Autumn internationals as they happened

1. England 28-9 Samoa (FT)
2. Wales 16-34 New Zealand (FT)
3. Ireland 26-23 Australia (FT)
4. Scotland 37-12 Tonga (FT)

So then, that's it for today.

Next week there are two crackers to finish off the autumn Tests as England host Australia and Wales take on South Africa.

Both matches kick off at 14:30 GMT, see you then.

Get involved

Ken Smith: 3 tries scored and none of them involved Farrell or Barritt....coincidence? Robshaw can tackle but what else..NOT A 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best team performance: For 68 minutes Wales were tremendous, but this will have to go to Ireland after they took a second southern hemisphere scalp inside a month.

Best individual performance: I'm going to give this to George Ford, Yes, it was 'only' Samoa, and yes, it was not perfect. But he showed enough in his first start to suggest he is the future for England at fly-half.

Biggest (ruled to be legal) hit: Filo Paulo on George Ford

Most resilient tackle bag: George Ford (see above)

Best try: Tommy Bowe's gem of an interception for Ireland against Australia

Most impressive team in history: The All Blacks, perhaps?

For those needing a little boost after a trying day, can I just point out that France are losing 15-3 to Argentina at half-time.

Full-time reaction

More from England coach Stuart Lancaster, speaking on Sky Sports: "I thought Samoa were very, very good in the intensity they brought to the contact area.

"When we look back there were one or two opportunities to score there at the end that we didn't take.

"We've got to make sure we finish well for this series as Australia will be a big game for us next week."

Full-time reaction

England coach Stuart Lancaster speaking on Sky Sports: "It feels good to get a win and it has been a long time.

"There's still areas we need to improve on and I think we recognise that."

Full-time reaction

More from England fly-half George Ford speaking to Sky Sports: "We had some good meetings in the week and worked hard on where we needed to.

"There was some OK stuff from me out there today, but there's a lot I need to improve on still.

"I think we'll get better the more we train and the more we work together.

"It was massive for us to get a win today coming off the back of two losses.

"It will be another big week and we'll work hard again as it'll be a huge test against Australia next week."

Full-time reaction

England fly-half George Ford speaking on Sky Sports: "I think we got there in the end.

"Samoa are a very physical side and came out flying and I don't think we coped with that to start."

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James Standen: Lovely scene post game with both sets of players and prayers #respect

John M Butt: Lancaster lost. England needs an experienced International coach. Have done for 11 years, Set up to fail in my view.

Samoa captain David Lemi speaking on Sky Sports: "We learned a lot from this game today.

"I think the scoreboard reflected our discipline and I'm really proud of the effort the boys put in today.

"We came here on this tour to work hard and put in some preparation ahead of next year's World Cup."

More from England captain Chris Robshaw on Sky Sports: "We still feel we left a couple of opportunities out there.

"But, a lot of stick has come our way in the last week so credit to the guys for keeping it together.

"It will be a step-up next week and a very expansive game and Australia will make for a great game."

England captain Chris Robshaw on Sky Sports: "We want to thank the Samoan guys for the way they played, it made for a lovely spectacle.

"It's great to get a win, it's a very results-based industry. It was great to play a game here at night."

Get involved

George Hill: How was George ford not man of the match!?!?

Michael Bairstow: I think that the BBC sport website need to reopen that rugby vote. Suprised to see England going the furthest...

Charlie Rhodes: Well done George Ford! May and Watson also lively, Twelvetrees looked good off the bench.

Full-time score summary

England:

Tries: May (2), Brown

Cons: Ford (2)

Pens: Ford (3)

Samoa:

Pens: T Pisi (3)

Full-time reaction

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Stuart Lancaster will be happy England won and ended a losing run.

"In terms of the performance, there were some bright points. Samoa played some enterprising rugby and put England under pressure.

"England had a chance to really rack up some points in the second half, but they didn't approach it with an attacking mindset."

Full time

And that's that.

Good and bad from England, but they won comfortably enough against a competitive Samoa side.

George Ford looked good on his first start at fly-half and the usual suspects grafted hard, while the scrum and line-out were as dominant as expected and Jonny May confirmed he can most definitely finish.

But Owen Farrell must have left the pitch with a heavy heart - will he start against the Wallabies next Saturday?

Here comes the final play... and England win a scrum against the head.

Oh, agonies for England!

They go left then right and George Ford shows his superb footwork and uncanny ability to manipulate space as he dances through the Samoa defence, but the thundering Davie Attwood cannot take the scoring pass.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"A nightmare scenario for Samoa having put every player in the line-out.

"It was then an overthrow from the hooker.

"But Marland Yarde dithered there on the break-away and England should have scored."

Get involved

Charlie Rhodes: Satisfied that a win is guaranteed, but England still lacking the clinical nature they showed in the Six Nations.

England have the chance to go coast to coast after stealing a Samoa attacking line-out, but Marland Yarde holds on too long and his pass to Mike Brown goes forward. You sense the All Blacks would have scored that.

Australia too probably - they're up next week for England by the way.

Getty Images

This game is subsiding like a poorly cooked souffle, certainly from England's perspective.

Samoa are actually looking quite lively but England's defence is holding firm.

Get involved

Paul Simpson: play like this against the Aussies and we will be put to the sword

Good advice Grace (Grayse?) because Samoa have a throw-in five metres out, but they (almost inevitably) knock on and England will clear their lines after a brutal scrum rumbles forwards for 10 metres.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"This is practice for England now. Giving away penalties gives away possession.

"They've got an opportunity to practice the things they do in training in reality.

"Just stop kicking the ball away."

Getty Images

Chris Robshaw far out in front with 19 tackles for England, Brad Barritt second with 11, but it's hardly revelatory, we knew that pair is good in defence.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Owen Farrell, out of form at fly-half for the last two weeks, gets pushed to inside centre and has a moderate afternoon.

"George Ford has done what's been asked of him and he'd be very disappointed if he didn't get another go at 10 next week."

A brilliant take by Mike Brown from George Ford's booming high kick, but the position is wasted as Richard Wigglesworth elects to kick - something he is renowned for - but sends the ball dead.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Beautiful passage of play.

"Samoa drove towards the line and through the heart of England but Leiua couldn't quite get his offload away as he was still sliding on the floor.

"They opened up England all too easily there."

Unlucky Samoa. Lovely stuff from the Pacific Islanders as Maurie Fa'asavalu's offload frees Ken Pisi.

The Northampton player makes 20 metres before feeding Wasps winger Alapati Leiua, who gets within five metres before the ball goes loose as he tries to find his support.

Get involved

Grant Dommen: Wales must be fit, looks like they're playing Samoa at Twickenham as well

England are playing in their red change strip today. Nope, no idea why as Samoa play in blue. Well, I do have an idea but probably best not to say.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Reuters

"It's not been a brilliant hour for Owen Farrell. Some things have not gone his way in attack and defence.

"He's certainly not had an influence on the game."

Replacement

England have new props on the pitch in Kieran Brookes and Matt Mullan, and they are promptly penalised at a scrum.

Also on is scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and Billy Twelvetrees, who is in for Owen Farrell at 12.

Bad miss by England there, although good scrambling defence by Samoa. A sweeping move sees Brad Barritt get to within a couple of feet but England lose control at the ruck and the visitors clear.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"George Ford has been very tidy.

"Some of the things you'd recognise from him are carrying the ball to the line, not being afraid of taking an opportunity.

"All round, it's looked very accomplished."

A promising England attack loses momentum as Owen Farrell's pass fails to find George Ford on the wraparound, and Anthony Watson's attempt to reinvigorate the move ends only with the ball landing in Ken Pisi's hands for a mark in the Samoa 22.

Get involved

David Staines: try to be objective about Ford. Good player, but stop the hype. We're playing Samoa- most top 6 Prem teams would beat them

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Nick in London: Farrell needs to come off soon for his own good. He's playing badly, has no confidence and we cant have him shot for 6 nations and WC.

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Greg Pearson: Can someone tell David Wilson he's not playing fly half #getintheruck

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Northampton and England winger Ben Foden tweets: Don't think it was a yellow, fair play @George_Fordy gets straight back up and on with the game! #ENGvSAMOA

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Sean Cansell: Surely that was just a shoulder barge? Fair play to Ford for standing straight back up!

Jonathan Chase: That yellow seems harsh, looked like a hard but legitimate tackle to me.

Cliff B: England as always benefitting from biased replays on the big screen - high tackle but not a yellow

Try

AFP

Lovely score from England as the forwards do their job before the backs take over.

England drive well from a line-out to fracture Samoa's defence and then good hands from forwards Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler and David Attwood enable Mike Brown to send Jonny May striding over.

George Ford misses the conversion from wide out.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's not worth a yellow card. So go back for the original penalty and play on.

"There were no swinging arms. George Ford's 5ft 6in maximum and has got up immediately with no distress.

"I can't see any sense in sending him to the sin bin."

