Briefs on all ten major internationals from the weekend.

WALES 19 vs 26 SAMOA
Friday, November 16, 19:30 GMT, Cardiff

Wales were overwhelmed by a superbly committed Samoan side at the Millenium Stadium. A try in the opening minute from Fa’atoina Autagavaia set the tone and a late try by Johnny Leota finished it off. Rob Howley’s men could muster little go-forward against a fierce and determined defence, with their lone try scored on an intercept by Ashley Beck.

SCORING
Wales – L. Halfpenny 1c 4p, A. Beck 1t
Samoa – T. Pisi 1c 3p, F. Autagavaia 1t, G. Pisi 1t, J. Leota 1t

WALES
L. Halfpenny; A. Cuthbert, A. Beck, J. Roberts, G. North; D. Biggar (R. Priestland 38), M. Phillips; P. James (G. Jenkins 61), R. Hibbard (K. Owens 17), A. Jarvis (S. Andrews 77); B. Davies, I. Evans (L. Charteris HT); R. Jones (capt.) (S. Warburton 70), J. Tipuric, T. Faletau.

SAMOA
F. Autagavaia; P. Perez, G. Pisi, P. Williams (J. Leota 55-69, 75), D. Lemi (capt.); T. Pisi (J. Su’a 78), K. Fotuali’i; S. Taulafo, O. Avei (T. Paulo 57), C. Johnston (J. Johnston 48); D. Leo, F. Paulo (J. Tekori 60); O. Treviranus (T. Foma’i 69), M. Fa’asavalu, T. Tu’ifua.

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP XV 21 vs 52 NZ MAORI
Saturday, November 17, 12:05 GMT, Doncaster

Former 7s star Declan O’Donnell starred on the wing as eight different players touched down for the Maori in an exciting display of open rugby. The Championship XV were competitive for the full eighty minutes, with Rhys Crane scoring a lovely try at the death. Top marks to referee David Rose, who rightfully warned and then penalised Maori scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park for feeding, an offence almost unanimously ignored by officials.

SCORING
RFU Championship XV – T. Roberts 3p, J. Sharp 1c, D. Mama 1t, R. Crane 1t
NZ Maori – W. Ripia 5c, T. Renata 1t 1c, D. O’Connell 1t, K. Baker 1t, H. Elliot 1t, E. Dixon 1t, F. Wilson 1t, R. Graham 1t, J. Willison 1t

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP XV
D. Mama (M. Atkinson 55); R. Crane, T. Streather, C. Hayter, J. Bassett; T. Roberts (J. Sharp 55), G. Cattle (capt.) (L. Baldwin 55); M. Irish (T. Davies 58), J. Vickers (T. Stagg 71), A. Paver (O. Tomaszczyk 49); N. Hannay (C. Green 49), N. Rouse; J. Rowan, P. Burgess (R. Burrows 58), B. Pienaar.

NZ MAORI
T. Renata; K. Baker, J. Willison, T. Bateman (C. Ngatai HT), D. O’Donnell; W. Ripia, J. Gibson-Park (F. Wilson 58); J. Ellison (B. May 46), H. Elliot (Q. MacDonald 55), B. Afeaki (B. Murray 58); J. Hoeata (J. Eaton 55), R. Graham; N. Crosswell (S. Christie 46), T. Latimer (capt.), E. Dixon.

GEORGIA 22 vs 25 JAPAN
Saturday, November 17, 13:00 GMT, Tbilisi

It was a grandstand finish as Kosei Ono kicked a snap drop goal three minutes into extra time to complete an impressive come-from-behind victory for Japan. As expected the Georgian forwards dominated their opposites, but the pace of the Japanese and the golden boot of fullback Ayumu Goromaru kept them in the match. Merab Kvirikashvili, scorer of all his team’s points, was curiously subbed and could only watch as his side squandered a 22-13 lead.

