The 2009 end of year rugby internationals, also known as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, saw Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, tour the northern hemisphere.
The headline event of the series was an attempted Grand Slam tour of the Home Nations by Australia. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Wallabies' only previous Grand Slam tour, which saw the Wallabies sweep all four matches and saw David Campese, Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones, and Michael Lynagh achieve international prominence. Also, for the second consecutive year, a Bledisloe Cup match was contested by New Zealand and Australia outside of either country, this time in Tokyo. The final event of the series, the Barbarians' traditional Final Challenge, involved New Zealand, with the Barbarians winning over a mostly second-string All Blacks side.
For the first time since the inception of the IRB World Rankings in 2003, all of the top 20 teams in the rankings played matches in the November window. The only top-20 teams not playing in the November tours were Uruguay and the United States, which played a two-legged 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying tie during November.
This year's series was also marked by more non-Test matches pitting Test teams with top-level club teams than in recent years. Matches of this type are often called "midweek matches" because they are traditionally played at midweek, most often on Wednesday, although they can also be scheduled on a weekend when the touring team has no Test scheduled. Australia and South Africa both scheduled two such matches; the Wallabies won both of their matches comfortably, while the Springboks lost both of theirs.
Matches
Week 1
FB 15James O'ConnorRW 14Peter Hynes OC 13Ryan CrossIC 12Adam Ashley-Cooper LW 11Digby IoaneFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 David PocockBF 6 Rocky Elsom (c)RL 5 Mark Chisholm LL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Matt DunningLK 18Dean Mumm N8 19George Smith SH 20Luke BurgessFH 21Drew MitchellCE 22Quade CooperCoach: Robbie Deans FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Cory JaneOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a Nonu LW 11Sitiveni Sivivatu FH 10Dan Carter SH 9 Jimmy CowanN8 8 Rodney So'oialo OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Adam ThomsonRL 5 Tom Donnelly LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Neemia Tialata HK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Corey FlynnPR 17John Afoa LK 18Jason Eaton N8 19Kieran Read SH 20Brendon LeonardFH 21Stephen Donald CE 22Tamati EllisonCoach: Graham Henry Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan) Television match official: Akihisa Aso (Japan)
Week 2
FB 15Ugo MonyeRW 14Mark Cueto OC 13Dan HipkissIC 12Shane Geraghty LW 11Matt BanahanFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Danny CareN8 8 Jordan CraneOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Tom CroftRL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)LL 4 Louis DeaconTP 3 David Wilson HK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Tim PayneReplacements:HK 16Dylan HartleyPR 17Duncan BellLK 18Courtney LawesN8 19James HaskellSH 20Paul HodgsonFH 21Andy GoodeCE 22Ayoola ErinleCoach: Martin Johnson FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Peter Hynes OC 13Digby IoaneIC 12Quade Cooper LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Wycliff PaluOF 7 George SmithBF 6 Rocky Elsom (c)RL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Stephen MooreLP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-NauPR 17Matt DunningLK 18Dean MummFL 19David PocockSH 20Luke BurgessCE 21Ryan CrossFB 22James O'ConnorCoach: Robbie Deans
FB 15James HookRW 14Leigh HalfpennyOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)BF 7 Martyn Williams OF 6 Andy Powell RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Alun Wyn JonesTP 3 Paul James HK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Huw Bennett PR 17Duncan Jones LK 18Bradley Davies FL 19Dafydd Jones SH 20Martin Roberts CE 21Jonathan DaviesWG 22Tom JamesCoach: Warren Gatland FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Cory JaneOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Zac GuildfordFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Brendon Leonard N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Jerome KainoRL 5 Jason Eaton LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Neemia TialataHK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Wyatt Crockett Replacements:HK 16Corey FlynnPR 17Owen Franks LK 18Tom Donnelly FL 19Adam Thomson SH 20Jimmy Cowan FH 21Stephen DonaldWG 22Ben SmithCoach: Graham Henry Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) Stuart Terheege (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Week 3
FB 15Damien TrailleRW 14Vincent Clerc OC 13Yann David IC 12Maxime Mermoz LW 11Cédric Heymans FH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Julien Dupuy N8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Imanol Harinordoquy BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Romain Millo-ChluskiLL 4 Lionel Nallet TP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Fabien BarcellaReplacements:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Sébastien Chabal FL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Morgan Parra CE 21David Marty WG 22Maxime Médard Coach: Marc Lièvremont FB 15 Zane KirchnerRW 14 JP PietersenOC 13 Jaque FourieIC 12 Adi Jacobs LW 11 Bryan HabanaFH 10 Morné Steyn SH 9 Fourie du PreezN8 8 Ryan Kankowski BF 7 Schalk Burger OF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor Matfield LL 4 Bakkies Botha TP 3 John Smit (c)HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16 Adriaan Strauss PR 17 Wian du PreezPR 18 CJ van der Linde LK 19 Andries Bekker FL 20 Danie Rossouw FH 21 Ruan PienaarCE 22 Wynand Olivier Coach: Peter de Villiers Ras Dumisani's controversial rendition of the South African national anthem before the game caused a minor diplomatic incident afterwards.
