili FL 21Mateaki Kafatolu SH 22Aisea Halo FH 23Navarre Haisila Caretaker coaches: Grant Doorey John McKee Player of the Match: Kyle Steyn (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia) Angus Gardner (Australia) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Notes: Luke Crosbie, Jamie Dobie, Jamie Hodgson, Rufus McLean, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu (all Scotland), Setefano Funaki, Navarre Haisila, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Atu Manu, Maile Ngauamo, Loni Uhila and Vaea Vaea (all Tonga) made their international debuts. Scotland recorded their biggest win over Tonga, surpassing the 36-point difference set during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Kyle Steyn became the first Scottish player to score four tries at Murrayfield and the first since Gavin Hastings against Ivory Coast at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Tonga played at Murrayfield for the first time since 2001.
Team details FB 15Johnny McNichollRW 14Owen LaneOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Johnny Williams LW 11Josh AdamsFH 10Gareth Anscombe SH 9 Tomos Williams N8 8 Aaron WainwrightOF 7 Taine BashamBF 6 Ross Moriarty RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c) LL 4 Adam BeardTP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ryan Elias LP 1 Wyn Jones Replacements:HK 16Kirby Myhill PR 17Rhys Carré PR 18Dillon Lewis LK 19Will Rowlands FL 20Seb Davies SH 21Gareth Davies FH 22Rhys Priestland CE 23Ben Thomas Coach: Wayne Pivac FB 15Jordie BarrettRW 14Will Jordan OC 13Anton Lienert-BrownIC 12David Havili LW 11Rieko IoaneFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 TJ Perenara N8 8 Ardie SaveaOF 7 Dalton Papalii BF 6 Ethan Blackadder RL 5 Sam Whitelock (c)LL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Nepo Laulala HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Joe Moody Replacements:HK 16Samisoni Taukei'aho PR 17Karl Tu'inukuafe PR 18Tyrel Lomax LK 19Tupou Vaa'i FL 20Akira Ioane SH 21Brad Weber FH 22Richie Mo'unga WG 23Sevu Reece Coach: Ian Foster Player of the Match: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland) 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. 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
Team details FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Andrew ConwayOC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Bundee Aki LW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Jack ConanOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Caelan DorisRL 5 James RyanLL 4 Tadhg Beirne TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Dan Sheehan PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Peter O'Mahony SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Joey Carbery WG 23Keith Earls Coach: Andy Farrell FB 15Kotaro MatsushimaRW 14Dylan RileyOC 13Timothy Lafaele IC 12Ryoto Nakamura LW 11Siosaia FifitaFH 10Yu Tamura SH 9 Yutaka Nagare N8 8 Kazuki HimenoOF 7 Lappies Labuschagné (c)BF 6 Ben Gunter RL 5 James MooreLL 4 Jack CornelsenTP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 Atsushi Sakate LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Yusuke Niwai PR 17Craig Millar PR 18Asaeli Ai Valu FL 19Yoshitaka Tokunaga N8 20Tevita Tatafu SH 21Naoto Saito FH 22Rikiya Matsuda FB 23Ryohei Yamanaka Coach: Jamie Joseph Player of the Match: Jack Conan (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia) Pierre Brousset (France) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France) Notes: Dan Sheehan (Ireland) made his international debut. Johnny Sexton became the seventh Ireland player to earn his 100th test cap.
