Three Southern Hemisphere giants and a team overseen by their former head coach lie in wait for England this November - with every game live on TNT Sports. We now know the composition of Steve Borthwick's squad for the task ahead, but what should we expect from the opposition?
England v New Zealand, Saturday 2nd November (15:10)
If ever there was a perfect match to get the Autumn Nations Series underway, it's this one. The promise, however faint, of a repeat performance from their 2019 World Cup encounter - an era-defining one by England - is enough to warm up the hopes and hearts of any English fan. As is the hint (whisper it) that New Zealand aren't the force of old. While it's the All Blacks who go into the match with two wins against England from the summer tour in their back pocket, the last time the teams met in Twickenham - in the 2022 Autumn Nations Series - the home side were roundly criticised for settling for a draw. Do those boos still ring in their ears, spurring them on to something greater this time around?
England v Australia, Saturday 9th November (15:10)
Every Wallabies result of this year's Autumn Nations Series will be couched in terms of the British and Irish Lions, given that Joe Schmidt's team faces all of the Home Nations on successive weekends. Since knocking England out of their own World Cup in 2015, Australia's sole victory against 'the Poms' came in Perth in summer 2022. That's one win in their last eleven meetings. Schmidt may privately be targeting a win against Scotland or Wales as realistic for this campaign, but that may be to diminish the ambitions of a coach whose reputation is second to none.
England v South Africa, Saturday 16th November (17:40)
There's no better way to measure yourself against arguably the best Test match team the world has seen than to do so head-on. The Springboks are aiming to make it three on the bounce against England, but it could be a tight contest: two of the last three encounters have been one-point affairs. For all the boundary-pushing genius of Rassie Erasmus, South Africa aren't invincible, as evidenced in losses to Argentina and Ireland this year. Whether they feel they have England's number is another matter. A win for England would rank alongside their Guinness Men's Six Nations victory against Ireland this year as one of the best yet of the Borthwick era.
England v Japan, Sunday 24th November (16:10)
Much of the intrigue here will inevitably lie in the return of former England head coach Eddie Jones to the Allianz Stadium. He led a Barbarians side there against a World XV back in May last year, and his Japan side faced England this summer - albeit that was in Tokyo. England will be expected to win this match, coming off the back of a battle-hardening trio of matches against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Japan, in contrast, are lacking in experience according to Jones himself. Still, never rule out the Brave Blossoms springing a surprise or two as they seek a first-ever win against the Red Rose.
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