FB 15Ugo MonyeRW 14Mark Cueto OC 13Dan HipkissIC 12Shane Geraghty LW 11Matt BanahanFH 10Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Paul Hodgson N8 8 James HaskellOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Tom Croft RL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)LL 4 Louis DeaconTP 3 Duncan Bell HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Tim Payne Replacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17Paul Doran-Jones LK 18Courtney LawesFL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Danny Care FH 21Andy Goode CE 22Ayoola ErinleCoach: Martin Johnson FB 15Horacio AgullaRW 14Lucas Borges OC 13Gonzalo TiesiIC 12Martín Rodríguez LW 11Mauro ComuzziFH 10Santiago FernándezSH 9 Alfredo Lalanne N8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c)OF 7 Alejandro Abadie BF 6 Tomás LeonardiRL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Esteban Lozada TP 3 Martín Scelzo HK 2 Mario LedesmaLP 1 Rodrigo RonceroReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet BasualdoPR 17Marcos Ayerza LK 18Manuel Carizza FL 19Alejandro Campos SH 20Agustín Figuerola FH 21Benjamín UrdapilletaWG 22Federico Martín AramburúCoach: Santiago Phelan
FB 15Rory LamontRW 14Sean Lamont OC 13Alex GroveIC 12Graeme Morrison LW 11Simon DanielliFH 10Phil GodmanSH 9 Chris Cusiter (c)N8 8 Johnnie BeattieOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Alasdair StrokoschRL 5 Alastair KellockLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Moray LowHK 2 Ross FordLP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Dougie HallPR 17Kyle TraynorLK 18Jason WhiteN8 19Richie VernonSH 20Mike BlairCE 21Chris PatersonFB 22Nick De LucaCoach: Andy Robinson FB 15 Josh MatavesiRW 14 Vereniki GonevaOC 13 Gabiriele LovobalavuIC 12 Seremaia Bai (c)LW 11 Napolioni NalagaFH 10 Nicky LittleSH 9 Mosese RauluniN8 8 Asaeli BokoBF 7 Akapusi QeraOF 6 Josefa DomolailaiRL 5 Ifereimi RawaqaLL 4 Wame LewaravuTP 3 Deacon Manu HK 2 Viliame VeikosoLP 1 Alefoso YalayalatabuaReplacements:HK 16 Graham DewesPR 17 Sireli LeduaLK 18 Leone NakarawaN8 19 Samu BolaSH 20 Waisale VatuvokaFH 21 Jonetani RatuFB 22 Nasoni RokoCoach: Glen Ella
Japan's victory saw them achieve their highest ever spot on the IRB World Rankings.
