Do the November International Games Carry A Bit More Bite This Year?

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With the Lions tour this year and the Top 14 club clashes with the international test series in NZ, we didn't get an indication of where the top teams stand as the June tests were more of a developmental tour for the NH sides and apart from Australia, who appear to have regressed significantly this year, we didn't get an idea of where SA and NZ stood and to be honest we're still not entirely sure of where each team is at.

The way I see it, there are at least two major challenges for any side this November. In terms of RWC preparation it's going to be vital to get a psychological edge. You only have to look at Australia's challenges against Wales and England and then translate that into pool play for the coming World Cup and you're going to be sure that all those teams will be doing their best to win those games and send out their message of intent.

NZ plays Japan with a developmental side then plays France, England and Ireland. If that isn't preparation for their World Cup campaign given the likely quarter final of either France or Ireland then I don't know what is. This RC has a familiar feel about it given last year's games and if NZ and SA get a good win in their next game, then it makes for a similar show down to last year with the exception of Australia looking a noticeable step down on performance.

To me it's not so much about the SH match ups. I think NZ would recognise that SA is their main threat in the SH at the moment and irrespective of the result at Ellis Park or the extra Bledisloe later in Dunedin, nothing will change that thinking this year. It is more how they respond in the November tests. England's emphatic victory last year will have an effect on all the teams. It caused a few trembles to the AB foundations and another loss might send a few more chunks falling to the ground. Ireland has a NZ coach who wants to prove himself and what better way than to play NZ.

SA have been building up momentum in the NH in recent times and will look to further establish their dominance. Who will be the challengers in the North? Ireland have a series in SA coming up and have Samoa, Australia and NZ. Scotland have Japan then face Australia and SA. The games seem to be spread nice and evenly.

These fixtures are at the start of the NH season and the close of the SH season but two years out from the World Cup and is it just me or do these match ups carry extra meaning this time round? Obviously the NH always want to win as many games as possible against the SH touring teams and the reverse applies as well. But something tells me whoever can gain an advantage this time round will gain benefits from that into the leadup for 2015. That is not to say that things can't be turned around or mistakes can't be rectified but I have a gut feeling that we're in for some heated rugby battles this November.

Well, I notice someone has deleted it now. 

Allow me to establish why with  moderator and I will repost it as appropriate.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Well, I notice someone has deleted it now. 

Allow me to establish why with  moderator and I will repost it as appropriate.

OK. Cyril is free to help you with it when you need it.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:The equivalents of Fiji, Tonga and Manu Samoa don't seem to attract the same criticism and they get to perform their equivalent of the haka before every game. If NZ didn't do it they'd be criticized if it were up to them. Like what happened in Wales.

I don't understand the reaction to it at all, I love it. It's just theatre.

The Haka never won or lost a game of rugby. Everything that happens on the day of a test match before the ref blows for kick-off is just warm-ups and ceremony.

Rugby wouldn't be the same without it.

Well apparently it's offensive. So ill post a picture of a couple of puppies in a basket instead next time

What was it? Can you give a non-offensive description?

I'm shocked that you posted something offensive. Not like you at all!

It was a flag. Without a union jack on it.

I bet there was a bit more to it than that, chief

Where are the Wales guys on this thread. Come on boys let 'em have it. These are massive games for us. We need to secure the legacy of the Lions tour, the back to back 6Ns and get momentum going for the RWC. Where are we now? Last years AIs were a complete disaster with Adam Jones and George North sorely missed, Gethin Jenkins very rusty and Mike Philips coming back from injury. Rhys Priestland was in meltdown. Staggeringly managed to hold out against Aus for all but the last half minute but as they say second is nowhere. I really like Biltongs thing about "make the MS a fortress". Things are obviously looking very good but Wales and the whole rickety structure of rugby in Wales desperately needs success this Autumn. The Boks are there for the taking and they must be a bit nervous after their narrow 1 point win in the WC, the last meeting. With that under our belts I reckon it's easy peasy. Dod ar Cymru!

Boks there for the taking?

Different coach, new team, on a good run.

It is going to be much tougher than you expect mate.

The boks have no England game to concentrate on (ex colonial masters always gets them up for a challenge). I think the Welsh better expect an almighty barrage from the 940kg pack heading their way.

I think it will be difficult for the Welsh as their game is heavily reliant on their forward dominance and front foot ball... very different 4 steps back.

Biltong wrote:Boks there for the taking?

Different coach, new team, on a good run.

It is going to be much tougher than you expect mate.

You should know better BT...it's the famous old cycle of Welsh optimism.

Boks will be ok because they dont have to play Ireland who they tend to struggle against every November.

Hmm, not since 2009 eh?

last 2 didn't go too well Guns.... was it Paddy Wallace who screwed up at the death last year or the year before????

Nah last year it was Keith Earls.

One for the Kiwi fans, if as expected the Boks give you guys a pounding and lift the RC title will that add bite to the AIs?

Do the November International Games Carry A Bit More Bite This Year?

Dont tell Dylan Hartley that!!!

rodders wrote:Nah last year it was Keith Earls.

One for the Kiwi fans, if as expected the Boks give you guys a pounding and lift the RC title will that add bite to the AIs?  

Whose expecting that? Taylorman sure isn't!

And nah the boks are the boks we expect to be beaten by them once in a while. We want to smash everyone else because that's what we usually do to them. The only ones we owe are the English for the last game so we want to do extra smashing there.