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With the Bledisloe concluded in style, every rugby tragic would be forgiven for feeling somewhat dejected. Fortunately, the European Test season is just around the corner.
The November internationals may be the season of Test rugby when the South visits the North, but harping on about hemispheres is far too cliché at this point.
The drama of Test rugby is part of its enduring appeal. With that in mind, let’s turn to some of the storylines to remember as we turn our eyes to Twickenham, Murrayfield, Lansdowne Road, the Millennium Stadium, and the Stadio Olimpico.
Domestic versus Foreign?
Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana, Francois Louw and Zane Kirchener are all players who starred in the recent Rugby Championship for the Springboks.
The SARU recently allowed these players to turn out for their clubs during a bye week, but there are strong debates over whether national honours should be limited to domestic-based players (as Australia and New Zealand currently do).
Clubs, meanwhile, are concerned that they’re not getting the return on their money.
During this period, clubs are not allowed to prevent players from playing for their national team, but one has to think that a) the clubs will still be pressuring SARU to give their players time to rest, acclimatise, and gel with their squads, and b) SARU will be trying to take back the negotiating cards from players who head abroad for lucrative contracts.
Heyneke Meyer thus has a very rare opportunity as a result of that consensus. Does he give Siya Kolisi a start at flanker with Louw back at Bath?
What about the No. 10 shirt? If he moves Willie le Roux to fullback for Kirchener, who is the wing replacement?
This debate is not unique to the Springboks. Dean Mumm has been playing very well at Exeter, and could be valuable second row cover if injury or poor form should befall a Wallaby lock.
Matt Giteau has also been excellent at Toulon. With Christian Lealiifano injured, Giteau could well be a convenient and capable replacement.
Some Irish and Welsh stars are also based overseas, and in light of their financial woes expect these national unions to deny them Test selection as one last negotiating tactic to stem the flow outwards.
A lot of variables at play here, with a lot of implications.
How close are the “tiers”?
This season will feature several matches worth watching to gauge the gaps across global rugby, as weaker “Tier 1” sides face stronger “Tier 2” sides.
Scotland will play Japan on November 11. Scotland has been going through a somewhat rough patch in recent years, while Japan is on the ups, owing to Eddie Jones’ insistence on physicality (a traditional weakness of Japanese rugby) and confidence after beating Wales during the summer.
France will face Tonga, which will provide a mouthwatering rematch of the famous Rugby World Cup 2011 clash, and Italy will face Fiji.
Argentina’s recent battering during the Rugby Championship was not entirely unexpected, but in Europe they will face teams more likely at their skill level, especially since so many of them play their club rugby in Europe.
If Argentina fares poorly, is there a case for keeping them in The Rugby Championship?
How deep is England’s player base?
England were recently rocked by news that not just one but both of their centres, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi, have been ruled out for long spells.
On top of that comes the news that Tuilagi’s teammate Anthony Allen, another rumoured for Test selection, has been forced to undergo surgery.
But England have no less than six possible centres: Billy Twelvetrees, Luther Burrell, Joel Tomkins (brother of league star Sam), Kyle Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph and Henry Trinder.
This is mirrored in other positions. England has four scrum-halves, as many as five fly-halves, various front row players, many young wingers/fullbacks to consider and such a tight loose forward battle that even the captain Chris Robshaw and his recent deputy Tom Wood aren’t assured selection.
Lancaster will probably mix and match as this is his last big opportunity to nail down shirts before guiding players towards the next World Cup in 2015.
These new players are about to be cast into a baptism of fire, with South Africa the only Rugby Championship side they avoid facing.
Emerging drama over a young man’s future in Test rugby
Tommaso “Tommy” Allan is a 20-year-old child of Scottish and Italian parents who was born in Veneto, but raised in England.
After playing for Scotland U20 and winning the U19 Currie Cup with Western Province, Allan signed for Perpignan in France and was recently added to the Italy squad, not the Scots.
It remains to be seen how Italian fans will welcome him, but Scottish fans and head coach Scott Johnson are not amused.
All he has done to date is train with the Italian squad – it is not yet too late to say no if he does decide to play for Scotland.
But with Italy’s other fly-half options well into their 30s and with their own playing troubles, Tommy’s shot at a long and promising Test career is on his doorstep.
Will he take it?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.