This week, as you can imagine, there aren’t too many surprises about what we’ll be concerning ourselves with. You guessed it, there is a decided nip in the air, and if you’re a rugby fan in the Northern Hemisphere, that only means one thing – November’s traditional smorgasbord of International Rugby. Although the official three-week window starts next weekend, there’s always one or two massive fixtures the weekend before to get the party started. It’s so much better this year for us here in North America as New Zealand and Ireland get set for an epic rematch of that historic game nine years ago at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Just like 2016, the Lineout Crew are packing their bags and heading down to the Windy City, and let’s face it, Chicago has become for Ireland what Twickenham has become for South Africa – a rather friendly home away from home. For every black jersey in the stands in Chicago on Saturday, expect it to be surrounded by at least three in green. The Guinness will flow, the craic will be on, and countless new rugby friendships will be struck up in the pubs and bars of Chicago.
Meanwhile, across the Pond at the home of English Rugby, a packed Twickenham will see Australia and England do battle, and the Wallabies have a crack at repeating that extraordinary last-gasp win they pulled off last year. The stakes are high for both sides, but both look to be on a strong upward trajectory, just in time for the World Cup in two years.
Last but not least, while they may not be playing any of the big boys, Canada’s Men have an excellent three-week stretch of competition in Europe, taking on Romania, Portugal, and Georgia. While none of these teams may be in the top ten World Rankings, Georgia is knocking increasingly hard at the door of the Six Nations. At the same time, Portugal won the hearts and minds of every neutral with their superb showing at the last World Cup, including that memorable win over Fiji.
The rivalry between Ireland and New Zealand has produced a roller coaster of emotions for both teams and their supporters since that memorable day in Chicago nine years ago, and expect it to be no different this Saturday!
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Chicago we go! Yes, just like that memorable day nine years ago in 2016, the Lineout Crew is off to cheer on the Men in Green at Soldier Field this weekend. We apologize in advance for our slightly green bias towards all things rugby this month, but amongst our ranks the predominant allegiances lean towards Ireland and South Africa, which will make the Test between the two later next month a rather heated affair with plenty of frothy pints here at the Lineout. There are also some closet French supporters in our midst, which should make next weekend especially interesting. However, we digress and on to the business at hand, and one of the most eagerly anticipated Tests of 2025.
So the teams are out, the stage is set, and one of the most anticipated Tests of the year is only 48 hours away. There are grudges to be settled on both sides. For Ireland, it’s having been knocked out of the last two World Cups at their traditional stumbling block —the Quarter Finals —by the Men in Black. For New Zealand, it’s exacting revenge on Ireland on the very field where their recent, in relative terms, famous rivalry all began in 2016. Also, there’s that little matter of Ireland being the first to win a series in New Zealand in 2022 since the great French team of 1994. So yes, in short, matches between these two passionate sides have been rather tasty, to say the least, in the last decade.
Just like in 2016, there are many parallels. Ireland, as they were then, come into this match as relative underdogs. Just like in 2016, they were only able to finish third in the Six Nations this year. Also, like 9 years ago, they are in the midst of a generational change of Irish players. Finally, just to throw some spice into the mix, they are missing some key players as a result of Lions duty injuries, as well as many of the assembled squad not having played together since the Six Nations way back in March.
Contrast that with New Zealand, who, by comparison, arrive in Chicago off the back of 9 Tests together since July, of which they have won 7. Furthermore, although they, too, are changing the guard in terms of personnel, most notably in the Coaching box, they are arguably much further along in the process than Ireland. Sure, they have had their wobbles against South Africa and Argentina, and there is no denying that they don’t exactly look like the all-conquering sides of old, but we’d venture that they aren’t exactly the side you want to kick off a challenging November against.