Team details FB 15Matteo MinozziRW 14Federico MoriOC 13Ignacio BrexIC 12Marco ZanonLW 11Monty IoaneFH 10Paolo Garbisi SH 9 Stephen Varney N8 8 Renato Giammarioli OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c)BF 6 Sebastian NegriRL 5 Dave Sisi LL 4 Marco Fuser TP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi LP 1 Danilo Fischetti Replacements:HK 16Luca Bigi PR 17Ivan Nemer PR 18Pietro Ceccarelli LK 19Niccolò Cannone LK 20Federico Ruzza N8 21Braam Steyn SH 22Callum Braley FH 23Carlo Canna Coach: Kieran Crowley FB 15Damian McKenzieRW 14Sevu Reece OC 13Braydon Ennor IC 12Quinn TupaeaLW 11George BridgeFH 10Richie Mo'ungaSH 9 Brad Weber N8 8 Hoskins SotutuOF 7 Sam Cane (c)BF 6 Luke Jacobson RL 5 Josh Lord LL 4 Tupou Vaa'iTP 3 Tyrel Lomax HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 George Bower Replacements:HK 16Asafo Aumua PR 17Ethan de Groot PR 18Ofa Tu'ungafasi LK 19Sam Whitelock FL 20Shannon Frizell SH 21Finlay Christie CE 22David Havili FB 23Jordie Barrett Coach: Ian Foster Player of the Match: Dane Coles (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland) Sam Grove-White (Scotland) Television match official: Tom Foley (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.
Team details FB 15Nuno Sousa Guedes RW 14Raffaele StortiOC 13José LimaIC 12Tomás Appleton (c)LW 11Rodrigo MartaFH 10Jerónimo Portela SH 9 Pedro Lucas N8 8 Thibault de Freitas OF 7 David WallisBF 6 Rafael SimõesRL 5 Duarte TorgalLL 4 José Madeira TP 3 Diogo Ferreira HK 2 Duarte Diniz LP 1 David Costa Replacements:PR 16André Arrojado HK 17Loïc Bournonville PR 18Francisco Bruno LK 19Eric dos Santos FL 20Manuel Picão SH 21João Belo FH 22Jorge Abecassis FB 23Manuel Cardoso Pinto Coach: Patrice Lagisquet FB 15Robbie PoveyRW 14Brock WebsterOC 13Ben LeSageIC 12Quinn NgawatiLW 11Kainoa LloydFH 10Spencer JonesSH 9 Ross Braude N8 8 Siaki Vikilani OF 7 Michael SmithBF 6 Lucas Rumball (c)RL 5 Kyle Baillie LL 4 Conor KeysTP 3 Jake IlnickiHK 2 Andrew Quattrin LP 1 Cole Keith Replacements:HK 16Eric Howard PR 17Djustice Sears-Duru PR 18Foster DeWittLK 19Corey Thomas LK 20Josh Larsen SH 21Jason Higgins CE 22Lockie KratzWG 23Isaac OlsonCoach: Kingsley Jones Assistant referees: Ben Blain (Scotland) Adam Leal (England) 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.
Team details FB 15J. W. BellRW 14Joan Losada OC 13Richard StewartIC 12Álvar GimenoLW 11Jordi Jorba FH 10Bautista GüemesSH 9 Kerman Aurrekoetxea N8 8 Facundo Domínguez OF 7 Mathew FouldsBF 6 Kalokalo GavidiRL 5 Victor Sánchez LL 4 Manuel MoraTP 3 Alberto Blanco HK 2 Santiago Ovejero LP 1 Fernando López (c) Replacements:PR 16Thierry Futeu HK 17Pablo Miejimolle PR 18Andres Alvarado LK 19Anibal Bonán FL 20Brice Ferrer SH 21Facundo Munilla FB 22Federico Casteglioni WG 23Jerry Davoibaravi Coach: Santiago Santos FB 15Seta Tuicuvu RW 14Jiuta Wainiqolo OC 13Waisea Nayacalevu (c)IC 12Vilimoni BotituLW 11Aminiasi Tuimaba FH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nikola Matawalu N8 8 Albert Tuisue OF 7 Mesu Kunavula BF 6 Leone NakarawaRL 5 Temo Mayanavanua LL 4 Tevita Ratuva TP 3 Mesake Doge HK 2 Sam Matavesi LP 1 Eroni Mawi Replacements:HK 16Henry Spring PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Lee-Roy Atalifo LK 19Api Ratuniyarawa N8 20Viliame Mata FL 21Masivesi Dakuwaqa WG 22Josua Tuisova WG 23Eroni Sau Caretaker coach: Gareth Baber Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre (France) Chris Busby (Ireland) Television match official: Alan Falzone (Italy) Notes: