The 2010 end-of-year rugby union tests, also known as the Autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere, saw Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a competitive tour of the northern hemisphere. Test matches were also arranged with the various Pacific island teams and other non-Tier 1 international sides. This period also marked the conclusion of the 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying process, as well as the beginning of the European Nations Cup.
The series saw Ireland play their first Test matches at the Aviva Stadium, which replaces Lansdowne Road as the side's long-term home and ends the temporary arrangement with the Gaelic Athletic Association which allowed the team to play home matches at Croke Park. The series also marked the first time that two Southern Hemisphere nations simultaneously attempted Grand Slam tours of all four Home Nations, with both New Zealand and South Africa playing all four countries. The Springboks went 3–1 against the Home Nations, losing to Scotland, and also lost to the Barbarians, but the All Blacks were successful for the fourth time and third since 2005.
New Zealand entered the series on a winning streak of 15 Tests. The current record for "Tier 1" nations is 17, which they hold jointly with South Africa; the absolute record is 18, held by Lithuania. New Zealand's streak ended with a 26-24 loss to Australia in their opening game.
In all, 24 of the top 25 sides in the IRB World Rankings (as of 30 September 2010) played in the end-of-year series.[1]
29 September 2010 16:30 CHST (UTC-04) |
Chile | 30–32 | Tonga |
Try: Schachner 38' Penalty try 80' Con: Cruz Pen: Reyes 10', 33', 44', 48', 57' Cruz 76' | Report[2] | Try: Hikila 16' Fakafanua 34' Mateo 43' Toloke 62' Con: Toloke (2) 17', 35' Apikotoa 63' Pen: Apikotoa 46' |
Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, Santiago Referee: Jaime Vial (Chile) |
23 October 2010 15:00 MT (UTC+04)[1] |
Russia | 20–40 | Argentina XV |
Try: Ostroushko 37' Boltenkov 62' Con: Klyuchnikov 38', 63' Pen: Klyuchnikov 28', 57' | Try: San Martín 11' Senatore 23' Cabello 35' Chaparro 48' Báez 75' Comuzzi 78' Con: Sánchez 12', 36', 49' González Iglesias 76', 79' |
Slava Stadium, Moscow Referee: John Lacey (Ireland) |
30 October 2010 14:00 JST (UTC+09) [1][3] |
Japan | 10–13 | Samoa |
Try: Holani 7' c Con: Arlidge (1/1) Pen: Arlidge (1/2) 2' | Report[4] | Try: Fotuali'i 69' c Con: Lui (1/1) Pen: Lui (2/2) 45', 54' |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 3,743 Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
30 October 2010 16:30 HKT (UTC+08) [5] |
Australia | 26–24 | New Zealand |
Try: Cooper 8' m Ashley-Cooper 23' c Mitchell 60' c O'Connor 80+1' c Con: Giteau (1/2) O'Connor (2/2) | Report[6] | Try: Cowan 30' c Jane 33' c Nonu 53' c Con: Carter (3/3) Pen: Carter 40+1' |
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong Attendance: 26,210[7] Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
30 October 2010 15:00 MT (UTC+04)[1] |
Russia | 6–32 | Argentina XV |
Pen: Yanushkin Kluchnikov | Report[citation needed] | Try: Cubelli Bouza Estelles (2) Gosio Con: Iglesias Sánchez Pen: Cubelli |
Slava Stadium, Moscow Referee: James Jones (Wales) |
6 November 2010 14:00 JST (UTC+09)[1][3] |
Japan | 75–3 | Russia |
Try: Tupuailei (3) 5' c, 72' m, 80+2' c Leitch 13' c Taira (2) 28' c, 39' c Kikutani 34' c Imamura 47' c Robins (2) 65' c, 78' c Endo 68' c Con: Tanabe (10/11) | Report[8] | Pen: Yanushkin 38' |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 6,274 Referee: Vinny Munro (New Zealand) |
Touch judges:
|
6 November 2010 15:30 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01)[1] |
Belgium | 12–43 | Canada |
Report[9] |
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy) |
6 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) [10] |
England | 16–26 | New Zealand |
Try: Hartley 54' c Con: Flood (1/1) Pen: Flood 24', 44', 65' | Report[11] | Try: Gear 16' c Read 21' c Con: Carter (2/2) Pen: Carter (4) 31', 47', 56', 69' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 80,350[12] Referee: Romain Poite (France) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
6 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Wales | 16–25 | Australia |
Try: Rees 70' c Con: Biggar (1/1) Pen: S. Jones (3/5) 1', 31', 52' | Report[15] | Try: Pocock 6' c Beale 47' c Alexander 60' m Con: O'Connor (2/3) Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 64', 73' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 53,127 [16] Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
a. ^ Stephen Moore suffered a back spasm minutes before kick-off and was replaced in the starting line-up by Saia Fainga'a, so Fainga'a started the match wearing number 16. Huia Edmonds took Fainga'a's place on the bench and wore number 26.