Here’s one interesting little side note: Ireland, while probably not placing a tremendous amount of emphasis on it, have no doubt thought about it. New Zealand doesn’t traditionally fare all that well in “neutral” venues. Not that one could really call Chicago a neutral field for the Irish. When we turned up in 2016, Soldier Field was a sea of green, and this is the same town that dyes the river green on St. Patrick’s Day every year. Still, it’s not Dublin, though much like Twickenham for the Springboks is a home away from home, Chicago seems to have served the same purpose for Ireland, with Saturday’s game being a sellout and expected to draw well in excess of 70,000 fans there (at least 70% of whom are likely to be wearing green jerseys). However, technically, it’s a neutral ground. The All Blacks outside World Cups don’t have an excellent record at such grounds. They lost to Ireland at Soldier Field in 2016, Argentina in Sydney in the 2020 Rugby Championship, and then South Africa at Twickenham ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Possibly just a coincidence, but something that could sit uneasily on the mind for the All Blacks if things don’t go according to plan from the kickoff.
Still enough of the fantasy league stuff, and let’s focus on the here and now. As we said above, in our humble opinion, Ireland remains just as they were in 2016 —very much the underdogs for Saturday’s contest. Injuries have left some players out of the equation altogether, like fullback Hugo Keenan, while others are just back from injury, such as regular Captain and back rower Caelan Doris. On top of all that, there has been much hand-wringing in the Irish press and by ourselves over Head Coach Andy Farrell’s devotion to anything wearing the blue of Leinster, even if this year the Dublin outfit is well off the boil so far in the URC.
As a result, the team he has picked is an interesting selection, to say the least, and could well set the tone for a new-look Ireland moving forward. It’s still heavily biased in favor of Leinster, but the other provinces get a shot at stamping their authority on some key positions. The Leinster front row is all there, and Dan Sheehan takes the Captaincy for Saturday. That’s one area we feel relatively comfortable in: despite Leinster’s woes, Tadgh Furlong seems to be back to his rampaging best, while Sheehan is, in our opinion, the best thing to happen to Irish rugby since Johnny Sexton. While the jury is out on James Ryan in the second row, his Munster colleague is probably Ireland’s best player of the last two years. Tadgh Beirne is quite simply an extraordinary rugby player, and we’d argue is to Ireland what Ardie Savea is to New Zealand.
There is experimentation in the back row for Ireland, as there is for New Zealand, and it really needs to fire, with Doris kept on the bench due to a lack of game time. Baird, Van der Flier, and Conan are all proven commodities, but they are looking decidedly less than flash of late while on Leinster duty. We hope to be proven wrong, but have a feeling this is one area New Zealand will be looking to cause severe disruptions in, especially with the likes of a superhuman like Ardie Savea, fuelled by his personal stash of kryptonite.
However, most Irish supporters will have breathed a sigh of relief when Munster’s Jack Crowley got the nod as Ireland’s starting playmaker in the 10 jersey. We won’t rehash the debate over Prendergast vs Crowley, which we visited last week, but suffice to say Crowley deserves his shot and, in our humble opinion, is the man for the job, especially given his defensive skill set, which is something his Leinster colleague is a bit thin on.
We find the All Black 11-15 personnel downright frightening and are just not sure Ireland has the pace and skill set to keep them in check. All Black center Jordie Barrett will have an intimate understanding of O’Brien, Lowe, Osborne, and Ringrose from his time at Leinster last year. If the New Zealander clicks with Quinn Tupaea, who, when on song, is a massive danger, it could be a long day at the office for Ireland. Their center pairing of Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey, who is in the form of his life at the moment, and Gary Ringrose, who has been battling injury, is an interesting but potentially exciting roll of the dice. As for Jamie Osborne, the 23-year-old is going to have his hands full and then some in the battle of the fullbacks with All Black try-scoring machine Will Jordan. Meanwhile, Tommy O’Brien will need to have spent some solid time on the tackling bags to bring down Caleb Clarke, while a decidedly out-of-form James Lowe will need to find some of his old defensive nous and spark to keep new All Black sensation Leroy Carter in check.
