Wayne Pivac’s senior men’s squad will return from a three-Test summer tour of South Africa to face New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and then Australia on consecutive Saturdays in November.
And the opportunity to take a top southern hemisphere scalp, or more, whilst also facing two future Rugby World Cup Pool C opponents, in Georgia and Australia, is relished by the head coach.
“We have another big campaign ahead this Autumn Nations Series with four home fixtures following our three-Test Series in South Africa this summer.” said Pivac.
“Having fans back at Principality Stadium has been massive for the squad and we can’t wait for them to get behind us again in force this November.”
30.10.21 – Wales v New Zealand – Autumn Nations Series – Fans at the stadium ahead of the game
The Autumn Nations Series kicks off at 3.15pm on Saturday 5th November against the All Blacks in the 37th meeting between the two sides. The Pumas, always a team by which Wales sides measure themselves, are next up the following Saturday at 5.30pm, before World Cup rivals Georgia arrive in Cardiff a week later (1.00pm) and then – on the final weekend in November – the Wallabies help bring the autumn campaign to a climactic close (3.15pm).
“It’s always exciting when New Zealand come to town – they are consistently one of the best teams in the world,” added Pivac.
“We’re looking forward to being able to test ourselves against them with our English-based players available and the opportunity to make our own bit of history.
30.10.21 – Wales v New Zealand All Blacks – Autumn Nations Cup – Samuel Whitelock of New Zealand leads his side perform the Haka.
“We are also looking forward to taking on Argentina again in front of a home crowd, although the conditions this time out should be quite different to their visit to Principality Stadium last summer.
“For our final two matches we play Georgia and Australia who are both in our pool for Rugby World Cup 2023.
“They each present different challenges for us and these games will be really important preparation as the countdown to the tournament in France continues.”
Wayne Pivac during training.
Tickets, which go on public sale for the first time tomorrow Friday 10th June from 10am, remain frozen in all price categories for the Georgia, Argentina and Australia matches in 2022 with admission prices for these and equivalent Autumn Nations Series matches having not risen since 2018.
This year the All Blacks fixture does carry a price increase of £10 for most tickets but the entry level price for this match is also frozen, at £40, and concessionary tickets for supporters under 17-years-old – which carry a 50% discount – remain available in all price categories for all Autumn Nations Series games.
The discounted prices mean a family of four could attend the Georgia game for £30, the Pumas game for £60, watch the Wallabies for £75 or see the series kick-off against the All Blacks as a family for £120.
The Welsh Rugby Union always recommends the best place to buy international tickets is from your local rugby club, but remaining tickets will be posted on public sale for the first time tomorrow, from www.wales/tickets with all proceeds received fed back into the game in Wales.
THE 2022 AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES LINEUP:
NEW ZEALAND: It’s never long before someone mentions 1953, the last Welsh victory in the fixture, in the build-up to this titanic clash of two of the most famous names in world rugby.
But no reference to this biggest-of-games should skip past three seismic clashes in the mid and late 2000s.
First, in 2004, Wales came closest, in recent times, to historic victory when they were pipped 25-26.
Next, in 2008, an entertaining juggernaut of a match followed the spine-tingling ‘Haka stand-off’ – a moment now famous around the globe for the sheer drama it created.
These are always hugely entertaining games and, in 2009, after going in level at the break (6-6) Wales were still within a converted try of New Zealand’s total in the closing moments, when none other than Alun Wyn Jones intercepted a pass and broke clear… It’s no spoiler to confirm the Wales talisman and his ’09 teammates eventually came up short.
This is just a selection of the many games in the great history of a fixture which dates back to the inaugural match in 1905. This first meeting was won 3-0 by Wales and the occasion also saw the first rendition of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau at an international match – sung by the players in response to New Zealand’s famous Haka.
Wales have always dared to believe and although have only finished on the winning side on three occasions (1905, 1935 and 1953) they have been within touching distance of a famous win many more times across 36 contests.
The longer the present win record stands for our distinguished opposition, the greater the taste of victory will be when it is broken.
ARGENTINA: This fixture has a fascinating history dating back 31 years to a Rugby World Cup win for the host side, which featured current WRU vice-chair Ieuan Evans on the wing, at the national stadium in Cardiff in 1991.
On many occasions, when Wales beat the Pumas, they have gone on to achieve great things.
The first Six Nations Grand Slam of modern times (2005) followed a two-Test tour to Argentina the previous summer. Honours were split with a win going to each side but, crucially, Wales won the last of the two Tests 20-35. In 2008 the slam was repeated and, again, victory over the Pumas (20-27) the previous summer in a warm-up match ahead of the Rugby World Cup – albeit under a previous regime – had been a highlight.
