2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals

The 2014 end-of-year rugby tests, also known as the 2014 autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were international rugby union matches predominantly played between visiting Southern Hemisphere countries and European nations.

Brazil, Canada, Germany, Georgia, Hong Kong, Japan, Namibia, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, Russia, the United States and Uruguay A all played at least one test match during the three-week international window.

Within the window, the three Pacific Island teams faced Tier 1 opposition, when Wales and France hosted Fiji, and England and Italy hosted Samoa. At the time, Italy entered the Samoa test on the back of nine consecutive losses and a 15–0 loss to Samoa in Apia in June 2014. Scotland became the first Tier 1 nation to play a Test match on a fully artificial pitch when they hosted Tonga at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, winning 37–12.

Georgia had a rare opportunity to play a Tier 1 nation in Ireland, who played The Lelos for the first time since their Pool D fixture in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Ireland became the first Tier 1 nation to play Georgia since Argentina in June 2013, and the first Six Nations team to host a European Nations Cup team since Scotland's 48–6 win over Romania during the 2006 Autumn Internationals.

The United States played host to New Zealand for the first time since 1980, though that was not an official test match. Therefore, this was the first official test match between the two in America since 1913, when the All Blacks were 51–3 victors, and the last meeting between the two nations took place during the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks won the game 74–6 in front of a sell-out crowd at Soldier Field.

History was made in Hong Kong, when a first-ever meeting between Hong Kong and Russia took place, and in Windhoek with a first-ever meeting between Germany and Namibia on Namibian soil.

Argentina visited Scotland, Italy and France, as they tried to build upon their first Rugby Championship win. Australia traveled to Wales, Ireland, England and France, who they had beaten 3–0 in their 2014 June Test series. New Zealand played Scotland, Wales and England, who had lost 3–0 to the All Blacks in their June Test series, while South Africa competed against Ireland, England, Wales and Italy.

Following a reduced 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the IRB organized[citation needed] matches between the Pacific island countries and North American teams at neutral venues in Europe; Tonga and Fiji played the United States, while Samoa played Canada. In addition to those, Romania hosted both Canada and the United States, while Romania and Georgia hosted Japan. Georgia also hosted Tonga for just their third meeting, the first since 1999.

Following the qualification of Namibia for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, an IRB–funded tour allowed Namibia to test themselves against higher ranked opposition; they played Canada in Colwyn Bay and Portugal in Lisbon. In preparation for a big year in Brazilian sport ahead of the introduction of Rugby sevens into the Olympic Games, Brazil hosted Uruguay and Paraguay to broaden their depth in the sport[citation needed] before their automatic participation in the 2016 competition.

Like in recent seasons, New Zealand and Australia played the third and final Bledisloe Cup Test match for the year, with New Zealand winning 29–28 with a last-minute try.

Matches

[edit]

October

[edit]
18 October 2014
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia 28–29 New Zealand
Try: Phipps 11' c
Foley 38' m
Ashley-Cooper 42'
Con: Foley (2/3) 13', 43'
Pen: Foley (2/2) 32', 58'
White (1/1) 76'		Report[1]Try: Jane 14' c
Coles 34' m
A. Smith 68' c
Fekitoa 80'
Con: Barrett (2/3) 15', 69'
Slade (1/1) 80+1'
Pen: Barrett (1/1) 53'
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[2]
Attendance: 45,186
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Notes:

  • Adam Ashley-Cooper became the sixth Australian player to earn 100 test caps, and the first to score a try in his 100th test.
  • Adam Ashley-Cooper equaled David Campese's record of 8 tries scored against the All Blacks.
  • Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander both equaled Al Baxter's 69 test caps and became the Wallabies' most-capped props.
  • During the post-match press conference, Wallabies head coach Ewen McKenzie announced his resignation.[3]
29 October 2014
19:00 WAST (UTC+2)
Namibia 58–20 Germany
Try: Deysel 3' m
Tromp (2) 11' c, 59' c
Kitshoff (2) 22' c, 29' c
R. De la Harpe 38' c
Forbes 43' m
Dames 47' m
Greyling 76' m
Con: Kaizemi (5/9) 12', 23', 30', 40', 61'
Pen: Kaizemi (1/2) 16'		Report[4]Try: Brenner 63' c
Armstrong 68' c
Con: Hilsenbeck (2/2) 64', 70'
Pen: Hilsenbeck (2/2) 7', 10'
Trustco United Rugby Club, Windhoek[5]
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Notes:

