The 2012 end of year rugby tests, also known as the 2012 Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, is a series of international rugby union matches predominantly played between the visiting Southern Hemisphere countries, Argentina, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, and the European sides, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
During this year's end-of-year International season, the IRB set up a new scheme to improve competitiveness ahead of the next World Cup. They introduced an International Rugby Series that included Tier 2 nations Tonga, Canada, Russia, Samoa and the United States. The first tournament was held at Colwyn Bay's Eirias Park in North Wales.
The tournament matches are in addition to those tests played between Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations which are an opportunity for emerging rugby nations to play the world's best teams in June and November. Several matches were played between Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams in 2012. Wales and France hosted Samoa, England and Ireland hosted Fiji and Scotland and Italy hosted Tonga.
The IRB also applied non-test matches to the end-of year season to help increase competitiveness in Tier 2 nations. English Domestic clubs hosted international sides to help towards the new scheme, with Gloucester hosting Fiji, and the Newcastle Falcons hosting Tonga. The scheme also helped Japan, by including fixtures against a Basque select side, and the French Barbarians for the third time in 2012. Touring representative side Māori All Blacks also faced an English domestic club, Leicester Tigers which was their first international match since Australia in 2010. The Māori All Blacks also faced an RFU Championship XV as well as the Canadian National side.
Both Georgia and Romania hosted Japan, while Portugal travelled to South America to play a two test tour, where they earn victories over Uruguay and Chile. Namibia hosted a tournament including Spain and Zimbabwe, with Spain winning both tests to clinch the tournament.
As in recent seasons, New Zealand and Australia played the final Bledisloe Cup match. New Zealand entered the match with a winning streak of 16 tests, 1 win away from the current Tier 1 world record of 17 consecutive wins, which they hold jointly with South Africa, but the absolute record is 18 which is held by Lithuania which is in Tier 3. New Zealand drew the match 18–18 with Australia and therefore ended their consecutive winning streak. This is the same scenario as in 2010, when New Zealand entered the final Bledisloe Cup match with a winning streak of 15 but lost to Australia 26–24.
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James Hanson made his international debut for Australia in this match.Keven Mealamu won his 100th cap for the All Blacks, he became the 22nd international player and 3rd All Black to reach the landmark.Piri Weepu equalled the record held by Ollie le Roux for most international caps from the bench with his 43rd substitute appearance from his 66 caps.Tony Woodcock equalled the All Black record held by Kees Meeuws for most yellow cards in a career with his third yellow card.The draw ended New Zealand's 16-match winning streak, also ending their chances of surpassing Lithuania's record streak of 18 wins.This match ended New Zealand's sequence of 105 consecutive matches of scoring a try in a match, it was the first match the All Blacks didn't score a try since 2004. The run of 105 consecutive matches of scoring a try in a match remains an international rugby record.Notes:
This match was not considered to be a Test Match. It is part of the scheme introduced by the IRB, to increase the number competitive matches for tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
This match marked the first time England sold out Twickenham for a match against a "Tier 2" nation.Notes:
The last time Argentina beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium was on 10 November 2001, exactly 11 years ago.Notes:
Michael Bent, Iain Henderson, David Kilcoyne and Richardt Strauss made their full international debuts for Ireland in this match.South Africa's and Ireland's respective starting hookers Adriaan and Richardt Strauss are cousins, the latter qualifying on residency grounds.Ireland's Ronan O'Gara earned his 127th international cap (125 with Ireland and 2 with the British and Irish Lions) and overcame Brian O'Driscoll to become the sole second most-capped player in rugby union history behind Australia's George Gregan (139).Notes:
Yannick Forestier, Jocelino Suta and Sébastien Vahaamahina made their debuts for France in this match.Paddy Ryan made his debut for Australia in this match.This match ended Australia's 7-year long winning streak against France, France's previous victory against the Wallabies dating back to 5 November 2005 (26–16).The French came within one point of their largest ever victory against Australia (34–6 in 1976).Notes:
Scotland became the first team to score 3 tries against the All Blacks since New Zealands loss against the Wallabies in August 2011.This match was the first time that Murrayfield Stadium was at capacity in an End of year test.The Scottish side only included one debut in this test – Henry PyrgosAll Blacks debuts – Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-BarlowNotes:
The Tigers returned to using their traditional lettered-flocked jerseys for this non-test match. They last used this system when they hosted Australia in 2010.Notes:
This was not considered a Test Match and is part of the new scheme the IRB introduced to increase competitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
This was not considered a Test Match and is part of the new scheme the IRB introduced to increase competitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
This was a non-capped match for Ireland, but was a fully capped match for Fiji. The IRB gave this match a no-test status, which means rankings would not change regardless of the outcome but will be part of the new scheme to increase competitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
This was not considered a Test Match and is part of the new scheme the IRB introduced to increase compitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
This was not considered a Test Match and is part of the new scheme the IRB introduced to increase compitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.At the 21st minute, referee Martin Fox pulled a hamstring priming assistant referee Ross Campbell to take over as the official.Notes:
This result was Tonga's first ever win for over Scotland.This defeat was Scotland's first at their Aberdeen fixture at Pittodrie Stadium.Notes:
This was not considered a Test Match and is part of the new scheme the IRB introduced to increase compitiveness in tier 2 teams ahead of the next World Cup.Notes:
Wallabie Captain Nathan Sharpe kicked for the conversion to end his career on the Australian Squad.No placement was issued when Halfpenny was taken off due to injury.For more details on this topic, see: 2012 International Rugby Series
Much like the 2008 end of year series, the final IRB rankings at the end of the international window will play a massive part towards the seeding of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Like the 2011 tournament, the IRB rankings will play a pivotal role in proceedings with the top four placed sides at the end of the international window set to be kept apart in the draw. All 12 of the automatic qualifiers will be seeded based on their ranking and then split three bands of four teams.
Band 1 will be made up of the top 4 automatic qualifiersBand 2 will be made up of the next 4 automatic qualifiers (5–8)Band 3 will be made up of the next 4 automatic qualifiers (9–12)Band 4 will be made up of the remaining due to qualify places (Oceania 1, Europe 1, Asia 1 and Americas 1)Band 5 will include the remaining possible nations (Africa 1,Europe 2, Americas 2 and repechage Winner)Following the final matches on 1 December 2012, the 12 teams automatically qualified were seeded thus:
