November is almost upon us and in rugby terms, that means the Quilter Nations Series is right around the corner. The Home Nations are ready to welcome their Southern Hemisphere rivals up north in an action-packed autumn series, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
South Africa pipped New Zealand to the Rugby Championship on points difference, and Australia and Argentina offered plenty of excitement themselves.
New Zealand face all four Home Nations for the first time since 2010 in a bid to clinch a Grand Slam tour.
The ever-intense battle between the Wallabies and England heads to Twickenham after Joe Schmidt’s side pulled off a last-gasp victory last year.
The likes of Chile, Japan, and Fiji are coming along for the ride, too, and TNT Sports has everything you need to know about the four Rugby Championship sides heading our way this November.
All Blacks eye Grand Slam tour
This year sees the All Blacks face all four home nations in a bid to clinch a first Grand Slam tour since 2010.
Scott Robertson has named a largely straightforward side with few surprises amid a growing perception that ‘Razor’ is a rather conservative selector.
There is also cause for concern in New Zealand as two of Robertson’s assistant coaches have decided to step away from the All Blacks, with Leon MacDonald leaving last year and Jason Holland announcing his departure at the end of 2025.
New Zealand finished second in this year’s Rugby Championship to the Springboks on points difference, but expectations are severely high and many feel Robertson is not quite hitting them.
His side impressed in a 24-17 win over the Boks in Auckland, but the visitors handed them a humbling 43-10 defeat in Wellington a week later.
In terms of names, there is plenty of familiar star power. Ardie Savea is as destructive as ever in the back row, and has often been moved to openside flanker to accommodate either Wallace Sititi or Peter Lakai at No. 8.
The Barrett trio – Beauden, Jordie, and skipper Scott – are all included.
Beauden has reclaimed his place at fly-half over the last year after experimenting with him at full-back, and is likely to start there against Ireland, whilst Jordie is spending the season at Leinster and will see some familiar faces in Chicago.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 04: Leroy Carter of the All Blacks in action during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between Australia Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks at Optus Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
One to watch: Leroy Carter
As always, one of the hardest jobs to keep in rugby is that of All Blacks winger, and the latter half of this year has seen the experienced Sevu Reece lose out as Robertson begins to place his trust in rising star Leroy Carter.
Carter only made his debut in the fourth round of the Championship against South Africa, but has three tries in three starts and could have a breakout tour this autumn.
New Zealand squad for Quilter Nations Series
Forwards: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bell, Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Tevita Mafileo, Scott Barrett (C), Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland, Josh Lord, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea (VC), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Luke Jacobson.
Backs: Cortez Ratima, Cameron Roigard, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett (VC) Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Leroy Carter, Will Jordan, Ruben Love.
New Zealand Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Saturday, November 1
- Ireland v New Zealand – 20:10
Saturday, November 8
- Scotland v New Zealand – 15:10
Saturday, November 15
- England v New Zealand – 15:10
Saturday, November 22
- Wales v New Zealand – 15:10
South Africa’s creative chaos
The Springboks are in an excellent position heading into the autumn after defending the Rugby Championship for the first time in their history.
Unlike Robertson, Rassie Erasmus is anything but conservative in his selection and has not been afraid to back the younger members of his squad.
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been a revelation at 23 years old, while Canan Moodie and Ethan Hooker are both just 22, and stood out in the Rugby Championship.
Assistant coach Tony Brown has overseen a shift towards a more unshackled attacking style, and that was on full display as the Boks ran rampant over the All Blacks in a 43-10 win in Wellington.
Erasmus had been moving away from ageing players such as full-back Willie le Roux, but losing David Willemse could see the veteran return to the fold.
As always, the Boks travel with a brutally strong pack. Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Stepth du Toit, and Eben Etzebeth are ever-present in the squad.
But PREM and Leicester Tigers fans will notice Jasper Wiese, who is perhaps the best carrier in the game right now, alongside Ardie Savea.
One thing to note is that South Africa have begun to move away from the six-two and seven-one splits on the bench that Erasmus favoured and popularised.
In five of their six Rugby Championship Tests, they used a five-three split on the bench to maintain energy over 80 minutes to accommodate a more attacking brand of rugby. Watch out for former Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen to come barrelling off the bench.
Highlights: South Africa pile misery on England by inflicting hosts’ fifth straight Test loss
Video credit: TNT Sports
One to watch: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
The young No. 10 is quickly becoming one of the most exciting talents in world rugby. His 37-point haul against Argentina in Durban broke the record for most points scored by a South African in a single Test match.