Sin-bin

George Ford must be made of some sort of weapons-grade material composed of carbon nano-tubes, because he gets absolutely levelled by Jonny Leota but picks himself up as though nothing happened.

Leota is ruled to have tackled Ford high and he gets 10 minutes in the bin - perhaps harshly.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"I wish England would stop kicking the ball away.

"They're on the attack with Brad Barritt on the outside and a third of the pitch in front of him. There's no need to kick it away."

Penalty

Bad spell for Owen Farrell. First he is far too easily brushed off by Ken Pisi and then he immediately concedes a penalty at the breakdown by blatantly coming in from the wrong side.

Tusi Pisi punishes the errors and Farrell is not doing himself any favours out there.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"It was such a good kick from Ford.

"It becomes like a pass when it's kicked at that height, the ball was like a bullet from the boot to Anthony Watson."

Try

Getty Images

England have a line-out 20m from the Samoa line - can they drive over from here?

They don't need to. Samoa infringe and, with advantage being played, George Ford's precise kick-pass is claimed by Anthony Watson.

The Bath youngster steps inside two men and then makes the right decision to feed Mike Brown, who plunges over.

Ford converts and England are now well clear.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"What Samoa can't really afford to do is lose their discipline.

"They were very composed in the first half.

"They can't let England get a run of penalties otherwise the game will get away from them."

Penalty

Samoa promptly infringe at the breakdown - failing to release after the tackle - and George Ford should extend the lead.

He does, and England are edging away.

Ready for the final 40 of the day? Fair play if you've watched every minute so far.

George Ford belts it deep and here we go.

I'd like to see England come out, work the corners through George Ford and Owen Farrell, make Samoa attack from deep and pressurise them into mistakes.

It's not the day for champagne rugby so England should tighten up and play to their strengths.

Vote result

Earlier we asked you who will go furthest at the 2015 Rugby World Cup…

You can see the results at the right hand side of this page.

So 43.5% of you think England will be the most successful home nation at next year's tournament, although a healthy 36.8% fancy Ireland. Wales drew 13.2% of the vote, with Scotland getting just 6.5%. We'll just have to wait a few months and see...

Get involved: Wales 16-34 New Zealand

Beaven: Same old story. They can play for 80 minutes. We can't.

Charlie Rhodes: Though on a positive, whenever George Ford touches the ball, good things happen!

Get involved

Dai Wynee-Jones: RWC2015. So many England fans living in delusion. Ireland will get furthest, prob SF. QF for England going on the Autumn matches

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Nick Hughes: would former league players be the answer to England's lack of creativity in the backs? Eastmond with Burgess or Burgess on wing?

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Martin Star: who will go furthest in next year's world cup out of the home teams? I'd say England to win it outright and I'm a welshman

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

PA

"If George Ford kicks all his goals and answers all the questions asked of him that could see Owen Farrell out of the team."

Half-time score summary

PA

England:

Try: May

Con: Ford

Pens: Ford (2)

Samoa:

Pens: T Pisi (2)

BBC Rugby union forum

Jonathan Davies

Former Wales fly-half

Will Wales make it through the pool stage at next year's World Cup?

"Wales should have beaten South Africa this summer. If they turn up, then they've got a chance. I think Australia will go through their group, and then it's one other."

Pool A is made up of Australia, Wales, England, Fiji and Uruguay. Two will go through to the knockout stages.

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Matt Dawson

Former England scrum-half

Loved watching Ireland today. Thought @KearneyRob was tremendous. #realthreatforRWC

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Simon Williams: Lee-Lo deserved yellow but Barritt was blatantly offside and took out defender

Further notable points from England's first-half performance.

i) Brad Barritt has a future career as a blocker in the NFL ii) Ben Morgan has done well at number eight iii) Twickenham should have a roof.

BBC Rugby union forum

Does the great north-south divide still exist?

Former New Zealand lock Ali Williams: "In New Zealand, whatever position you are in, you have to be able to do every skill. That doesn't happen here."

Get involved

Tom Stanyon: Can't understand why Farrell is at 12. Offers little, with much better players available there. Lancaster starting to look stubborn

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Former England international Austin Healey tweets: Have to say not overly inspired by the Eng performance #understatement

BBC Rugby union forum

Jeremy Guscott

Former England centre

Does the great north-south divide still exist?

"The All Blacks have been doing the simple things well for so long. They all play the same rugby from junior level. Here, everybody plays differently. Bath play differently to Northampton. The regions here probably play differently. There's a big difference in the skill level."

Join Guscott, Jonathan Davies and Ali Williams now on the red button.

Half-time

Not the best 40 minutes of rugby you'll ever see, especially if you're an England fan.

George Ford has looked accomplished at 10, Owen Farrell less so at 12.

England started poorly but improved a little and have taken the lead based on a) their upper hand at the scrum and b) Jonny May's jet shoes.

Missed penalty

Double infringement by Samoa at a ruck after George Ford's neat inside pass to Bath colleague David Attwood.

Ford will go for goal... but misses a long-range but straight effort.

If you like scrum technicalities you'll be loving this. Thrilled by the sight of a loose-head being penalised for boring in? Then this is the game for you.

Reaction

Wales coach Warren Gatland, speaking to BBC Sport's Sonja Mclaughlan: "I'm really proud of the commitment and performance. All from little kicks in terms of the bounce of the ball. It's disappointing but I can't fault the effort. They're the best team in the world because they played for 80. That's the next step for us.

"They've probably kicked 50% more than we have, and that's the way they play. Their kicking game was excellent.

"When you're number one, as they are, you know you're going to come under pressure - but they play for 80 minutes to get themselves out of trouble."

Asked if he is under pressure: "You always feel under a bit of pressure, but I'm proud of that display. You're always under pressure in international sport. It's a good question for you to try to put me under a bit of pressure as well."

Reaction

Wales captain Sam Warburton, speaking to BBC Sport: "If we turn out with the same energy next week, we'll get a win. You've got to give New Zealand credit. They rocked up when they needed to and that's why they're the best in the world. The most important part of a Test match is those last 10 minutes, and that's where we need to improve."

AFP

Pretty scrappy out there as the rain - that sort of half-fog, half-drizzle that England seems to specialise in at this time of year - turns the ball into the cliched bar of soap.

After the intensity of the Aviva and Millennium earlier this afternoon, this game is some way short of matching the standards set in those matches.

Get involved

Graham Cartmell: if Owen Farrell isn't place kicking, why on earth is he playing?

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Nice little play there round the back of the line-out.

"Brad Barritt ran a blocking line to open a hole and England got away with it, but Mike Brown was just unable to hold on.

"George Ford makes defenders make mistakes by pointing them where he thinks he's going to run and then having a quick change of feet."

England looking to play in Samoan territory through George Ford's boot - they seem to have settled down a touch.

Ford then makes a lovely slashing break but Mike Brown cannot take the pass. Initially promising, ultimately disappointing. Samoa none to happy with Brad Barritt's blocking to open the hole for Ford either.

Reaction

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, speaking to BBC Sport: "You've got to keep believing. It wasn't as if we were under the pump. We just had to hold the ball. Once we did that, we managed to get on top. It was important to finish off the year with a performance that we can sit back for a month and be proud of. I'm proud every time I get to lead this team."

Reaction

PA

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, speaking to BBC Sport: "I don't think that we wriggled off the hook. Games played for 80 minutes and you've got to play for 80. I'm proud of the boys. We haven't always played the best but we've found a way to win. The players have a lot of pride in themselves and collectively as a group. We put them under a lot of pressure in training and they're used to that.

"The World Cup will be a totally different tournament. It's a one-off game when you get to the knockout stages. We'll prepare for the World Cup and hope that we qualify for the quarter-finals."

Samoa put 13 men in the line-out but can make nothing of it. Unusual, and ineffective.

Greasy conditions at Twickenham and England knock on at the restart. Fortunately that means another scrum, although this time Samoa win the penalty!

That's about as unlikely a result as Wales beating New Zealand...

Penalty

Tit for tat penalties after England march forward at a scrum again - clear home dominance, as expected, in that area of the game.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's been an interesting 25 minutes for England.

"They've had one good bit of play through the backs leading to Jonny May's try, but they really need to work through those phases.

"George Ford has had two good bits of tactical kicking and one huge hit on him too."

Reaction

PA

Wales centre and man of the match Jamie Roberts, speaking on BBC Two: "We played very well for 65-70 minutes and in the last 10 minutes they just got away from us. They attack kicked very well and just caught us napping.

"They've scored some lovely tries. We knew their attacking kicking game. We've got to keep working. There's no one more disappointed than the players. We've got to take the positives. We played really well for 70 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, the bounce of the ball killed us. But I don't want to take anything away from New Zealand. They're a great team."

Penalty

Another simple penalty for Tusi Pisi as England again infringe in their own 22.

Time to draw breath after one of the more complicated tries.

What I can tell you is that a) Jonny May is stupidly quick b) Reynold Lee-Lo should probably have been yellow carded for a dump tackle on Mike Brown which the officials somehow missed (or ignored) and c) Owen Farrell's tap tackle nearly denied May.

Get involved

Michael Slavin: After not getting any ball vs SA but out pacing NZ backs previously Jony May gets the ball again & scores. World cup plan? Sorted

This script has been recycled more times than Rocky.

Wales again get within a sniff of victory against the southern hemisphere and come away with a clutch of "what-ifs" rather than the big "W".

Wales have lost 22 straight matches against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, a run that goes back to their win over the Wallabies in November 2008.

Full-time score summary

Wales: 16

Tries: Webb

Cons: Halfpenny

Pens: Halfpenny (3)

New Zealand: 34

Tries: Savea, Kaino, Barrett (2), Read

Con: Barrett, Slade (2)

Pens: Barrett

Wales 16-34 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"It's a difficult one to analyse. There were a raft of chances for Wales around the 60-minute mark, and they became a bit disjointed after that."

Try

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Try or no try as England come to life?

Jonny May goes racing over from 30m but there's a hint of both crossing and a forward pass.

The TMO decides Brad Barritt was onside all the time and that Mike Brown's pass was not clearly forward, so the try is given and George Ford adds the conversion.

Full time

That kind of sums up the game. Mike Phillips crabs sideways and, while he works out the angles, Brodie Retallick picks his pocket, ripping the ball back into Black hands.

More streetwise, more alert and just better.

Get involved

Jonathan Chase: England have taken the complaints about dull rugby a little too much to heart. Now we run from everywhere and kick nowhere.

Penalty

Joe Marler and co get dominance at the scrum and England win a penalty as Samoa crumple.

Finally England get the chance to score some points and George Ford sends his penalty straight down the middle.

Wales 16-34 New Zealand

Eddie Butler

BBC Sport rugby union commentator

"What a response by New Zealand. They are the best team in the world. They were under pressure, but how they have responded. Nineteen unanswered points. What a team. Questions were asked again, and they have come up with all the answers. They are brilliant."

Strong words from England captain Chris Robshaw at a break in play. Let's see if they have an effect - more control needed.

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Charlie Rhodes: Shocker start from England. Need to get some territory, then start playing some rugby.

Try

After being pumped full of hope and belief, this is the ugliest of comedowns from Wales.

Colin Slade kicks crossfield, Ben Smith soars over Alex Cuthbert and taps the ball down for Beauden Barrett to collect and dive over the final two yards.

England struggling to deal with high kicks from Samoa at the moment and being charged down or turned over at will when they do get the ball.

George Ford calms things down with a perceptive kick to the corner.

Get involved: Wales 16-29 New Zealand

Rachael Collins: Rugby games should be 68 minutes long.

Laura Morgan-Jones: Gutted for Wales - they were so close.

Daniel Lewis: Same as it ever was.

The Millennium Stadium has the air of 70,000 people returning home to a burglary scene.

Their side lead on 67 minutes and six minutes later find themselves 13 points adrift and stranded.

Shocked silence all around.

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Gareth at Twickers: This is dreadful. Fifteen people who have never met before are wearing England shirts. Dreadful.

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Michael Slavin: England like a team who've over thought, over practiced and it's all a little over wrought. Relax into it, play your natural game

Wales 16-29 New Zealand

Eddie Butler

BBC Sport rugby union commentator

"The game was in the balance five minutes ago, and now it's New Zealand's."

Wales 16-29 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"One bit of individual brilliance and one bit of tenacity have undone Wales. It's a very simple try. But Kieran Reed has put the work in."

Ouch!

Getty Images

Jonny May goes off with blood pouring from his head for a stitch or two, Marland Yarde is on as a blood replacement.

Mike Brown and Tusi Pisi square up for a moment after England concede a penalty - James Haskell overly keen to make an impression you suspect as he is pinged for a second time. Pisis to go for goal... and he misses.

Big let-off for England.

How will George Ford cope with the physicality of the Samoans? Well, he just got smashed by the 6ft 7in, 19st 3lb Filo Paulo as the Samoa second row decided not to buy a dummy, and bounced up like nothing happened.

Rather him than me.

Try

That is surely good night, lights out and goodbye to Wales' chances of victory.

Mike Phillips takes a fraction of a second too long over a box-kick and Kieran Read charges down and looks up to find the ball bobbling obligingly over the whitewash for him to flop over and score.

Colin Slade with a beauty of a conversion as well.

Wales 16-22 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"Wales don't need to panic. Ten minutes is plenty of time. They can force a penalty, get a drop goal, and get back within range. What they don't want to do is force passes and knock the ball on, because the All Blacks will just keep the ball."

Wales 16-22 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"You've got to give a lot of credit to Beauden Barrett. There's a lot of intuitive skill there. You can't blame Leigh Halfpenny. He didn't get the bounce of the ball."

A first glimpse of the slashing breaks Anthony Watson will surely make for England for the next decade. The 20-year-old Bath winger makes 20m as England shows signs of adventure.

Try

And the momentum swings again.

Beauden Barrett has been looking for that chip all day and finally he gets one right. He gets a good slice of luck as a side order as well as the bounce totally wrong-foots Leigh Halfpenny and gives him a stroll under the posts.

Wales need a converted score for victory, Or three very quick penalties.

Penalty

Thirteen minutes to hang on.

Richie McCaw come in the side door and Wayne Barnes blows long and hard.

Leigh Halfpenny rifles it straight through the middle.

Wales 13-15 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"It's a lovely run by Dane Coles for the try. The thing is that he runs dead straight. He doesn't drift. He pulls the full-back in, which makes the overlap, which eventually makes the crucial ground."

Penalty

England go offside in their own 22, should be first blood Samoa.

And Tusi Pusi duly gets the scoreboard ticking over as he pops over a simple penalty.

Vote - Which of the home nations will go furthest at the 2015 Rugby World Cup?

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Who will go furthest at the 2015 Rugby World Cup - England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland?

You can choose on the right hand side of this page - the vote will close at 19:50 and we'll bring you the result soon after - full terms and conditions are available here.

BBC Sport

BBC Radio 5 live producer Ed Marriage tweets: Eng-Sam just started. There's commentary on @bbc5live w/ Ian Robertson & @paulgrayson10 straight after Wal v NZ...

AFP

Ready? This will be physical - how will the comparatively diminutive George Ford handle things? We'll know soon enough as Tusi Pisi gets the game under way.

Try

That is a bitter kick in the teeth for Wales.

George North is knocked unconscious as he attempts to stem an all Black attack down the right. New Zealand stampede on regardless and although Richie McCaw is denied by some last-ditch tackling there is too much space and too many black shirts.

Beauden Barrett's kicks crossfield, finds Conrad Smith who offloads for Jerome Kaino to flop over.

Wales 13-10 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"There's no reason why Wales should not go on to win this game. If they're disciplined, they can do it. It won't be good enough to turn round later on and say: 'We got close.' This is their chance."

Replacement

Luke Charteris and Justin Tipuric are on with Jake Ball and Dan Lydiate off.

Dan Biggar has been been a defensive rock. Another bone-shaking tackle from the fly-half.

Get involved

Charlie Rhodes: It took an enormous amount of patriotism to switch off the brilliant #WalesvNZ match to watch #ENGvSAM

I hear you Charlie.

At scrum-half for Samoa Northampton's Kahn Fotuali'i is world class while the massive Census Johnston and ferocious Maurie Fa'asavalu give the Pacific Island team plenty of punch up front.

Samoa go into game in the midst of an on-going argument with their national union about financial issues - they will be keen to show they are worth every penny at Twickenham today.

Richard Hibbard has the ball ripped from his grasp by Conrad Smith and New Zealand have some prize turnover ball.

That is a waste though. Beauden Barrett's poor game continues as he clumps his chip long and dead.

Size doesn't matter

You don't have to be big to make an impression.

Samoa might be a nation of just 100,000 people but if a tiny puffer fish can build the most perfectly geometric creation in nature, you'd better believe that Samoa can mix it with the very best that rugby has to offer.

Get involved: Wales 13-10 New Zealand

Alessio: What a game this is.

Jon Simon: This match is turning into an absolute belter.

Proberry: Wales playing at their very best.

Colin Slade is thrown an absolute eyesore of a pass from Aaron Smith, bulleted at the replacement's bootlaces.

Forward it goes and Mike Phillips makes a trademark bustling run from the resulting scrum to take play up to halfway.

England have brought in George Ford at fly-half, with Owen Farrell shifting out one place to 12.

Ford will be partnered by the recalled Ben Youngs in the halves, while up front James Haskell, Ben Morgan and Rob Webber all start.

New Zealand have also made a change with winger Charles Piutau off and Colin Slade on.

Wales 13-10 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"People will talk about New Zealand being sloppy. But for me it's all down to Wales and the pressure they've put New Zealand under. Their defensive work has been out of the top drawer today."