The bench for both sides packs some threat. As mentioned above, Caelan Doris is on call to lend some calm, while Munster’s “atomic kitten”, scrum half Craig Casey, sees his first serious outing since injury. Sam Prendergast is waiting on the sidelines to potentially inject some magic into the last stanzas of the game, but don’t be surprised if Ireland has a narrow lead by the closing stages and does not see him make an appearance at all. It’s a respectable and capable Irish bench as opposed to an exciting and potentially lethal All Black offering, including the likes of fly half/fullback Damian McKenzie, loose forward Wallace Sititi, and try-scoring Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, to name but a few.
This could be a free-running spectacle, but we somehow doubt it. It’s more likely to be a case of both sides trying to keep things close and playing a relatively conservative game. Ireland will want Crowley to keep the All Black defenses guessing while ensuring that Ireland can put them under pressure at the breakdown and allow the wrecking ball of Tadgh Beirne to be at his best in both attack and defense. New Zealand, though, will be keen to test the defensive frailties of an out-of-sorts Lowe and an unproven O’Brien at this level, but will also be quite content to have the center pairing of Barrett and Tupaea keeping things rolling up the middle off the power of Savea and Lakai. If Ireland can shut down that threat, win those all-important collisions, stop New Zealand from spreading it wide, and keep them pinned in the back of their half with a smart kicking game, then they may yet repeat history, but it’s a big ask.
We didn’t feel all that confident about Ireland’s chances last time we walked into Soldier Field 9 years ago, and look what happened. However, things have moved on since then, but we can’t wait to find out if a bit of good old-fashioned Irish luck allied to some serious grit can create another bit of Rugby magic this Saturday. Either way, a good time will be had by all, and what is hopefully becoming a bit of a traditional match between these two feisty rivals in this unique location, especially for us rugby-starved fans in North America, will continue!
Ireland vs New Zealand – Saturday, November 1st – 4:00 PM (Eastern) – Premier Sports Asia and Stan Sports Australia (live and on demand) Also Irish Rugby+ (live only)
England and Australia in the last year have shown a remarkable ability to light the afterburners when they need them most, making Saturday’s opening match between the two sides such an exciting starting gun to their November campaigns!
Australia may lament that, as this falls just outside the official November Test window, they don’t have access to some of their English-based players, while England can draw on their full roster. Although this seems slightly unfair in favor of England, we’d argue that the team that Wallaby Coach Joe Schmidt is fielding at Twickenham on Saturday needs to make no apologies. Barring question marks around the 10 jersey, we certainly don’t see anything that would ring the alarm bells. It’s an excellent squad, well seasoned after a Rugby Championship that saw them put in some big performances. England also fields a powerhouse team, but this is their first outing together as a full squad since the Six Nations, with plenty of new faces. With so many England players on duty with the Lions this summer, the England squad that successfully toured Argentina only bears a fleeting resemblance to Steve Borthwick’s selections for Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies.
For Australia, Coach Joe Schmidt will hope his charges put an authoritative stamp on proceedings right from the opening whistle. While their ability to come from behind in the second half was nothing if not extraordinary this Rugby Championship, it certainly doesn’t do much for their Coach’s blood pressure and their supporters’ heart conditions, as exciting as it may be to watch.
In Steve Borthwick’s case, he will be hoping that his bold choice of mixing veterans with some of the youngsters who so impressed in Argentina this summer will set the tone for how England now builds in this final two-year run-up to the next World Cup. We’ll be honest: we really like the balance of old and new in Saturday’s lineup. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see minor variations during November, but otherwise see this as the squad heading to the World Cup, barring a few retirements.
Looking at the teamsheets, we’re fascinated to see how the forward battles play out. Under Schmidt, Australia has become much more structured in their set-piece work, allied to a very capable forward pack. The scrum has become a lot more potent and effective. If Taniela Tupou can stay on the right side of the excellent Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli, then they could actually make life exceptionally difficult for England. Propping up the other side of the scrum, Tupou’s partner in crime, Angus Bell, has been one of Australia’s best players in the last twelve months, while Billy Pollard is maturing quickly into the Hooker position and all the responsibility it brings with it. England’s counter in the front row is equally menacing. Still, despite his truly stellar service to England over the last ten years, questions are starting to be asked about whether England really has a long-term plan at Hooker, with Saturday’s starter Jamie George highly unlikely to make the World Cup.
The big talking point for us, though, lies in the back rows, which should be one of the most dynamic and exciting contests on the park. We are delighted to see youngster Guy Pepper get the starting blindside jersey for this game, while gold dust Henry Pollock is seen as an impact player off the bench. Pepper has been sensational with Bath this past year and seems equally at home on either side of the scrum. Pollock, by comparison, clearly struggled at times on the Lions Tour this summer. The Northampton youngster can produce some truly remarkable moments. Still, they tend to be flashy spectacles rather than the discipline and impact needed for building the necessary pressure to assure ascendancy. As a result, we’d argue it’s a shrewd call by Borthwick to use the two as he has for Saturday’s game.
For Australia, that back row really did come of age this Rugby Championship and during the Lions Series. In Captain Harry Wilson, they have a truly inspirational leader, and his combination with Fraser McWreight has game-breaking moments written all over it. At the same time, Rob Valentini packs the kind of battering ram Australia needs to ensure quality go-forward ball. In short, England are going to have their work cut out for them containing this all-action trio, who have also shown some extraordinary resilience in defense.
Despite all the razzle-dazzle of the Lions and Six Nations, Borthwick has finally gone with the tried and trusted George Ford in the playmaking role. We’ll be the first to admit that up until this summer, we’d always found the Sale Man’s game slightly pedestrian, albeit exceptionally effective. This summer in Argentina, and over the last 12 months with Sale, he seems to have undergone a complete rejuvenation. He’s intelligent, quick, and imaginative, in addition to all his steady hands-on-the-tiller attributes. His game is so much more rounded and dynamic than it used to be, plus he is, without a doubt, the most seasoned fly-half in terms of experience that England has at their disposal. In short, despite our reservations of years gone by, we find ourselves looking at Ford in a completely different light this past year. For us, if we’d seen anyone else other than Ford on the starting 15 sheet, we would have been left scratching our noggins in bewilderment, such is the man’s transformation.
Australia will not be feeling so comfortable in their playmaking axis. Jake Gordon produced some big moments this summer in both the Lions Tour and the Rugby Championship. Despite some of our ongoing reservations with the Waratahs’ scrum half, we are willing to reserve judgment till the end of November. However, at 10, Australia just looks vulnerable, especially with the talented but very inexperienced Tane Edmed running the show. The lad has promise, make no mistake, but taking on England in the cauldron of Twickenham and up against a cool head like George Ford is a massive ask of the young man.
However, if Australia can hold their nerve and put on display the kind of defensive heroics that served them so well against the Lions and their Rugby Championship opponents at times, their backs could provide the Wallabies license to thrill. We were absolutely mesmerized by Australia’s running game at times during both the Lions Tour and the Rugby Championship. Let loose the Wallaby backs and all of a sudden you’re in for the kind of bold attacking rugby that generally only the French can pull off. The Wallaby center pairing of Paisami and Sua’ali’i is simply electric, and Morgensen and the aptly named Harry Potter out wide can create some memorable magic.
However, so too can England’s contingent, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso set to be the next big thing for the Men in White. The only slight furrowing of brows here at the Lineout was the decision to put Tommy Freeman at center. The Northampton man is at his try-scoring best out wide on the wing, and we are not sure that trying to contain the Sua’ali’i/Paisami axis will be the best use of his talents.