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy Bowe OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Paddy Wallace LW 11Luke Fitzgerald FH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Tomás O'LearyN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David Wallace BF 6 Stephen Ferris RL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Jerry FlanneryLP 1 Cian HealyReplacements:HK 16Seán CroninPR 17Tom CourtLK 18Leo CullenFL 19Denis Leamy SH 20Eoin ReddanFH 21Johnny SextonWG 22Keith Earls Coach: Declan Kidney FB 15Adam Ashley-Cooper RW 14Peter Hynes OC 13Digby IoaneIC 12Quade Cooper LW 11Drew MitchellFH 10Matt GiteauSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 David Pocock BF 6 Rocky Elsom (c)RL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 James HorwillTP 3 Ben Alexander HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Matt DunningLK 18Dean MummFL 19George Smith SH 20Luke BurgessFH 21Ryan CrossFB 22James O'Connor Coach: Robbie Deans
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll became the 11th player to reach 100 Test caps.
Week 4
FB 15Mark CuetoRW 14Ugo Monye OC 13Dan HipkissIC 12Ayoola Erinle LW 11Matt Banahan FH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Paul Hodgson N8 8 James Haskell OF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe Worsley RL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)LL 4 Simon Shaw TP 3 Duncan Bell HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Tim PayneReplacements:HK 16Steve Thompson PR 17David Wilson LK 18Louis Deacon FL 19Tom Croft SH 20Danny Care CE 21Shane Geraghty WG 22Mathew Tait Coach: Martin Johnson FB 15Mils MuliainaRW 14Zac GuildfordOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Ma'a Nonu LW 11Sitiveni SivivatuFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Jimmy Cowan N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Tom Donnelly LL 4 Brad ThornTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Aled de MalmanchePR 17John Afoa LK 18Anthony Boric FL 19Jerome Kaino SH 20Andy Ellis FH 21Stephen DonaldCE 22Tamati EllisonCoach: Graham Henry Dan Carter became the all-time leading Test point scorer for the All Blacks, surpassing Andrew Mehrtens.
FB 15James HookRW 14Leigh Halfpenny OC 13Jamie RobertsIC 12Jonathan Davies LW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth CooperN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Andy Powell RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Alun Wyn JonesTP 3 Paul James HK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Huw Bennett PR 17Duncan JonesLK 18Jonathan ThomasFL 19Dan Lydiate SH 20Dwayne PeelCE 21Andrew BishopWG 22Tom JamesCoach: Warren Gatland FB 15Horacio AgullaRW 14Lucas Borges OC 13Gonzalo TiesiIC 12Martín Rodríguez LW 11Mauro ComuzziFH 10Santiago FernándezSH 9 Agustín FiguerolaN8 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c)OF 7 Alejandro Abadie BF 6 Tomás LeonardiRL 5 Patricio AlbaceteLL 4 Mariano SambucettiTP 3 Martín ScelzoHK 2 Mario LedesmaLP 1 Rodrigo RonceroReplacements:HK 16Alberto Vernet BasualdoPR 17Marcos AyerzaLK 18Manuel CarizzaN8 19Alejandro CamposSH 20Alfredo LalanneFH 21Benjamín UrdapilletaWG 22Horacio San MartínCoach: Santiago Phelan Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France) David Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Shane Horgan OC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Johnny SextonSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Denis LeamyBF 6 Stephen FerrisRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Leo CullenTP 3 John Hayes HK 2 Jerry FlanneryLP 1 Tom CourtReplacements:HK 16Seán CroninPR 17Tony BuckleyLK 18Donncha O'CallaghanN8 19Seán O'BrienSH 20Tomás O'LearyFH 21Paddy WallaceFB 22Andrew TrimbleCoach: Declan Kidney FB 15Norman LigairiRW 14Vereniki Goneva OC 13Gabiriele LovobalavuIC 12Seremaia Bai (c)LW 11Nasoni RokoFH 10Nicky LittleSH 9 Mosese RauluniN8 8 Asaeli Boko OF 7 Akapusi Qera BF 6 Apolosi SatalaRL 5 Ifereimi RawaqaLL 4 Wame LewaravuTP 3 Viliame SeuseuHK 2 Viliame VeikosoLP 1 Aisake TarogiReplacements:HK 16Isireli LeduaPR 17Graham DewesLK 18Leone NakarawaN8 19Samu BolaSH 20Waisale VatuvokaFH 21Josh MatavesiWG 22Timoci NagusaCoach: Glen Ella