With just 14 caps to his name, he has been given the keys to South Africa’s refined and potent attack and is sure to light up the Quilter Nations Series.
South Africa Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Forwards: Lood de Jager Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Zachary Porthen, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese.
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende , Andre Esterhuizen, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams.
South Africa Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Saturday, November 8
- France v South Africa – 20:10
Saturday, November 15
- Italy v South Africa – 12:40
Saturday, November 22
- Ireland v South Africa – 17:40
Saturday, November 29
- Wales v South Africa – 15:10
Australia’s rugby rebuild rolls on
The Wallabies have already got their autumn underway with a clash against Eddie Jones’ Japan, scraping by with a 19-15 win in Tokyo.
As an isolated result, it may look unfavourable for a Wallabies side who lost twice to the British & Irish Lions and suffered four defeats in the Rugby Championship.
But the line-up against the Cherry Blossoms more closely represented an Australia A side rather than a full-strength Wallabies team, and Joe Schmidt has managed to build a good amount of depth across the board.
The big shock from Schmidt is the decision to hand Nick Champion de Crespigny the captain’s armband for the tour.
The 29-year-old only made his debut this summer against the Lions in the first Test, and has just three caps in total, including the one against Japan.
This autumn will see a nice return for World Cup fly-half Carter Gordon, who has signed with Queensland Reds after a stint in the NRL. With the Wallabies thin at No. 10, the 24-year-old could slide right back into the starting line-up.
Behind-the-scenes documentary of Lions tour to premiere on TNT Sports and discovery+
Video credit: TNT Sports
One to watch: Joseph Suaalii
England supporters will remember, albeit not fondly, Joseph Suaalii’s first game of professional rugby union last year at Twickenham, where he won the player of the match award as Australia snatched a last-minute victory over Steve Borthwick’s side.
In one full year of rugby union, the former rugby league star has added plenty to his game, playing plenty of minutes at full-back for the Waratahs, and this November he will once again be the one to watch as he attempts to terrorise England for the second year running.
Australia Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny (C), Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Jake Gordon, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Corey Toole
Australia Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Saturday, November 1
- England v Australia, 15:10
Saturday, November 8
- Italy v Australia – 17:40
Saturday, November 15
- Ireland v Australia – 20:10
Saturday, November 22
- France v Australia – 20:10
Argentina hunting for revenge at Twickenham
The perennial underdogs and dark horses of the Rugby Championship, Argentina will be out for revenge when they face England at Twickenham.
Borthwick’s side inflicted two home defeats to Los Pumas during England’s visit to Argentina in July.
Their last encounter on English soil saw Argentina beat them 30-29 in a famous win in 2022, but England responded with a win in the 2023 Rugby World Cup and two this summer.
Felipe Contemponi has yet to name his full squad for the autumn, but a 34-player training camp in London from October 27-29 will see him whittle them down to the final squad.
The Argentinian picked up a huge win over the All Blacks in the second round of the Rugby Championship, marking their first win over the Kiwis on Argentinian soil.
They pushed the Springboks close in the final round at Twickenham, too, missing out by just two points.
For avid PREM watchers, there will be plenty of names to keep an eye. Harlequins’ Rodrigo Isgro, who produced a Lionel Messi-like piece of skill against Newcastle Red Bulls, is in the preliminary squad.
Saracens’ duo of Lucio Cinti and Juan Martin Gonzalez, powerful Exeter lock Franco Molina, and Bristol pair Benjamin and Santiago Grondona form part of a formidable pack that are not to be taken lightly.
‘Has Lionel Messi just descended on Twickenham Stoop?’ – Isgro pulls off ‘outrageous’ try
Video credit: TNT Sports
One to watch: Bautista Delguy
The explosive winger has not had much game-time since the Rugby Championship, but Delguy scored three tries for Los Pumas in four Tests this year and was impressive for Top 14 side Clermont last season.
Argentina have plenty of pace in the wide channels, and Delguy’s sprightly footwork can see him turn defenders inside out with ease.
Argentina Quilter Nations Series fixtures
Saturday, November 9
- Wales v Argentina – 15:10
Saturday, November 16
- Scotland v Argentina – 15:10
Saturday, November 23
- England v Argentina – 16:10
How to watch the Quilter Nations Series
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