SCORING
Georgia – M. Kvirikashvili 1t 1c 5p
Japan – A. Goromaru 5p 1c, K. Ono 1d, H. Onozawa 1t

CARDS
Georgia – V. Kolelishvili yellow

GEORGIA
I. Kiasashvili; I. Machkhaneli, D. Kacharava, M. Sharikadze (T. Zibzibadze 68), S. Todua; M. Kvirikashvili (L. Khmaladze 66), I. Abuseridze (capt.) (G. Begadze 66); D. Khichagishvili (M. Nariashvili 59), S. Mamukashvili (I Natriashvili 52), D. Zirakashvili (D. Kubriashvili 52); G. Nemsadze (V. Maisuradze 59), L. Datunashvili (G. Tkhilaishvili 66); S. Sutiashvili, V. Kolelishvili, M. Gorgodze.

JAPAN
A. Goromaru; T. Hirose (capt.), T. Senba (G. Aruga 57), H. Tatekawa, H. Onozawa; K. Ono, F. Tanaka (A. Hiwasa 66); Y. Nagae, S. Horie, K. Hatakeyama (H. Yamashita 57); H. Ono, L. Thompson (M. Broadhurst 50); H. Tui (K. Holani 50), M. Leitch, T. Kikutani.

ITALY 10 vs 42 NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, November 17, 14:00 GMT, Rome

The Azzurri competed well for forty minutes but were ultimately outclassed at the Stadio Olimpico. Alberto Sgarbi scored his first international try to make it 13-7 at the break, but a Luciano Orquera drop goal was all Italy could scrape together from there onwards. Julian Savea added two late tries to close out a 29 point second half for the All Blacks.

SCORING
Italy – L. Orquera 1c 1d, A. Sgarbi 1t
New Zealand – A. Cruden 4c 3p, J. Savea 2t, K. Read 1T, M. Nonu 1T, C. Jane 1T

ITALY
A. Masi (L. McLean 61); G. Venditti, T. Benvenuti, A. Sgarbi, Mi. Bergamasco; L. Orquera, E. Gori (T. Botes 56); A. Lo Cicero (A. de Marchi 50), L. Ghiraldini (D. Giazzon 50), M. Castrogiovanni (L. Cittadini 56); A. Pavanello (Q. Geldenhuys 59), F. Minto; A. Zanni (Ma. Bergamasco 64), S. Favaro (R. Barbieri 46), S. Parisse (capt.).

NEW ZEALAND
B. Barrett (C. Jane 53); H. Gear, C. Smith, M. Nonu, J. Savea; A. Cruden, A. Smith (T. Kerr-Barlow 61); T. Woodcock (W. Crockett 64), K. Mealamu (D. Coles 42), C. Faumuina (B. Franks 46); B. Retallick, A. Williams (S. Whitelock 53); L. Messam, S. Cane, K. Read (capt.).

ENGLAND 14 vs 20 AUSTRALIA
Saturday, November 17, 14:30 GMT, London

The Wallabies produced a remarkable performance at Twickenham under massive pressure following their crushing defeat in Paris. Berrick Barnes contributed 15 points with the boot to go with a Nick Cummins try. England led 14-11 at the break, but were held scoreless in the second half by a resolute Australian defence combined with several handling errors.

SCORING
England – T. Flood 1c 3p, M. Tuilagi 1t
Australia – B. Barnes 4p 1d, N. Cummins 1t

ENGLAND
A. Goode; C. Ashton, M. Tuilagi, B. Barritt (O. Farrell 73), C. Sharples (M. Brown 60); T. Flood, D. Care (B. Youngs 60); J. Marler (M. Vunipola 50), T. Youngs (D. Paice 73), D. Cole; T. Palmer (J. Launchbury 53), G. Parling; T. Johnson (T. Wood 50), C. Robshaw (capt.), T. Waldrom.

AUSTRALIA
B. Barnes; N. Cummins, A. Ashley-Cooper, B. Tapuai, D. Ioane (D. Mitchell 69); K. Beale, N. Phipps; B. Robinson (J. Slipper 60), T. Polota-Nau (S. Moore HT), B. Alexander (S. Kepu 70); S. Timani, N. Sharpe (capt.); D. Dennis (L. Gill 55-73, 76), M. Hooper, W. Palu.