In 2011 Argentina again provided warm-up opposition before Wales headed out to the World Cup in New Zealand and whilst a 28-13 win over the Pumas didn’t ultimately mean lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, Wales did reach the semi-finals and it was followed by yet another slam in 2012.
The Grand Slam in 2019 was hot off the back of a successful two-Test tour to Argentina the preceding summer, when both matches were taken by the visitors, 10-23 and 12-30.
Jeronimo de la Fuente is congratulated by his captain, Julian Montoya, after scoring a try
Success against the Pumas could be seen as a yardstick for Wales’ chances of success in future months but there are caveats.
Both Six Nations Championship titles won without slams – in 2013 and last season, 2021 (under Wayne Pivac) – followed losses to Argentina in preceding matches and the less we say about what followed Wales’ victory over the Pumas in the 1991 World Cup the better.
In all the sides have met 20-times, with Wales having won thirteen of those games, the Pumas six and the honours shared once.
In the last three meetings we have seen the full set of results, a win for Wales in summer 2018 and that 20-20 draw in the summer of 2021, followed by a 33-11 victory to the Pumas.
This match, against opposition just one spot above us in the World Rugby rankings, is set to be an exciting encounter.
GEORGIA: Wales’ future Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool C opponents visit Principality Stadium for only the second time this November, after making their debut in 2017.
In that first meeting of the two sides a fresh-faced Wales side was captained for the first time by Dan Lydiate, with the back row boasting more caps to his name (60 at the time) than the rest of the pack between them.
Josh Adams of Wales dives over the line to score a try against Georgia
Wales won 13-6 but the victory was described as hard-fought and the toughness of the opposition would be a recurring theme for this fixture.
Wales launched their Rugby World Cup campaign in 2019 with a bonus point scoring 43-14 win at City of Toyota Stadium in Japan, but this game was seen from the outset as a potential banana skin and the same concentration levels will be required this autumn in Cardiff if the home side are to win in style.
In their most recent encounter Wales beat Georgia 18-0 at Parc y Scarlets during the Autumn Nations Cup tournament in 2020.
A young Scarlets scrum-half by the name of Keiran Hardy (now on 11 caps) made his debut that day and helped maintain Wales’ 100% record winning record against the Lelos.
Wayne Pivac’s Wales will be looking to increase those impressive stats to four wins in four in Cardiff this autumn.
AUSTRALIA: The final match and climax of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series sees Wales host the Wallabies, with the James Bevan trophy once again up for grabs.
Until 2018 the team in red had notched up just two wins this century against the Wallabies (2005, 2008), but the latest stats say Wales are on a roll. Winning the last three clashes – two wins in autumn matches in Cardiff either side of the 29-25 thriller at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
These matches are close. None more so than last time out in November 2021 when Wales sealed a 29-28 minute victory with an 81st minute penalty. In fact the first game – 44 matches and around 114 years ago – set the tone for the whole series with a close fought 9-6 win for Wales.
Bevan, who has been immortalised by the trophy that bears his name since 2007 was the Melbourne-born, Welsh-raised player who captained the inaugural Wales international side, against England in 1881.
Ryan Elias scores in the corner against Australia
It took Wales just one more attempt to win the newly established trophy, after the Wallabies lifted it for the first time in the summer of ’07, and they did so in style in an autumn clash in 2008.
This was a first scalp over a Tri-Nations side in 11 games as the ’08 Six Nations Grand Slam winners beat Australia in a thrilling match in Cardiff.
Newly crowned World player of the year Shane Williams was one of the scorers as the hosts claimed only their third success – at the time – over one of the southern hemisphere’s “big three” since rugby turned professional in 1995.
The Wallabies would go on to put together a thirteen-match winning streak over the following decade until 2018 when Wales were once again victors.
Now it is Wales looking secure their own record fourth consecutive win against the Wallabies, on Saturday 26th November in 2022 Autumn Nations Series climax.
2022 AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES FIXTURES:
Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium, Saturday 5th November, KO 15:15
Tickets: £40, £70, £85, £95 and £105 with concessions for U17s starting at £20*
Wales v Argentina, Principality Stadium, Saturday 12th November, KO 17:30
Tickets: £20, £25, £30, £40 and £50 with concessions for U17s starting at £10*
Wales v Georgia, Principality Stadium, Saturday 19th November, KO 13:00
£10, £15, £20, £25 and £35 with concessions for U17s starting at £5*
Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium, Saturday 26th November, KO 15:15
£25, £35, £45, £65, £75 with concessions for U17s starting at £12.50*
*concessionary ticket prices, which carry a 50% discount, are available to all young fans under 17-years-old, in all ticket categories for all four 2022 Autumn Nations Series matches.
WRU official hospitality and travel packages are also available to purchase now with further information available from www.wru.wales/vip or call on 02920 822041.
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