6 November 2010 17:30 IST/GMT+0 (UTC+0) [17] |
Ireland | 21–23 | South Africa |
Try: Bowe 68' c Kearney 74' m Con: O'Gara (1/2) Pen: Sexton (3/4) 26', 40', 55' | Report[18] | Try: Smith 16' c Aplon 64' c Con: M. Steyn (1/1) Lambie (1/1) Pen: M. Steyn (3/4) 5', 37', 52' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 35,515[19] Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 15:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) [21] |
Italy | 16–22 | Argentina |
Try: Penalty try 78' Con: Bergamasco 78' Pen: Bergamasco 9', 29', 68' | Report[22] | Try: Rodríguez 49' Con: Contepomi 50' Pen: Contepomi (5) 17', 37', 70', 72', 80' |
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona Attendance: 29,500 Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
England | 35–18 | Australia |
Try: Ashton 25' c, 47' c Con: Flood (2/2) Pen: Flood (7) 11', 34', 38', 42', 57', 69', 77' | Report[23] | Try: Beale (2) 54' c, 65' m Con: O'Connor (1/2) Pen: O'Connor (2) 31', 39' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 80,002[24] Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 14:30 IST/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Ireland | 20–10 | Samoa |
Try: Heaslip 18' c O'Gara 65' c Con: O'Gara (2/2) 19', 66' Pen: O'Gara (2) 1', 30' | Report[25] | Try: Tuilagi 21' c Con: P. Williams (1/1) 22' Pen: P. Williams 54' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 30,985 Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Wales | 25–29 | South Africa |
Try: North (2) 5' c, 56' m Hook 17' c Con: S. Jones (2/3) Pen: S. Jones (2/3) 27', 42' | Report[26] | Try: Alberts 50' c Matfield 53' c Con: M. Steyn (2/2) Pen: M. Steyn (5/6) 1', 19', 40', 46', 64' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 54,027[27] Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 15:00 WET/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[1] |
Portugal | 17–22 | United States |
Try: V. Uva 73' m Pen: Gardener (4) 5', 18', 42', 57' | Report[28] | Try: Ngwenya 28' Suniula 56' Emerick 60' Con: Malifa (2/3) Pen: Malifa 34' |
Lisbon University Stadium, Lisbon Referee: JP Doyle (England) |
|
|
13 November 2010 16:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01)[1] |
Spain | 22–60 | Canada |
Try: Pradalie 48' m Belzunce 79' m Pen: Fernández 8', 26', 34', 40' | Report[29] | Try: Riordan 3' c Paris (2) 9' c, 77' m O'Toole 17' c Carpenter 22' c Van der Merwe 46' c Marshall 62' c Stephen 68' c Con: Pritchard (7/8) 3', 9', 17', 22', 46', 62', 68' Pen: Pritchard (2) 36', 73' |
Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Frank Himmer (Germany) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 18:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
France | 34–12 | Fiji |
Try: Marty 32' c Médard 42' m Penalty try 68' c Con: Yachvili (2/3) 33', 69' Pen: Yachvili (5/6) 2', 20', 40', 44', 56' | Report[30] | Pen: Bai (4/4) 13', 16', 48', 54' |
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Attendance: 35,717 Referee: Andrew Small (England) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
13 November 2010 17:15 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[31] |
Scotland | 3–49 | New Zealand |
Pen: Parks 3' | Report[32] | Try: Gear (2) 9' c, 26' c Carter 11' c Muliaina (2) 18' c, 48' c Smith 67' c Ellis 78' c Con: Carter (5/5) Donald (2/2) |
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 56,807[33] Referee: Dave Pearson (England) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
19 November 2010 20:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01)[1] |
Italy A | 9–16 | Tonga |
Report[34] |
Stadio Vittorio Pozzo Lamarmora, Biella Attendance: 2,000 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland) |