Replacement

Time for a change. Rhys Webb is off to a standing ovation and Mike Phillips will bring some physicality and spikiness to the final fifteen minutes.

We'll have BBC Radio 5 live coverage for you from 19:20, but until then I'll guide you through what's happening at Twickenham.

Wales now pouring forward. James Roberts on the charge. The ball spills forward from Rhys Webb. The All Blacks counter from inside their own 22 metre.

Conrad Smith boots long. Leigh Halfpenny scampers back and survives the chase. Dan Biggar finds a good touch and we can breathe again.

Superb stuff.

Team news

England: Brown; Watson, Barritt, Farrell, May, Ford, Youngs; Marler, Webber, Wilson, Attwood, Lawes, Haskell, Robshaw, Morgan.

Replacements: Hartley, Mullan, Brookes, Kruis, Wood, Wigglesworth, Twelvetrees, Yarde.

Samoa: K Pisi; Leiua, Lee-Lo, Leota, Lemi; T Pisi, Fotuali'i; Taulafo, T Paulo, Johnston, F Paulo, Thompson, Fa'asavalu, Lam, Treviranus.

Replacements: Leiataua, Afatia, Perenise, Lemalu, Leo, Ioane, Cowley, Stanley.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

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Right then, if you can beat to tear yourselves away from the Wales v New Zealand thriller, England take on Samoa shortly.

After five defeats in a row, Stuart Lancaster's men could do with a convincing victory to get back on track.

Wales 13-10 New Zealand

Former New Zealand lock Ali Williams on BBC Two: "I think it's just a case of fatigue in defence for both sides. More and more opportunities are opening up. But it's a great game to watch."

Penalty

New Zealand's Sam Whitelock gets caught on the wrong side as he trys to regain possession from a Dan Biggar hoof. Penalty to the hosts and Leigh Halfpenny steps up to split the sticks and put Wales back in front.

Half an hour away from righting half a century of history

Get involved

Jonathan Chase: And that's why, when you tackle someone, you bring them down. Webb left standing and New Zealand pay.

Wales 10-10 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"I don't know why the crowd are booing. There was never going to be a card there."

End-to-end stuff as Wales find themselves camped on their own line again.

Dan Biggar, who has had a great game so far, does brilliantly to haul Aaron Smith to the deck and earns penalty as the All Black scrum half tries to get to his feet while still tackled.

Then the handbags come out as Dane Coles, always quick to take offence, rushes in to defend his nine against nothing.

Coles' grab at Rhys Webb's shirt moves the penalty ten metres further from the Wales line.

Wales 10-10 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"Great work by Rhys Webb. Wales backed themselves to go for the try rather than the three points, and they've got their reward. It was so important to get that score. If New Zealand had got two scores in front, it would have been so difficult to get back. But they're well back in this now, Wales."

Try

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And the Millennium Stadium believes again!

Wales strike straight back as Taulupe Faletau rumbles though a hole around the fringes and turns to find the sniping Rhys Webb right in his pocket for the off-load.

Leigh Halfpenny lands the extras with ease.

Get involved

John Guy: Who can stop Savea?

Wales 3-10 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"Dan Biggar's defended brilliantly tonight but that's a mismatch, one-on-one against Savea. Wales haven't really done anything wrong, but they're behind."

Try

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New Zealand come flying out of the blocks and have Wales pinned in their own 22 metre.

The hosts look to have saved themselves as they turn the ball over, but then inexplicably Leigh Halfpenny picks and goes straight into the talons of Kieran Reed.

The ball is stripped, recycled and thrown wide in a twinkle by the All Blacks. Alex Cuthbert attempts to snuff out the danger, but Conrad Smith gets an improvised pass out of his rush tackle and Julian Savea has the space to barge past Dan Biggar.

Replacement

A change for new Zealand as Joe Moody comes on for Wyatt Crockett.

Kick-off

Back under way via the boot of Beauden Barrett..

HALF-TIME

Former New Zealand lock Ali Williams on BBC Two: "Sonny Bill Williams is probably trying to do a bit too much. He hasn't played a lot of rugby. I suspect New Zealand will be more direct in the second half.

"It's going to be one of those games that could be decided by one mistake."

Does the key to this match lie hidden on one of the two benches?

Wales have the energy of Luke Charteris and Justin Tipuric to inject into the forwards, the streetwise Mike Phillips and fast feet of Liam Williams to throw at the backline.

Let's see.

HALF-TIME

Jeremy Guscott

Former England centre on BBC Two

"The beauty of this game is how on top the defences are. There's been no great counter-attacking. When Wales lose the ball, they are quick to get back on it and snuff out any New Zealand opportunity."

Half-time score summary

Reuters

Wales:

Pen: Halfpenny

New Zealand:

Pen: Barrett

HALF-TIME

BBC

Tom Fordyce

Chief sports writer at the Millennium Stadium

"Errors aplenty, and the majority of them from the mighty All Blacks. Wales might be struggling in the scrum but they're shading the breakdown and have been ferocious in defence. You'd assume the All Blacks will find their magic groove in the second half - but, after 61 long years, opportunity is knocking for Gatland's men."

HALF-TIME

Jonathan Davies

Former Wales fly-half on BBC Two

PA

"Wales have stuck to their game plan. They don't have to be Harlem Globetrotters. Their kicking has been good, their line speed's been good. It's a great Test match. Wales are putting in a lot of tackles, and I wonder if they might tire."

This has been a Test match in search of a defining moment.

It has been tight as a morning-after hamstring and a bit fragmented. One moment of quality, one clinical conversion of a half-break could be the difference.

Get involved

John McEnerney: some game of rugby that was, credit 2 both sides for producing an entertaining & savage battle! Great series for Ireland!

Post-match reaction

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell speaking on Sky Sports: "It's hard to say where this win ranks having only just come off the field.

"We'll be very disappointed with the second 20 minutes, so to let them back in was a real shame.

"Second half, we got out of the blocks a lot quicker and sharper, so to finish and hold them off was great."

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

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"Wales go off to a standing ovation. I suspect part of that is relief that they didn't concede. They have defended well. I just wonder if they will rue the chances they didn't take earlier in the half."

Half-time

George North halts the first wave of attack with a strong tackle on Charles Piutau out wide.

And then Sonny Bill Williams spills forward in the face of ferocious tackling.

The crowd roar with relief and the teams head down the tunnel without a point between them.

More from Jamie Heaslip: "Whatever confidence we have [coach] Joe Schmidt will probably take it apart come the Christmas camp.

"But we can be really proud of those three performances this autumn."

Post-match reaction

Ireland's Jamie Heaslip speaking on Sky Sports: "One of the fastest games I've probably played in a long time.

"We got a great start and then let them back into the game.

"Australia have showed they're a fast tempo side, but lots of pressure from us to get in the right areas late and hold them off."

Get involved

paul mcmenemy: Ireland go 3 for 3 in #AutumnInternationals We've done our bit for #northernhemisphere

Some Body: YESSSS!!!! #Ireland beat #Aus 26-23 after beating #SAfrica. And there's room for improvement!

Michael Bairstow: Well played Ireland 6 nations champions in waiting. I fear for England next week. Australia very strong but not today

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

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"We're so near half-time. Wales have got to hold on here, because the pressure is starting to tell."

Right, 90 seconds of normal time left and a Dan Lydiate knock-on has given the All Blacks a scrum 20 metres out.

This feels like a important period of play.

Tremendous game, tremendous result for the Irish, and they add the scalp of the Wallabies to that of South Africa.

You don't often beat two of the three southern hemisphere giants and Ireland confirm they are a side to be feared by everyone.

Wales pack is under severe pressure, folding as the two sets of forwards lock horns in a scrum on the home side's 22 metre line.

Referee Wayne Barnes rules that Wyatt Crockett has got an unfair advantage by not pushing straight.

This half has had plenty for those who like to try and decipher the goings-on at the front-row coalface.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Fantastic result for Ireland.

"The players are out on their feet and so are the Australians.

"At all stages, it was competitive and the defence from both sides was ferocious.

"Everyone here got a really, really exciting game of rugby."

Full-time score summary

Ireland:

Tries: Zebo, Bowe

Cons: Sexton (2)

Pens: Sexton (4)

Australia:

Tries: Phipps (2), Foley

Con: Foley

Pens: Foley (2)

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"I think the New Zealand are guilty of looking for the miracle ball, but it's great defensive work from Wales here."

Full time

Heart and ferocity at the breakdown indeed, but it's a winger who steals the ball and secures victory.

Ulster's Tommy Bowe clamps onto an unfortunate Wallaby and that is the game.

Three wins out of three for the Irish, not a bad November's work.

Beauden Barrett does a flashy line in no-look offloads, but Dan Biggar reads his intentions and nabs possession.

Wales have upset Wayne Barnes though and the ball is delivered back into All Black hands.

This is all about the heart and ferocity of the likes of Paul O'Connell now. He hammers a Wallaby back but they recycle and come again from deep, making yards with every carry...