Australia will be without the services of Tom Wright, who suffered a brutal injury in the second Test against the Springboks. The Brumbies fullback had arguably been the Wallabies’ best player in 2025, and although his replacement, Andrew Kellaway, is no slouch, Wright’s all-court game has been sorely missed by the Wallabies at times since his departure. Meanwhile, England’s Freddie Steward, after falling out of favor in the 15 jersey, is back on song—defensively, he can still be a liability, but so can Kellaway.
This should be a high-scoring, exceptionally entertaining contest and one which, along with the Soldier Field epic, is our other pick of the weekend. We’d argue that if it wasn’t for the lack of consistency in the playmaking axis at 9 and 10, Australia could repeat their Ellis Park heroics against the Springboks earlier this summer. However, that is not the case, and remains the single most significant variable on the day for Australia, one that England, with the seasoned crux of Alex Mitchell and George Ford, will not have to fret over. For us, that is where the game will be won, and England clearly has the edge, allied to home advantage. We can’t wait to see if Australia can upset the apple cart once again this year, something which, if this year’s results are to be believed, is clearly part of their DNA at the moment. However, if England make the scoreboard and the pressure that goes with it all their own in the first quarter, Australia are unlikely to wrestle it back this time around, even though they are this year’s undisputed comeback kings. Either way, expect 80 minutes of rollicking rugby entertainment on Saturday!
England vs Australia – Saturday, November 1st – 11:10 AM (Eastern) – DAZN, Premier Sports Asia and Stan Sports Australia (live and on demand)
Canada can look forward to some excellent adventures in Europe this November and some sound preparation for the World Cup!
Finally, Canada gets a European Tour, which should really give them a measure of where they stand as they start their preparations for their World Cup adventures in Australia in 2027. Having not been to a World Cup since Japan in 2019, the lack of exposure has clearly dented the team’s ability, along with a woeful Coaching regime until last year. Since the sea change appointment of Steve Meehan this year, Canada’s fortunes have definitely started to look up. Romania, Portugal, and Georgia, who have also qualified for the next World Cup, sit much higher in World Rugby’s rankings than we do, with Georgia currently at 11th. Portugal and Romania sit 20th and 21st, respectively, and therefore serve as better benchmarks for Canada to judge themselves against, given their 24th ranking.
As we say, after not feeling overly enthusiastic about the Men’s program for the last few years, there is a genuine sense of optimism amongst our ranks as we approach this November. Georgia at home is likely to be far too big a mountain for Canada to climb, but Romania and Portugal are legitimate targets. If Canada can put in a good showing in all three of these games, even picking up a win or two, then Canada can start to develop some self-belief for their World Cup campaign in Australia.
The Men’s Program has tended to sit very much in the shadows of the Women’s program up till now, and, to be quite honest, we can’t see that changing much. Canada’s Women are a proven International success story and look set for bigger and better things. As everyone who reads this blog knows, if Rugby Canada needs to prioritize their funding based on results, then we are firmly in the camp of seeing the Women’s Program lead the charge and get the support its extraordinary efforts deserve. Let’s face it, we don’t think Canada’s Women having to fundraise again to go to Australia in 2029 would sit all that well with the sporting public in this country after the last Women’s World Cup, and so it shouldn’t.
Consequently, this European Tour is the first step on a long road of putting Men’s Rugby back on the sporting landscape in this country. The Women have unquestionably now cemented their place in Canada’s sporting future, and the sky is the limit. For the Men, though, it’s small steps for now, and the next three weeks are an excellent opportunity to raise their profile against quality opposition who, for the most part, are at the same level. It may not be France vs. South Africa or Ireland vs. New Zealand, but we have a hunch that, as Canadian rugby fans, you’ll be more than just a little interested in events in Bucharest, Lisbon, and Tbilisi in the coming weeks.
Well, that’s it for this week, folks, as we pack up and head off down to Soldier Field. For any of you at the game, we’ll be starting our pre-game festivities at Fado’s before wending our way to the field. If you can make it, say hi; otherwise, enjoy what should be two cracking Tests this weekend.
The Lineout 