As announced on 12 May 2022, the Autumn Nations will be kicking off in less than six months, with southern hemisphere rugby teams competing across Europe in October and November. Games will span five weeks and the tournament will see the four home unions—England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland—face South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
The first game will kick off on 29 October 2022, with Scotland hosting Australia in Edinburgh, and the final will take place on 26 November 2022, as England face South Africa in London. While 15 matches have been announced, there is one in particular that has been drawing attention: South Africa vs Ireland.
Ireland to Host South Africa
Ireland are set to play the Springboks on 5 November 2022, a game that will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. This will mark the first of Ireland’s three Autumn Nations games, with the team also facing Fiji on 12 November and Australia on 19 November.
The two teams have not met since 2017, when Dublin defeated the Springboks on their home turf and claimed a 38-3 victory over the world champions. Now in 2022, Ireland will be hoping to replicate their 2017 success in front of their home crowd. However, South Africa have since secured a third World Cup title and are unlikely to willingly give up their winning streak.
Setting the Tone for the Rugby World Cup
Fans have had to wait five years to see these two long-standing rivals face one another again but the next wait will be much shorter. This is because South Africa and Ireland have been placed in the same group for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
This time the Springboks and the Irish will face one another just 10 months after the Autumn Nations. As such, the result of Autumn Nations match may very well set the tone as we go into a World Cup year.
Ireland vs Fiji and Australia
Ireland’s second match will be against Fiji, a game that will take place on 19 November. Just like South Africa, these teams last faced one another in Dublin in 2017, with Ireland claiming a 23-20 victory.
The team’s third and final game of the 2022 Autumn Nations will see them face Australia. The Irish and the Aussies met more recently in 2018, with Ireland beating Australia 20-16 in Sydney.
Ireland’s 2022 Autumn Nations Fixtures
Ireland vs South Africa, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, 5 November – 5.30pm
Ireland vs Fiji, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, 12 November – 1pm
Ireland vs Australia, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, 19 November – 8pm