Replacements

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Ireland lose both Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney - two big blows for the hosts, although Conor Murray is back on.

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"The crowd are excited by these open breaks by Wales, but they have to be put away."

The All Black sea parts suddenly in front of Sam Warburton and the Wales captain canters through the gap.

The support doesn't react as quickly to the break as quickly as Charles Piutau though who rushes up to make the tackle before Alun Wyn Jones can get on his skipper's shoulder.

Alex Cuthbert gets a little over-eager as the ball is recycled left, over-running Leigh Halfpenny and forcing the pass forward.

The noise rumbles around the Aviva Stadium - it's just a constant roar now.

Again Australia attack, again they spill the pill and again Ireland clear their lines.

They just might do this...

Here come the Aussies again, but there's a fumble and Ireland once more survive, but for how long?

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

AFP

"New Zealand haven't really got into their stride. But what you know is that they will have a period when they do put pressure on, and the chances are they're going to score. So when you get the chance, you really do have to move the scoreboard along."

The two front rows are rutting away and it is Paul James who is in trouble for a third time as the scrum nosedives into the turf.

"You have to fight to stay flat," Wayne Barnes warns him. Brian Moore believes it is a classic case of "hinging".

Answers on a postcard please.

Get involved

John McEnerney: 3 points not enough with those 3 magicians that Aus have brought on. To the wire this one!

Ireland win a penalty at a scrum inside their own 22 and can lift the siege they have been under. Real bravery from the hosts' pack, they would not yield.

AP

After being on the back foot for 10 minutes Australia have now assumed control and these are dangerous times for Ireland.

The visitors have brought on the mighty 6ft 8in, 20-stone Will Skelton by the way - a bear with the handling skills of a watch maker.

Wales 3-3 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

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"Wales will be happy with the first 25 minutes. They've kicked well, and into the right areas. It's clearly a tactic to test Charles Piutau and Julian Savea, and it's worked really well."

Wales have been peppering the All Black wingers with bombs. That is the first one that has been recovered as Dan Biggar rips Rhys Webb's box-kick from Charles Piutau's grasp in the aerial contest.

The Fields of Athenry rings round the Aviva Stadium as the home fans give the vocal chords a work out. A huge roar greets the end of the song which coincides with a scrum deep inside the Ireland 22.

Conor Murray has now been called off the pitch by the match doctor - I have to say I think that's the right decision - he may well have had the benefit of seeing a replay of the accident with Quade Cooper's knee.

Penalty

Reuters

A nerve-steadying shot of three points, please barkeep.

Beauden Barrett thumps over from distance to put his earlier miss behind him.

Paul James is having a bit of bother at scrum-time. The prop is pinged for boring in and Beauden Barrett is going to take on another kick - this time from up near halfway.

Get involved

Happy with a three-point lead with 10 to go Ireland fans?

Wales 3-0 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"You could hear that hit all the way up here. But Sonny Bill Williams will be back for more."

Ouch!

Sonny Bill Williams must have thought he was back in league as he scrapped his senses back together.

The All Black centre juggled the ball into contact and failed to spot the blonde shape of Richard Hibbard in his peripheral vision.

Williams takes a moment after being flattened by a nipple-high hit from the hooker.

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Conor Murray takes a blow to the head as Quade Cooper tries to fly-hack the ball on. Surely he will have to go off after that?

But no, he's allowed to play on. Not sure about that.

Missed penalty

Under the gaze of waterboy Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett screws his kick wide.

Creaky, very creaky....

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"There's 15 minutes left, which is hard to believe.

"It's been nip and tuck all the way along with both sides trying to play rugby.

"You just sense it's there for someone to take the initiative."

George North scuttles backwards to claim Beauden Barrett's cross-kick, but Wayne Barnes calls play back for the original offence and the All Black points to the sticks.

New Zealand are crowbarring their way back into the game. Up to the Wales 22-metre line and now with a penalty advantage to play with...

Reuters

Alun Wyn Jones swats down Dane Coles' line-out throw to turn over the ball. Dan Biggar takes the chance to test Julian Savea's aerial skills with a booming up-and-under.

The All Black wing passes with merit, collecting under pressure from Alex Cuthbert before three men are required to shove him into touch.

Penalty

Ireland are back in front as Johnny Sexton slots a penalty.

Australia respond by bringing on the maverick's maverick, Quade Cooper, at fly-half for Bernard Foley.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It was one of those strange moments in rugby.

"Rob Kearney had so much time and the crowd were wondering if he would take the kick.

"It was a good 43-metre kick and it had the legs, but just hit the post."

Rob Kearney has just hit the woodwork with a drop-goal from the 10m line (OK, I admit, I edited it. I got a little over-excited initially, it wasn't the halfway line after all. Still huge though).

Not just that, but he hit the post about two-third of the way up. Inches from giving Ireland the lead again.

Wales 3-0 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"Soccer's not George's forte. He won't want to see that again. But it's so far so good for Wales defensively."

George North is a clean fly-hack away from a score, but his footballing skills are more Diana Ross than Diego Maradona.

Sonny Bill Williams spills the ball in midfield up near the Wales 22, Jonathan Davies pokes a toe at the ball to put it into space behind the All Blacks and North has a clear lead on the chasing pack and acres in front of him as he swipes only thin air.

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"Wales are doing well so far. They're dominating territory. They just need to get more quick ball and see if they can find any space outside."

Get involved: Wales 3-0 New Zealand

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Grant Dommen: In case you were thinking Richie McCaw was participating in Movember, he isn't. He shaved yesterday. #allman

More strong stuff from Wales as Taulupe Faletau shrugs off Jerome Kaino from a pick-and-go from eight. Alun Wyn Jones then charges down Beauden Barrett's attempted dink over the rapidly advancing Wales defence.

New Zealand are probably not rattled, but they might just be ruffled by the hosts' fast start.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It's got to that stage in the game where the last 10 minutes have been really tense.

"You just get the sense that someone is going to have to break it down."

Get involved

Andrew Lavoipierre: #IREvAUS Great game by ref Jackson so far pity he was let down by shambles tmo in first half

New Zealand are menacing down the right wing as Beauden Barrett and Sonny Bill Williams off-load with telepathic understanding of the situation around them.

Jerome Kaino's pass is a lot more simple, but the flanker's attempt to find the hands of Dane Coles drifts forward. To mass Welsh relief.

Australia are starting to get that rippling attacking game going, fizzing the ball down the back line, but Ireland are always going to get stuck into you at the breakdown and that doggedness is keeping them in the game at the moment.

A Tommy Bowe run has the home fans on their feet but Ireland lose control at the critical moment. Frustrating for the hosts.

Wales 3-0 New Zealand

Martyn Williams

Former Wales captain on BBC Two

"It's three penalties to Wales so far, all at the breakdown area. It's something New Zealand are going to have to sort out pretty quickly."

Wales 3-0 New Zealand

Brian Moore

Former England hooker on BBC Two

"Wales will be very happy with that. They had to do nothing but drive one ball up, and they're 3-0 up. Thank you very much."

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

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"Ireland just a little bit disjointed and suffering from Australia doing all the attacking.

"They're hanging on a little bit at present."

Penalty

PA

That Wayne Barnes dartboard might be back out in the All Black dressing room if it continues like this.

The English referee blows up for prop Wyatt Crockett lying across the back of a ruck in the shadow of his own posts.

Bang in front and that is a gimme for Leigh Halfpenny.

New Zealand, usually so streetwise around the breakdown, are pinged again by Wayne Barnes. Jerome Kaino shakes his head as he retreats back into his half after being penalised.

Richard Hibbard's first line-out dart misses double top, just over Sam Warburton at the back and pocketed by Aaron Smith.

Penalty

Australia win a penalty at a scrum. Next up, porcine aerobatics.

Bernard Foley levels the scores, this one is going to go the distance.

New Zealand's runners are coming from deep, at pace and all areas for the pitch. Charles Piutau and Dane Coles both fly into contact, but the All Blacks have hung on a little too long on the ground and Wayne Barnes award a penalty Wales' way on halfway.

Replacement

Off goes the giant Tevita Kuridrani for the Wallabies, on comes the gifted if wayward Kurtley Beale, and he is into the action immediately, but his break is halted by a forward pass.

Kick-off

Wales regain possession, but Rhys Webb's box-kick is over-hit allowing Julian Savea to call the mark under little pressure. A bit of a waste that.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Australia will be annoyed there as they were pushing Ireland back, who were going nowhere.

"Someone got a little over excited and left their hand in the ruck.

"It lead to Ireland having the chance to retake the lead in a very kickable position."

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The last New Zealand haka of 2014 and it is a corker. Dan Biggar to get us underway....

Penalty

Dancing feet from Simon Zebo, Australia off their feet at the breakdown, shot at goal for Ireland?

Up steps Johnny Sexton, over goes the kick and Ireland are back in front.

