The Autumn Nations Series kicks off with a pair of matches as Scotland welcome Tonga to BT Murrayfield and Wales play host to New Zealand in Cardiff.
Over the next four weeks, there will be a host of thrilling encounters as the best of the southern hemisphere takes on the best of the north and it begins with a pair of crackers.
Big chance for new Scots
Gregor Townsend will be hoping for a strong start from his Scotland side, which features four debutants and is led by co-captains Ali Price and Jamie Ritchie.
They face a Tonga side that has six new faces of their own but are looking to record another win over Scotland, nine years after their first – a 21-15 success in Aberdeen.
For Scotland, Pierre Schoeman makes his debut after some outstanding displays at loosehead prop for Edinburgh, and he is joined in the pack by lock Jamie Hodgman, who is also making his debut.
In the backline, there is plenty of excitement around winger Rufus McLean and his Glasgow Warriors teammate Sione Tuipulotu who gets the nod in the midfield.
It will also be worth keeping an eye on Blair Kinghorn, slotting in at fly-half in the absence of Finn Russell and Adam Hastings.
Kinghorn did not feature in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, but had previously been a key fixture in Townsend’s backline and will be keen to lay down a marker against Tonga.
Battle of the champions in Cardiff
The second game of the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday sees the defending Guinness Six Nations champions host the Rugby Championship winners.
History is certainly on New Zealand’s side as they travel to Principality Stadium to take on Wales, they have not lost to the Welsh since 1953.
Wayne Pivac finds himself without some of his key men for this one, but will still be able to call upon the experience of Alun Wyn Jones, winning his 149th cap for Wales, overtaking Richie McCaw as the most of any player for their country.
Perhaps the most exciting development is Gareth Anscombe’s return at fly-half, more than two years after a serious knee injury put his international ambitions on hold. He was their starting No.10 during the successful 2019 Guinness Six Nations and will hope to recapture that form.
Wales will face a titanic challenge though against an All Black team that has lost just once all year though and will be looking to put on a show in Beauden Barrett’s 100th Test appearance.
