Three reasons to watch this weekend’s November internationals with World Rugby
The November international season is in full swing, and you can stream three of the weekend’s matches for free with World Rugby.
First up on Friday, USA Women go in search of revenge against Canada in Glendale as they bid to level the teams’ two-match series.
On Saturday, Fiji kick-off their European tour against Spain in Madrid while in-form Uruguay take on Romania in Verona on Sunday.
You can watch all three matches live as they will be streamed on World Rugby’s website, and across our official Facebook and YouTube channels.
Still need a reason to tune in? Read on…
USA v Canada, Infinity Park, Friday 18:00 local time (GMT -6)
If Monday’s enthralling women’s test was anything to go by then you won’t want to miss a minute of the action from Infinity Park when USA and Canada meet again on Friday.
Tries from Renee Gonzalez and Karen Paquin, as well as five points from the boot of Sophie De Goede, helped Canada to a 15-9 victory at the start of the week and they will want to make it two out of two in Glendale.
Mastercard Player of the Match De Goede was an early replacement on Monday and has been rewarded for her impact with a start at number eight.
Canada coach Sandro Fiorino has also handed debuts to Laetitia Royer and Julia Schell as he tests the depth of his squad ahead of matches against England and Wales later this month.
Fiorino’s opposite number, Rob Cain has made 12 changes to the side that lined up on Monday as Saher Hamdan and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games star Ilona Maher make their first test starts.
Cain insisted the USA could take positives from the opening match into Friday, as he said: “We are excited for this next group to take these key learnings and implement them in real time as we continue to push on with another improved performance.”
Spain v Fiji, Estadio Nacional Universidad Complutense, Saturday 16:00 local time (GMT +1)
There are lots of reasons to tune into Fiji’s first ever test match in Spain – three of whom will line up in the visitors’ backline.
Just three months after they helped their country win Olympic gold in Tokyo, Vilimoni Botitu, Aminiasi Tuimaba and Jiuta Wainiqolo will make their test match debuts when the Flying Fijians take on Spain for only the second time.
A trio of @Tokyo2020 gold medallists are set to make their Flying Fijians debut this weekend against Spain
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 4, 2021
Vilimoni Botitu 🥇
Aminiasi Tuimaba 🥇
Jiuta Wainiqolo 🥇@fijirugby pic.twitter.com/2K7VPkcKdR
Wainiqolo, who represented Fiji at World Rugby U20 Trophy 2018, only made his international sevens debut in the lead-up to the Olympic Games but went on to score five tries in six appearances at Tokyo Stadium.
Gareth Baber, the gold medal-winning coach in temporary charge of the team in Europe, will hope Wainiqolo can have a similar impact on the 15s game this month.
The strength of the squad at Baber’s disposal is highlighted by the fact that Viliame Mata and Josua Tuisova will start the match in Madrid on the bench.
Spain will hope to use the match as preparation for their upcoming Rugby Europe Championship 2021 assignments against Russia and Netherlands as they target qualification for Rugby World Cup 2023.
Romania v Uruguay, Payanini Center, Sunday 14:00 local time (GMT +1)
Uruguay are arguably one of the most in-form teams in international rugby having secured their historic qualification for RWC 2023 as Americas 1 last month.
Los Teros beat the USA 50-34 on aggregate to secure their place in Pool A and the first-leg reverse in Glendale is the team’s only defeat in their last six matches.
Add into the mix the performance of Uruguay A, who beat Brazil A and Chile A before pushing an Argentina XV close in the World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge 2021 at the end of October, and it follows that the squad has arrived in Europe full of confidence.
Romania provide the opposition in Verona this weekend, before matches against Italy A and Italy, as Los Teros attempt to maintain the form that won them fans at RWC 2019.
For Romania, Sunday’s match is an important opportunity to fine-tune selection and sharpen cohesion ahead of their Rugby Europe Championship meeting with the Netherlands on 13 November.
Victory against a buoyant Uruguay side at the Payanini Center would provide a timely boost to Andy Robinson’s team as they prepare for what is a vital clash against the Dutch a week on Saturday.