Get involved

Martin Howells: Can't see New Zealand winning this. I mean Wales are bang in form, undefeated since last weekend... doesn't get better than that!

Rebekah Macdonald: The singing of our anthem is giving me chills today. Well done, Millennium Stadium.

The haka will be led by Liam Messam.

Richie McCaw locks his gaze on Sam Warburton and puffs out his cheeks...

Guests first. "God Defend New Zealand" gets a decent outing around the Millennium Stadium.

Before 70,000 voices ring loud and proud with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau to thoroughly trump it.

We're back, Johnny Sexton belting the ball deep into Wallaby territory.

Maybe the Welsh Rugby Union would have a bit more money for contract talks if it didn't go so big on the pyrotechnics.

Sam Warburton's men emerge amid a barrage of fireworks. The crowd almost drown out the explosions with cheers. This is on.

Get involved

Mick: No conundrum, Denis Hickie (see 36mins). Ireland missed tackles. Two missed tackles for the first try. unacceptable under Joe Schmidt

Things that were less forward than that pass to Bernard Foley.

Number one in a series: Casanova

Wales v New Zealand (17:30 GMT)

Wales' New Zealand-born coach Warren Gatland, speaking on BBC Two: "The haka still has a place in world rugby. It's a tradition. We know it's coming. We haven't even spoken about it this week. The players will face that part of it. People don't go on about Fiji or Tonga or Samoa doing it. It's great for the game and the crowd come to see it.

"Even if history weighs heavily, you want to win against a southern hemisphere team. England beat them two years ago Ireland probably should have beaten them last year. They've been on the road for nine weeks, and we hope they're tired and looking forward to getting home. We've had a good week in terms of preparation and trained really well. We're really excited."

Richie McCaw sprints out at the head of the All Black queue to applause from all around.

Wales wait in the tunnel as the atmosphere brews a little stronger under the Millennium Stadium roof.

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Sheep? Leeks? Daffs? Check, check, check.

The crowd have come fully equipped. Now for the players...

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Here is another blast from the past. And you'll like this, I promise.

In 2006 New Zealand had performed the haka in their own dressing room in protest at Wales' plan to sing their national anthem after, rather than before, the war dance.

Two years later the All Blacks were back in the Millennium Stadium. This time Wales let them slap thighs and puff chests after the national songs.

But Warren Gatland's side were damned if they were going to turn away first after it was done.

A stand-off ensued with referee Jonathan Kaplan trying to shoo both teams back for the kick-off while the 74,000 crowd went bonkers.

Wales won the first half 9-6, but lost the match 29-9.

You can see a clip of the pre-match stare down here.

Half-time score summary

PA

Ireland:

Tries: Zebo, Bowe

Cons: Sexton (2)

Pens: Sexton (2)

Australia:

Tries: Phipps (2), Foley

Con: Foley

Pen: Foley

Half-time

PA

Wow. We've seen more action in 40 minutes than you get in a whole series of Game of Thrones, and it's hard to remember a half like it.

First Ireland dominated, then Australia exploded into life, before Ireland came back at the death. Breathless stuff.

The big question is, was the TMO's great, great grandfather the lead engineer on the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

"Looks pretty straight to me mate, dunno what your problem is."

Wales' run against the All Blacks is pretty atrocious from a red-tinged point of view. But then so was the piece of gamesmanship that kept New Zealand's run alive in 1978.

With his side trailing 12-10 at the Arms Park and only a couple of minutes remaining, New Zealand second row Andy Haden opted to fling himself out of a line-out to simulate a Welsh shove and earn a penalty.

Or as the man himself described it, "I went to Frank Oliver, my locking partner and told him the plan in four words: 'I'm going to dive'."

Referee Roger Quittenton of England blew up. Brian McKechnie split the sticks. And a generation never forgave.

You can see the clip 1:25 into this excellent video on the BBC Sport website.

Wales v New Zealand (17:30 GMT)

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Former Baywatch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff is in the house at the Millennium Stadium, and will be cheering on Wales, as his partner Hayley Roberts is from Neath.

He tells Sonja Maclaughlan on BBC Two: "I'm very excited. When we met, I was a fan of rugby but I didn't know it was a religion here. But I love the haka. I think the Welsh team now should do the Hoffa."

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Richie McCaw will lead New Zealand for the 100th time today.

How has the great man survived the rigours of modern rugby to reach such a landmark? Well, this BBC iWonder guide, on how players recover from the car-crash hits of today's game, might give you a few hints.

It also features an animation of Jamie Roberts that is like the illegitimate offspring of the Incredible Hulk and one of the I, Robot baddies.

Penalty

Johnny Sexton bisects the sticks. Can the second half possibly live up to the first?

Another Ireland penalty, this time Johnny Sexton will look to tie things up by going for the posts.

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Give Australia the ball and they will leave your defensive line looking like a blanket that's gone 10 rounds with a cohort of cloths moths.

Fair play to Ireland though, back then come and win a penalty, which gives them good territory inside the Wallaby 22.

One last chance this half.

Team news

Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Rhys Webb-; 1-Paul James, 2-Richard Hibbard, 3-Samson Lee, 4-Jake Ball, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Sam Warburton (captain), 8-Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: 16-Scott Baldwin, 17-Nicky Smith, 18-Rhodri Jones, 19-Luke Charteris, 20-Justin Tipuric, 21-Mike Phillips, 22-James Hook, 23-Liam Williams

New Zealand: 15-Ben Smith, 14-Charles Piutau, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 11-Julian Savea, 10-Beauden Barrett, 9-Aaron Smith; 1-Wyatt Crockett., 2-Dane Coles, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Jerome Kaino, 7-Richie McCaw (captain), 8-Kieran Read

Replacements: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Charlie Faumuina, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Liam Messam, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Colin Slade, 23-Ryan Crotty

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Ireland have let Australia get right back in here and score some tries and now they're in the lead.

"It's a real coaching conundrum approaching half-time as how do you put your finger on what's gone wrong?"

Penalty

And here come Australia again.

Lethal stuff from the Wallabies, with Matt Toomua's offload creating havoc, and Ireland go offside as they defend desperately.

Up steps Bernard Foley... and over goes the simple kick.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Classic Aussie try.

"Great bit of individual skill, very close-quarter passing in tight spaces. Quick recycling and guys running off shoulders.

"A great team try."

Get involved

Jonathan Chase: Some absolutely mad offloads from Australia, that try was a cracker. As an England fan, I'm officially worried

Paul Clarkson: This is going from bad to worse

Tom Fordyce

Chief sports writer at the Millennium Stadium

"Grey clouds now over Cardiff after the early afternoon sunshine, and a realism among the home support. When Wales last beat the All Blacks, Britain was yet to build its first motorway, Elvis was yet to release his debut single and rationing was still in place across the UK. You can understand the muted levels of expectation."

Wales actually won three of their first four meetings with New Zealand. Since then it has been relentless one-way traffic from the All Black juggernaut.

Since Wales' 13-8 win in Cardiff in December 1953, The All Blacks have won the next 25 meetings.

Try

AP

Tremendous passing from Australia, poor tackling from Ireland and all of a sudden Australia scrum-half Nick Phipps is racing over for his second try of the game.

Bernard Foley provides the final pass but cannot convert, so we're locked together at the Aviva Stadium.

Big Mike's back with Wales v New Zealand build-up by the way... do your best to ignore him. Or not. Whatever.

Get involved

Megan Pierce: Of course it was forward! 12 times it was replayed 12 times which show just how forward it wa. Such a bad decision

Adam Heayberd: Surely that was a forward pass??? How did the referee not see that?? Is he Australian or something??

Rob Ralphs: is it opposite day? #ClearlyForward #IrevAus #IRS2014

Michael 'the human mole' Hooper burrows his way into a ruck to win his first turnover of the game and enable Australia to release the pressure.

HUGE forward pass from Johnny Sexton in the build-up to an Irish attack, but less discontent from the crowd as it is not picked up by the officials.

I cannot imagine why.

BBC Two

BBC Two's coverage of Wales v New Zealand has just roared into life.

Click on the live coverage tab at the top of this page to get your grubby mitts on it.

Get involved

Michael Bairstow: TMO total mockery officialdom

James Standen: I don't think it was grounded but it was a forward pass!!

Get involved

Was that pass forward? Let us know your view on #bbcrugby or on text via 81111.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"A fantastic tackle from Rob Kearney in the corner there for Ireland to deny Australia a try.

"But, the Wallabies kept it going though and were able to maintain the momentum.

"In the tackle Foley was just able to roll the ball on to touch the line from what it looks like."

Try

All right, steady on lads. This is supposed to be northern hemisphere rugby.

Is this a try? Bernard Foley goes very, very close for Australia if not...

Is the pass forward though?

The TMO thinks not and the try is given, although Foley cannot convert.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Blink and you miss it.

"Ireland were almost in behind Australia again there and then Phipps has picked that one out from the gain-line and then he couldn't be caught."