19 November 2010 19:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[1] |
Scotland A | 25–0 | United States |
Try: Jones (2), Traynor Con: Blair (2) Pen: Blair (2) | Report[35] |
Netherdale, Galashiels Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
19 November 2010 19:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Wales | 16–16 | Fiji |
Try: Penalty try 59' c Con: S. Jones (1/1) Pen: Biggar (2/3) 6', 21' S. Jones (1/1) 63' | Report[36] | Try: Vulivuli 36' c Con: Bai (1/1) Pen: Bai (2/3) 13', 80'+2' Matavesi (1/1) 24' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 55,000 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 14:00 GT (UTC+04) |
Georgia | 22–15 | Canada |
Try: Penalty try Urjukashvili Zirakashvili Con: Kvirikashvili Malaghuradze Pen: Malaghuradze | Report[37] | Try: Marshall Carpenter Con: Pritchard Pen: Pritchard |
Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 15:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
Italy | 14–32 | Australia |
Try: Barbieri 71' m Pen: Bergamasco (2) 11', 40' Orquera 35' | Report[38] | Try: Mitchell 9' c Elsom 80' c Con: Barnes (2/2) Pen: Barnes (6/6) 2', 13', 50', 53', 59', 67' |
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Attendance: 40,127 Referee: Christophe Berdos (France) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
England | 26–13 | Samoa |
Try: Banahan 47' c Croft 72' c Con: Flood (2/2) Pen: Flood (4/5) 16', 26', 52', 70' | Report[39] | Try: P. Williams 41' m Otto 79' m Pen: P. Williams (1/3) 4' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 70,553 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[31] |
Scotland | 21–17 | South Africa |
Pen: Parks (6/6) 16', 23', 29', 53', 62', 68' Drop: Parks (1/2) 19' | Report[40] | Try: Alberts 70' m Pen: M. Steyn (4/5) 2', 12', 36', 46' |
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 35,555 Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 15:00 WET/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[1] |
Portugal | 24–12 | Namibia |
Try: Bardy G. Uva Con: Gardener Pen: Gardener (4) | Report[41] | Pen: Jantjies (4) |
Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição, Coimbra Referee: Greg Garner (England) |
|
|
20 November 2010 17:30 IST/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Ireland | 18–38 | New Zealand |
Try: Ferris 31' c B. O'Driscoll 57' m Con: Sexton 31' Pen: Sexton (2) 11', 27' | Report[42] | Try: Boric 40' c Read (2) 45' c, 80' m Whitelock 49' c Con: Carter (3) 40', 45', 49' Pen: Carter (4) 8', 16', 30', 36' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 46,302 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
20 November 2010 20:45 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
France | 15–9 | Argentina |
Pen: Parra (4/6) 11', 26', 32', 60' Drop: Traille (1/1) 49' | Report[43] | Pen: Contepomi (3/3) 17', 47', 62' |
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 34,993 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
26 November 2010 20:45 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
French Barbarians | 27–28 | Tonga |
Try: Caucaunibuca 50' c Kelleher 60' c Hayman 64' c Con: Baby (3/3) 50', 60', 64' Pen: Élissalde (1/1) 31' Baby (1/2) 56' | Report[44] | Try: Lilo 66' c Malupo 70' m Pulu 75' c Con: Fisilau (2/3) 66', 75' Pen: Fisilau (3/4) 3', 43', 47' |
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Referee: JP Doyle (England) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 14:00 GT (UTC+04) |
Georgia | 19–17 | United States |
Try: Gugava Con: Kvirikashvili Pen: Malaghuradze (3) Kvirikashvili | Report[45] | Try: Emerick Con: Malifa Drop: Malifa Wyles |
Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 15:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
Italy | 24–16 | Fiji |
Pen: Mi. Bergamasco (8) 11', 19', 35', 45', 52', 60', 75', 79' | Report[46] | Try: Tuapati 8' c Con: Bai (1/1) Pen: Bai (3) 24', 27', 39' |
Stadio Alberto Braglia, Modena Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Dave Pearson (England) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
England | 11–21 | South Africa |
Try: Foden 79' m Pen: Flood (2/2) 5', 17' | Report[47] | Try: Alberts 59' m Mvovo 70' c Con: M. Steyn (1/2) Pen: M. Steyn (3/4) 10', 35', 42' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 80,793 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[31] |
Scotland | 19–16 | Samoa |
Try: Walker 14' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (2) 2', 29' Jackson 79' Drop: Parks (1/1) 52' | Report[48] | Try: Fotuali'i 9' c Con: Williams (1/1) Pen: Williams (3/3) 36', 41', 55' |
Pittodrie, Aberdeen Attendance: 18,290 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 17:15 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Wales | 25–37 | New Zealand |
Try: Byrne 80' c Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones (6) | Report[49] | Try: Gear (2) 5' m, 54' c Muliaina 22' m Toeava 73' c Afoa 76' c Con: Carter (3/5) Pen: Carter (2) |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 73,789 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 20:45 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
France | 16–59 | Australia |
Try: Penalty try 30' c Con: Parra (1/1) 30' Pen: Parra (3/4) 9', 20', 42' | Report[50] | Try: Asley-Cooper 4' c Robinson 49' c Genia 52' c Mitchell (3) 67' c, 73' c, 76' c O'Connor 80' m Con: O'Connor (6/7) 5', 50', 52', 67', 73', 76' Pen: O'Connor (4/5) 14', 25', 61', 72' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 59,275 Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 15:45 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01)[1][51] |
Spain | 33–20 | Namibia |
Try: Heredia Gibouin Peluchon Con: Peluchon (3/3) Pen: Peluchon (4) | Report[52] | Try: Marais Botha Kitshoff Con: Botha (1/3) Pen: S. de la Harpe (1/1) |
Estadio Príncipes de España, Palma de Mallorca Attendance: 3,500 [53] Referee: João Mourinha (Portugal) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
27 November 2010 15:00 WET/GMT+0 (UTC+0)[1] |
Portugal | 20–23 | Canada |
Try: Aguilar Foro Con: Gardener (2) Pen: Gardener (2) | Report[54] | Try: Pritchard (2) White Con: Pritchard Pen: Pritchard (2) |
Estádio Universitário, Lisbon Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
28 November 2010 14:30 IST/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Ireland | 29–9 | Argentina |
Try: Ferris 19' c D'Arcy 80' c Con: Sexton (1/1) 21' O'Gara (1/1) 80' Pen: Sexton (5) 13', 28', 33', 40', 65' | Report[55] | Pen: Contepomi (3) 30', 57', 67' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
4 December 2010 14:30 BT/GMT+0 (UTC+0) |
Barbarians | 26–20 | South Africa |
Try: Mitchell (2) 5' m, 20' c O'Connor 15' c Geldenhuys 61' c Con: O'Connor (3/4) 17', 22' 62' | Report[56] | Try: Ndungane 43' c Botha 69' m Maku 80' m Con: Jantjies (1/3) 44' Pen: Jantjies 9' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)[57] |
|
|
Touch judges:
|
11 December 2010 14:30 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01)[58] |
Germany | 34–13 | Hong Kong |
Report[59] (in German) |
Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, Heidelberg Attendance: 800 Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania) |
18 December 2010 20:00 CET/GMT+01 (UTC+01) |
Netherlands | Cancelled | Hong Kong |
National Rugby Centre, Amsterdam Referee: Dana Teagarden (United States) |