SCOTLAND 10 vs 21 SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, November 17, 14:30 GMT, Edinburgh

Ill-discipline was the name of the game at Murrayfield, as both sides took many silly penalties in a stop-start encounter. Scotland failed to take advantage of multiple scoring opportunities, and were outmuscled by the big Springbok forwards. Adriaan Strauss scored two tries including an intercept from a telegraphed Mike Blair pass that put the game out of reach.

SCORING
Scotland – G. Laidlaw 1p 1c, H. Pyrgos 1t
South Africa – P. Lambie 1c 3p, A. Strauss 2t

CARDS
South Africa – F. van der Merwe yellow

SCOTLAND
S. Hogg; S. Lamont, N. De Luca, M. Scott, T. Visser; G. Laidlaw (R. Jackson 68), M. Blair (H. Pyrgos 47); R. Grant, R. Ford (D. Hall 68), E. Murray (G. Cross 68); R. Gray (A. Kellock 21), J. Hamilton; K. Brown (capt.), J. Barclay, D. Denton.

SOUTH AFRICA
Z. Kirchner; J.P. Pietersen, J. de Jongh, J. de Villiers (capt.), F. Hougaard; P. Lambie (M. Steyn 74), R. Pienaar; G. Steenkamp (H. van der Merwe 61), A. Strauss (S. Brits 76), J. du Plessis (C.J. van der Linde 52); E. Etzebeth, J. Kruger (F. van der Merwe 69); F. Louw, W. Alberts (M. Coetzee 53), D. Vermeulen.

IRELAND XV 51 vs 0 FIJI
Saturday, November 17, 17:30 GMT, Limerick

The young Irish backs were the story of the game as winger Craig Gilroy led the way with a hat trick of tries. A serious looking ankle injury to John Muldoon was the only blight in an otherwise complete performance that would have pleased Declan Kidney. Fiji were almost comically poor, conceding 36 points in the first half and looking totally disinterested in rainy conditions at Thomond Park.

SCORING
Ireland – P. Jackson 4c 1p, C. Gilroy 3t, F. McFadden 2t, S. Cronin 1t, D. Cave 1t, L. Marshall 1t

CARDS
Ireland XV – C. Henry yellow
Fiji – T. Matanavou yellow, T. Tuapati yellow

IRELAND XV
D. Hurley (S. Zebo 61); C. Gilroy, D. Cave, L. Marshall, F. McFadden; P. Jackson, C. Murray (P. Marshall 61); D. Kilcoyne (C. Healy 46), S. Cronin (R. Strauss 61), M. Ross (M. Bent 52); D. O’Callaghan, D. Tuohy; I. Henderson, J. Muldoon (C. Henry 43), J. Heaslip (capt.) (M. McCarthy 75).

FIJI
M. Talebula; S. Koniferedi (S. Radidi 36), V. Goneva, R. Fatiaki (T. Matanavou HT), W. Votu; J. Ralulu, N. Matawalu (K. Bola 67); J. Yanuyanutawa (S. Somoca 69), V. Veikoso (T. Tuapati 45), D. Manu (capt.); L. Nakarawa (A. Ratuniyarawa 45), A. Naikatini; I. Ratuva (V. Veikoso 67), M. Ravulo, N. Nagusa (J. Domolailai 60).

TONGA 22 vs 13 UNITED STATES
Saturday, November 17, 18:00 GMT, Colwyn Bay

A lacklustre second half performance saw Tonga register 17 unanswered points after being down 13-5 to the Americans with fifty minutes played. The Eagles came off second best in the collisions and failed to gain any rhythm when in possession. Despite receiving two yellow cards the Islanders scored two cracking tries and a penalty to claim the spoils.