Get involved

Jonathan Chase: Incredible from Tommy Bowe. Australia had a huge overlap, he did the only thing he could to save the try

Try

Nick Phipps redemption.

This time the Wallaby scrum-half picks up and races clear to score after Bernard Foley bats down Simon Zebo's pass on halfway, with Fley converting.

Dizzying stuff in Dublin.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Reuters

"Australia generated incredibly quick ball there.

"Ireland had one defender - Tommy Bowe - he was able to pick up the long pass there and he read it from miles out, picked it out of the air and ran it in from a whole pitch length out."

Try

Great start? Amazing start!

Australia look set to score but Tommy Bowe picks off scrum-half Nick Phipp's pass on the Irish 22 and races 80m to score.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Sexton saw Zebo was free out wide there and the bounce was absolutely perfect.

"Zebo didn't even have to break stride there as he ran on to it and crossed over the try line."

Try

PA

Johnny Sexton may have just missed a kickable penalty for Ireland but he redeems himself immediately.

The Ireland fly-half identifies space down the left and his pin-point kick is picked up by the sizzling Simon Zebo to ssore. Great start from the hosts.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"A let off for Australia there with that missed penalty from Sexton and Ireland will be disappointed.

"When you get in to the opposition's half, you want to keep the scoreboard ticking over."

Missed penalty (Sexton)

In full-backs Israel Folau and Rob Kearney we have two of the finest aerial exponents in the game - and the fact they played Australian Rules football and Gaelic football respectively is probably no coincidence.

The latter is taken out in the air by James Slipper but Johnny Sexton's penalty slips by the sticks.

Denis Hickie

Former Ireland international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It just shows you the importance of precision.

"A loose pass from Australia saw them very quickly back-pedalling and ultimately giving away a penalty.

"There's just no room for error in international rugby."

Andy Burke

BBC Scotland at Rugby Park

"I think we can say the rugby at Rugby Park experiment has been a success. A good atmosphere, good surface and most importantly a good win for Scotland. The ghosts of Tonga's win at Pittodrie in 2012 have been well and truly consigned to history. The fans applauded their heroes off the park and now look forward to the Six Nations with more hope than they have had for some time."

Get involved

Seamus Joyce: Ireland to lead start to finish and win by 8 points !

John McEnerney: This will be a belter! Ireland looking for a 2nd SH scalp & we are well equipped 2 do it but Aus have plenty of talent to undo us!

Penalty (Sexton)

Munster blind-side Peter O'Mahony is already making his mark at the breakdown and he earns a kickable penalty for Johnny Sexton.

They do love a choke a tackle, do Ireland. Tevita Kuridrani makes a threatening break but is brought to halt by Simon Zebo.

When they switch the all into midfield the swarming Irish defence holds the ball up off the ground and earns a scrum for the hosts.

Conor McNamara

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator at the Aviva Stadium

BBC Sport

Join myself and Denis Hickie in Dublin for #IREvAUS.

Full commentary on @BBC5LSX

Bernard Foley kicks off in Dublin, Ireland claim and Conor Murray clears well. Solid start all round.

Gordon D'Arcy and Rory Best start for Ireland in the only changes from the win over South Africa two weeks ago.

Robbie Henshaw switches to outside centre after wearing the number 12 jersey against the Springboks.

Not long now...

Get involved

Tom Canning: Well done to Scotland - turned it around in the second half.

Samantha Foster: PROUD PROUD PROUD! Well done boys! Bring on the Six nations!

Michael Cheika took over as Australia boss in October after the departure of Ewen McKenzie following poor form on the field and further issues off it.

Flanker Michael Hooper, the latest in a long line of excellent Aussie open-sides, captains a side which has cross-code superstar Israel Folau looming at full-back.

On the wing the magnificently be-froed Henry Speight makes his Wallaby debut.

Scotland 37-12 Tonga

@ScotlandTeam

Scottish Rugby: The team say thanks #AsOne

Post-match reaction

Scotland coach Vern Cotter speaking on BBC One: "The guys ground out a tough win and it wasn't easy.

"Very tight at half time and we did the simple things well in the second half.

"Our line-out was working well and it got us ahead.

"I think the game two years ago is like a monkey off our back and we can move forward."

Getty Images

Scotland's World Cup Pool consists of South Africa, Samoa, United States and Japan.

It is tough, but they should get through that. The last time they were in the knockout stages was in 2007.

Post-match reaction

Mike Blair

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Vern Cotter has made sure the line-out is fantastic and that's been great in these last three games.

"You build your game around that and the work off scrum-half and it's been a great foundation for Scotland."

One of the main talking points concerns the two coaches, who will both be more than familiar to Dublin residents.

New Australia boss Michael Cheika guided Leinster to their first ever European Cup, while he was succeeded at the province by Joe Schmidt, now boss of Ireland, who took them to Heineken Cup glory twice.

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw speaking on BBC One: "We'll take a lot of confidence in to the Six Nations.

"Vern Cotter gives us a lot of confidence and belief to control our performances.

"We've shown a lot of that in these matches, we know we're not quite the complete outfit, but we're moving forward."

BBC coverage

No pics of the game I'm afraid - for those wondering another UK broadcaster bought the rights - but we do have radio commentary on 5 live sports extra.

No need to stir from your seat though, you can click the live tag at the top to get the commentary, while I will be here on 'painting pictures with words duty' for your delight and delectation.

Man-of-the-match Blair Cowan speaking on BBC One: "We always knew Tonga were going to be strong, but we didn't quite show up in the first half.

"There was a lot said at half time, some harsh truths and we came through.

"That really shows the maturity of this side through these autumn internationals."

All smiles from Scotland. Finn Russell obliges the television cameras with a slick "running man" jig and he and his team have looked pretty slick this autumn.

How many wins might they collect in the Six Nations? I'll give you a spread of three.

Full time score summary

AFP

Scotland:

Tries: Cowan, Hogg, Dunbar, Cross, Seymour

Cons: Laidlaw (3)

Pens: Laidlaw (2)

Tonga:

Pens: Fosita (4)

Ireland v Australia (16:30 GMT)

@A_Priestley89

Andrew Priestley: The 'Sea of Green' has descended on Dublin this evening. Third versus fourth in the world, should be a cracker!

Full time

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"There's been a lot of good performances for Scotland especially in the second half.

"But the man who's started a lot of it off, including scoring the first try is Blair Cowan.

"His work in defence and turnovers makes him my man-of-the-match."

Scotland are cutting loose. Tommy Seymour streaks up the right wing, but his ambitious pass inside is swatted down by a chasing Tongan.

Get involved

Ali Kirke-Smith: Lineouts are not Tonga's friend.

A True Contrarian: Andy Nicol really is a glass half-full kind of guy. This supposed new dawn will not transmit to the Six Nations.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Tommy Seymour has had interceptions in the first two games this autumn to score tries and now he takes advantage from a fumble in the in-goal area.

"A well executed kick from Finn Russell to set it up too as they're not the biggest in-goal areas here at Rugby Park to aim for."

Team news

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), G D'Arcy (Leinster), S Zebo (Munster); J Sexton (Racing Metro), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D Toner (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster, capt), P O'Mahony (Munster), R Ruddock (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster) R Ah You (Connacht), D Foley (Munster), T O'Donnell (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), I Madigan (Leinster), F Jones (Munster).

Australia: I Folau; A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Toomua, H Speight; B Foley, N Phipps; J Slipper, S Fainga'a, S Kepu, S Carter, R Simmons, L Jones, M Hooper (capt), B McCalman.

Replacements: J Hanson, B Robinson, T Faulkner, W Skelton, J Schatz, W Genia, Q Cooper, K Beale.

Referee: G Jackson (New Zealand).

Assistant referees: N Owens (Wales) and M Fraser (New Zealand).

Get involved

Convinced Ireland can over-turn the Wallabies? Bet the house on Australia beating the hosts? Let us know using #bbcrugby on social media or via 81111 for those who prefer texts.

Try

Finn Russell has penalty advantage in his favour and so goes for a risk-free up-and-under into the corner.

Duncan Taylor leaps skywards to try and claim and the ball spills away from he and a Tongan defender into the grateful hands of Tommy Seymour to touch down.

Finn Russell misses the conversion and is replaced by Duncan Weir.

Replacement

Reuters

Scrum reset after an aborted first go. Scotland take the chance to throw Kieran Low and Duncan Taylor on.

While Ireland have been progressing serenely for the past year, that's certainly not the case for Australia.

They arrive with a new coach, an unsettled team and a wayward but gifted back who is fresh from being hit with a whopping fine for sending an offensive text to a female former Wallaby official…

New boss Michael Cheika has selected the errant Kurtley Beale on the bench as he returns to the international scene having initially been omitted from the Australian tour party.

Replacement

Chris Cuister heads into the fray, replacing the impressive Greig Laidlaw. Cuister's first job will be to put the ball into a scrum five metres from the Tonga line. This is shove-over territory...