1 November

[edit]
1 November 2014
14:00 JST (UTC+9)
Japan 21–61 Māori All Blacks
Try: Penalty try (2) 25' c, 73' c
Mafi 52' c
Con: Goromaru (3/3) 27', 53', 73'		Report[6]Try: Eves 7' m
Emery (2) 20' c, 34' c
Polwart 23' c
West 46' c
Milner-Skudder 55' m
Ngatai 63' c
Lowe 76' c
Con: West (6/8) 21', 24', 35', 47', 64', 77'
Pen: West (3/5) 14', 17', 40'
Noevir Stadium, Kobe[7]
Attendance: 21,234
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
1 November 2014
14:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Barbarians36–40 Australia
Try: Halai 14' m
Thomson 26' c
Saili 47' c
Cummins 73'
Boshoff 77' c
Con: Slade (2/3) 27', 48'
Boshoff (2/2) 74', 78'
Pen: Slade (1/1) 51'		ReportTry: Carter 24' c
Robinson 30' c
Kuridrani 46' c
Horne 57' m
Foley 63' c
McMahon 66' c
Con: Cooper (3/3) 25', 31', 47'
Foley (2/3) 64', 68'
Twickenham, London[8]
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Notes:

  • Australia won the Killik Cup, after the Barbarians won it in 2013 against Fiji and England failed to reclaim it in June 2014.
1 November 2014
15:00 CDT (UTC-05)
United States 6–74 New Zealand
Pen: Siddall (2/2) 10', 17'Report[9]Try: Harris 2' m
Jane 14' c
Tuipulotu 19' c
Williams (2) 20' c, 29' c
Piutau 25' m
Savea (2) 33' m, 78' c
Moody 45' m
Cruden 48' m
Dagg 56' c
Cane 64' c
Con: Cruden (4/9) 15', 19', 21', 29'
Carter (3/3) 57', 65', 80'
Soldier Field, Chicago[10]
Attendance: 61,500[citation needed]
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Notes:

  • The attendance for this match more than tripled the previous record crowd for an international rugby match in the U.S. of 20,181, set in June 2013 when the USA hosted Ireland at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Soldier Field, with a 61,500 capacity, was sold out a week before the match.[11]
  • The score was a record for the All Blacks against the US, surpassing their 51–3 victory in 1913.[12]
  • Augustine Pulu made his international debut for New Zealand.
  • Tim Stanfill made his international debut for the United States.

7/8 November

[edit]
7 November 2014
19:00 GMT (UTC+0)
Canada 17–13 Namibia
Try: Dala 57' m
Pen: McRorie (4/4) 7', 12', 31', 45'		Report[13]Try: Burger 74' c
Con: Kotzé (1/1) 75'
Pen: Kotzé (2/3) 25', 32'
Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay, Wales[14][15]
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Notes:

8 November 2014
14:00 JST (UTC+9)
Japan 18–20 Māori All Blacks
Try: Yamada 38' m
Penalty try 47' c
Con: Goromaru (1/2) 48'
Pen: Goromaru (2/3) 54', 72'		Report[16]Try: Taylor 16' c
Milner-Skudder 22' m
Pryor 80' m
Con: West (1/2) 17'
Pen: West (1/2) 31'
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo[7]
Attendance: 20,515
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
8 November 2014
18:00 HKT (UTC+8)
Hong Kong 10–31 Russia
Try: Varty 74' c
Con: Hood (1/1) 75'
Pen: Hood (1/1) 9'		Report[17]Try: Otrokov 13' c
Galinovskiy 39' c
Sidrov 78' m
Con: Kushnarev (2/3) 14', 40'
Pen: Kushnarev (4/4) 3', 21', 30', 48'
Kings Park Sports Ground, Hong Kong
Referee: Akihisa Aso (Japan)

Notes:

8 November 2014
17:00 GET (UTC+4)
Georgia 9–23 Tonga
Pen: Kvirikashvili (3/4) 11', 40', 51'Report[18]Try: Moa (2) 64' c, 70' m
Lilo 77' m
Con: Fosita (1/3) 65'
Pen: Morath (2/2) 27', 45'
Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi[19]
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

Notes:

8 November 2014
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Italy 24–13 Samoa
Try: Favaro 47' m
Parisse 65' c
Con: Haimona (1/2) 66'
Pen: Haimona (4/6) 10', 43', 54', 73'		Report[20]Try: Lam 32' c
Con: T. Pisi (1/1) 33'
Pen: T. Pisi (2/3) 26', 51'
Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca, Ascoli Piceno[21]
Attendance: 11,100
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Notes:

8 November 2014
14:30 GMT (UTC+0)
England 21–24 New Zealand
Try: May 3' m
Penalty try 79' c
Con: Ford (1/1) 79'
Pen: Farrell (3/3) 17', 21', 40'		Report[22]Try: Cruden 13' m
McCaw 45' m
Faumuina 71' m
Pen: Cruden (2/3) 23', 36'
Barrett (1/2) 65'
Twickenham, London[23]
Attendance: 82,223
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Notes:

8 November 2014
14:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Wales 28–33 Australia
Try: Webb 2' c
Cuthbert 24' c
A. W. Jones 40' c
Penalty try 64' c
Con: Halfpenny (2/2) 4', 25'
Biggar (1/1) 40'
Priestland (1/1) 65'		Report[24]Try: Folau (2) 14' c, 20' c
Kuridrani 28' c
Con: Foley (3/3) 15', 21', 29'
Pen: Foley (3/3) 43', 56', 78'
Drop: Foley (1/1) 72'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff[25]
Attendance: 55,004
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Notes:

  • Australia retain the James Bevan Trophy.
  • Sean McMahon and Tetera Faulkner made their international debuts for Australia.
  • Australia win their 10th consecutive match over Wales, surpassing their record of 9 consecutive wins over Wales.
8 November 2014
18:30 EET (UTC+2)
Romania 17–27 United States
Try: Penalty try 46' c
Carpo 69' c
Con: Vlaicu (2/2) 47', 70'
Pen: Vlaicu (1/4) 8'		Report[26]Try: Ngwenya 3' c
T. Stanfill 29' c
Niua 66' c
Con: Siddall (3/3) 5', 30', 67'
Pen: Siddall (1/1) 40'
Drop: Petri (1/1) 58'
Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest[14]
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)

Notes:

8 November 2014
17:45 CET (UTC+1)
France 40–15 Fiji
Try: Thomas (3) 1' m, 53' c, 55' m
Papé 66' c
Fofana 72' c
Con: Lopez (2/4) 54', 67'
Kockott (1/1) 72'
Pen: Lopez (3/4) 7', 28', 40'		Report[27]Try: Ratini 45' m
Nagusa 80+1' c
Con: Nadolo (1/2) 80+2'
Pen: Nadolo (1/2) 43'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille[28]
Attendance: 44,228
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Notes:

8 November 2014
17:30 WET (UTC+0)
Ireland 29–15 South Africa
Try: Ruddock 41' c
Bowe 71' c
Con: Sexton (2/2) 42', 73'
Pen: Sexton (4/4) 8', 23', 62', 70'
Madigan (1/1) 78'		Report[29]Try: Coetzee 56' c
Pietersen 79' m
Con: Pollard (1/1) 57'
Pen: Pollard (1/2) 37'
Aviva Stadium, Dublin[30]
Attendance: 51,100
Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Notes:

  • Jared Payne made his international debut for Ireland.
  • This was Ireland's first win over South Africa since 2009.
  • Ireland became the first Six Nations team to beat South Africa since Scotland's 21–17 win in November 2010.
8 November 2014
17:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Scotland 41–31 Argentina
Try: R. Gray 5' c
J. Gray 22' c
Maitland 24' c
Hogg 46' c
Seymour 70' c
Con: Laidlaw (4/4) 7', 23', 26', 47'
Weir (1/1) 71'
Pen: Laidlaw (2/4) 32', 61'		Report[31]Try: Ortega Desio 1' c
Penalty try 69' c
Cubelli(2) 73' c, 79' c
Con: Sánchez (1/1) 2'
Hernández (3/3) 69', 74', 80'
Pen: Sánchez (1/2) 12'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh[32]
Attendance: 36,764
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Notes:

14/15/16 November

[edit]
14 November 2014
17:15 CET (UTC+1)
Italy 18–20 Argentina
Pen: Haimona (5/6) 3', 14', 20', 22', 49'
Orquera (1/1) 72'		Report[33]Try: González Amorosino 39' c
De la Fuente 57' c
Con: Hernández (2/2) 39', 58'
Pen: Hernández (1/2) 11'
Sánchez (1/1) 68'
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa[34]
Attendance: 12,129
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Notes:

  • Lucas Ponce and Guido Petti (both Argentina) made their international debuts.
  • This fixture was originally scheduled for 15 November 15:00 CET kick off. But the match was brought forward by the FIR because of the bad weather expected to hit the region.[35]
14 November 2014
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
French Barbarians35–14 Namibia
Try: Capó Ortega 12' c
Plisson 16' c
Palisson 26' c
Bias 37' c
Fresia 42' c
Con: Plisson (5/5) 13', 17', 27', 38', 42'		Report[36]Try: Van Lill 5' c
Kotzé 32' c
Con: Kotzé (1/1) 6'
R. De la Harpe (1/1) 33'
Stade Mayol, Toulon[37]
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
14 November 2014
19:00 CET (UTC+1)