SCORING
Tonga – F. Apikotoa 2c, V. Lilo 1p, F. Vainikolo 1t, J. Tuineau 1t, S. Piukala 1t
United States – Z. Pangelinan 1c 2p, R. Shaw 1t

CARDS
Tonga – F. Apikotoa yellow, A. Fatafehi yellow

TONGA
V. Lilo; V. Helu, S. Hufanga (A. Fatafehi 66), S. Piukala, F. Vainikolo; F. Apikotoa, T. Moa (V. Iongi 78); S. Taumalolo, E. Taione, H. Aulika (T. Mailau 51); J. Tuineau, L. Lokotui (J. Afu 72); S. Mafi (H. T-Pole 61), N. Latu (capt.), V. Ma’afu.

UNITED STATES
Z. Pangelinan; C. Dirksen, P. Emerick (R. Suniula 66), A. Suniula, L. Hume; T. L’Estrange, R. Shaw (M. Petri 68); S. Pittman, C. Biller, E. Fry; B. Doyle (I. Basauri 17), L. Stanfill; S. LaValla, J. Quill (P. Dahl 57), T. Clever (capt.).

FRANCE 39 vs 22 ARGENTINA
Saturday, November 17, 20:00 GMT, Lille

France followed up their outstanding performance in Paris with another as they put Argentina to the sword in front of 50,000 strong at the gloriously named Grand Stade Lille Metropole. Freddie Michalak kicked 24 points and marshalled his team well after Marcelo Bosch had put the Pumas in the lead with a try only five minutes in. Nicolas Sanchez scored 17 points in a losing effort as the French forwards took the edge in the tight.

SCORING
France – F. Michalak 3c 5p 1d, V. Clerc 2t, Y. Nyanga 1t
Argentina – N. Sanchez 1c 4p 1d, M. Bosch 1t

FRANCE
B. Dulin (F. Trinh-Duc 68); W. Fofana, F. Fritz (Y. Huget 63), M. Mermoz, V. Clerc; F. Michalak, M. Machenaud (M. Parra 56); Y. Forestier (T. Domingo 50), D. Szarzewski (B. Kayser 50), N. Mas (V. Debaty 68); P. Pape (capt.), Y. Maestri (J. Suta 60); Y. Nyanga, F. Ouedraogo, L. Picamoles (D. Chouly 73).

ARGENTINA
L. Gonzalez Amorosino; H. Agulla (J. Tuculet 73), G. Tiesi (G. Camacho 58), M. Bosch, J. Imhoff; N. Sanchez, M. Landajo (T. Cubelli 63); M. Ayerza (N. Lobo 72), E. Guinazu (A. Creevy 47), J. Figallo (F. Gomez 60); M. Carizza, J. Farias Cabello (T. Vallejos 60); J. Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), J.M. Leguizamon, L. Senatore (T. de la Vega 50).

CANADA 35 vs 3 RUSSIA
Saturday, November 17, 18:15 GMT, Colwyn Bay

Canada rebounded from a disappointing effort against Samoa with a tidy display to round off their two week stay in North Wales. Winger Jeff Hassler was in scintillating form as he scored two tries and created another for Taylor Paris. Russia were held tryless and ended their November series with another flat performance.

SCORING
Canada – J. Pritchard 3c 3p, J. Hassler 2t, T. Paris 1t, N. Blevins 1t
Russia – I. Kliuchnikov 1p

CARDS
Canada – N. Blevins yellow

CANADA
J. Pritchard; J. Hassler, C. Hearn, N. Blevins, T. Paris; H. Jones (C. Braid 22), E. Wilson (P. Mack 48); A. Tiedemann, R. Hamilton (R. Barkwill 60), J. Marshall (D. Wooldridge 62); J. Sinclair (J. Moonlight 62), T. Hotson (J. Phelan 51); T. Ardron, C. O’Toole (N. Dala 44), A. Carpenter (capt.) (H. Buydens 71).

RUSSIA
I. Kliuchnikov; D. Simplikevich (S. Trishin 62), V. Artemiev, D. Gerasimov, V. Ostroushko; S. Sugrobov (R. Gaisin 62), A. Shcherban; G. Tsnobiladze (A. Volkov 48), V. Tsnobiladze (V. Korshunov 48), E. Pronenko (I. Zykov 48-68, 70); A. Voytov (capt.) (A. Garbuzov 55), K. Kulemin; A. Temnov, P. Butenko, V. Gresev.