Ross Ford off and Fraser Brown on for Scotland as Vern Cotter makes the replacements earn their meal ticket.

Try

AFP

Yes, he has! The nod comes from upstairs and referee JP Doyle's arm shoots skywards.

Textbook screw-turning from the Scotland forwards who charged through the phases against some dispirited opposition.

Greig Laidlaw clips over the conversion and this is turning into a very encouraging performance since the break.

Try review

Is that a smile beneath Geoff Cross's bushy beard? The burly prop has had dart from five metres. Has he made it over? The television official will make the call...

Less than a year out from the tournament, Ireland look like being real contenders at the 2015 World Cup, and let's not forget they beat Australia back in the 2011 edition.

Wins over two of the top three sides in the world (as of the start of the autumn Tests) would lay down a serious marker that Joe Schmidt's team are a side on the up.

The former Leinster coach has had an impressive first year at the helm and has a settled squad who have been following a clear path for the past year.

Alasdair Strokosch and Gordon Reid are off the bench to inject some energy into the Scotland pack.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Vern Cotter doesn't seem prescriptive in his changes from the bench.

"He only seems to make changes when he needs to. How often do you see it in games like this where there's a raft of changes around the hour mark?"

Penalty

Award yourself 50 points in your rugby union I-Spy book. The rare sight of a Tongan pack being bullied is on offer in Kilmarnock. The visitors have swapped on their replacement front row and are heading backward at a rate of knots in scrums.

Greig Laidlaw sticks another three on the Scotland score as the pressure tells.

Indeed it is Big Mike (I'm contractually obliged to call him that by the way) - 35 minutes by my watch.

A year ago Ireland were "taken apart", in Paul O'Connell's words, by Australia.

In the 12 months since they've lost just twice, to New Zealand and England, climbed to third in the world rankings and dealt with the retirement of the iconic Brian O'Driscoll more smoothly than they might have imagined.

Two weeks' ago they thumped South Africa - can they add the scalp of the Wallabies to that of the Springboks?

James Standley is the man on keys for Ireland v Australia. He will be taking you through the build-up for that one very shortly. Kick off is a little over half an hour away.

AFP

It was close at half-time, less so on 80 minutes. South Africa have run out 22-6 winners over Italy - the Springboks have won all 12 meetings with the Italians through history.

The twin towers of Richie and Johnny Gray are putting the Tonga hooker under pressure.

The visiting number two misses his man and Finn Russell decides to have a bit of fun with the bonus ball, spinning through the hands. Tim Visser, on the end of the line, beats the first defender in front of him, but runs into the buffers as Vungakoto Lilo shivers his timbers with a thumping tackle.

Latiume Fosita's clearance kick hits the top of the stands around halfway. It is a little-known fact that Kilmarnock is over 2,000 feet above sea level.

Penalty

Greig Laidlaw wallops the ball clean between the sticks. That sailed through to inflate the cushion to more than a converted try.

Reuters

Scotland are now wrestling their way on top in the close quarters, moving the point of attack with one pass and then barrelling forward. Tonga stray offside in their eagerness to throw a spanner in the works and this is kickable...

Ireland v Australia (16:30 GMT)

@IrishRugby

Kick off in Dublin is just under an hour away. Irish Rugby have tweeted this picture of Munster back row Peter O'Mahony arriving for action.

Get involved

John McEnerney: Big Vern seeing his team coming together nicely. Dark horses for the Six Nations, they'll only get better under Cotter! The intensity is key.

Eclectic Jax: Ooh Ooh! Fit, ginger, bearded lovely in the crowd! Thanks for that.

Crikey. Do you want us to pass on your details, Jax?

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"That was very good from Scotland. Great vision from Finn Russell to go back down the blindside on that move.

"Alex Dunbar still had a lot to do when he got the ball, but a great finish and well played Scotland.

"There's the spark that Scotland needed in this second half and they need to crack on and push on from here."

Try

AFP

Great vision from Finn Russell who cuts against the grain, going blind as the Tongan defence rushes up.

The fly-half likes what he finds down the short side, spinning the ball to Alex Dunbar who makes mincemeat of the two forwards in front of him, carving inside Viliami Ma'afu and fending off Paea Fa'anunu to get in the corner.

The angle beats Greig Laidlaw on the conversion.

Reuters

Ironic cheers as Tonga feel the rough side of the referee's whistle for a change. Finn Russell takes play up to the Tonga 22 as he kicks for touch from the penalty.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Scotland need to up their game.

"It's absolutely in their hands, but they just need to cut out the mistakes."

Missed penalty

"I need you to change something there," referee JP Doyle tells Scotland captain Grieg Laidlaw. You can see what the official is getting at. Ross Ford is the latest blue shirt to find themselves splayed unhelpfully around the wrong side.

Latiume Fosita misses for the first time with his penalty attempt, but Scotland could be missing a man the next time one of them strays the wrong side of the breakdown.

Kick-off

Grieg Laidlaw bangs the restart long, but Scotland begin the second half as they finished the first, shipping penalties all over the shop.

Richie Gray and Blair Cowan are judged to be slow rolling away and Tonga can nudge their way up to halfway through Latiume Fosita's boot.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"A lot of the game for Scotland is going through Finn Russell. In the first two games it was going through Greig Laidlaw.

"I just wonder if Scotland have changed their tactics due to the conditions of the pitch."

Scotland 14-12 Tonga

BBC

AFP

Tonga, who have South African World Cup winning coach and one-time England coach possibility Jake White in their corner, are back out for the second half.

Chris Jones

BBC Radio 5 live reporter

BBC

The Welsh Choir in full voice pre-match

Vocal cords warming, pre-match butterflies emerging from their cocoons, just a couple of hours until kick-off.

A few over 15,000 have clicked through the turnstiles for this one by the way. An almost full Rugby Park works far better than an echoing Murrayfield.

Chris Paterson

Former Scotland full-back on BBC One

"Keeping possession is so key as the pitch is very small and narrow here at Rugby Park.

"The good bits of play from Scotland have come from chip-kicks over the top and getting in behind the Tongan defence."

Mike Blair

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Tonga are living off the mistakes Scotland are making.

"Scotland aren't going through the phases and that's keeping Tonga in the game."

Half-time score summary

Getty Images

Scotland:

Tries: Cowan, Hogg

Cons: Laidlaw (2)

Tonga:

Pens: Fosita (4)

Half-time

Scotland are picking and choosing when to commit numbers to the breakdown and they steal back the ball as they go all arms to the pump.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Both sides are defending very aggressively, their line speeds are good.

"Nobody is getting a chance to relax, but it means your concentration has got to be spot on."

Tonga are getting their big boys rumbling around the fringes and in midfield, trying to put a dent in the Scotland defence.

It isn't subtle, but it takes some stopping. The visitors are up around halfway as half-time looms.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Defence, defence, defence by Scotland forced the mistake and you won't catch a player like Stuart Hogg in those circumstances.

"Once he got hold of it, there was no stopping him."

Converted Try

AFP

Set up a foot race over any distance you choose and Stuart Hogg would be on the podium.

The Scotland full-back pounces as Finn Russell goes high and dislodges the ball from Tongan hands around the Scotland 22. Hogg gets the legs pumping and strolls in under the sticks to give Greig Laidlaw a straightforward task with the conversion.

Disallowed try

More Scotland pressure as Sean Lamont touches down, but has his celebrations cut short as the touch judge rules that Greig Laidlaw, who was twitching in his starting blocks, strayed offside before charging down Latiume Fosita's kick.

Scotland are almost in, but Tim Visser is just about snagged as he attempts to gather Grieg Laidlaw's cute box-kick chip.

Penalty

AFP

Tonga's Nili Latu is back on the pitch after serving his own time in the sin bin and he makes an immediate impact, clamping down over the breakdown and resisting all attempts to shift him.

Latiume Fosita's faultless place-kicking continues. Four from four and Tonga are building nicely.

HALF-TIME

Half-time in Padua, where South Africa - showing four changes to the side who overcame England at Twickenham last weekend - lead Italy 8-6.

Kelly Haimona converted two penalties for the hosts - the first and last scores of the half - with Pat Lambie kicking three points for the Springboks before Coenie Oosthuizen's try.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"The referee saw that tackle in real time and was happy with it.

"The touch judge asked to look again at it and the possible sanctions. It probably looks worse in slow motion.

"Alex Dunbar has to be careful there after he picks the player up, he needs to ensure he puts him down.

"You cannot lift players off the ground these days unless you ensure they get down safely so Alex Dunbar gets 10 minutes in the sin bin for it."

Sin-bin

Alex Dunbar is the man under the microscope. The Scotland centre has lifted Vungakoto Lilo in the tackle and deposited the Tonga full-back back down to earth on his backside.

For my money it never got past the horizontal and is deserving of a stern talking-to rather than a card.

Referee JP Doyle is the man that matters though and he dishes out yellow. Scotland down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes.

Andy Burke

BBC Scotland at Rugby Park

"The fans here at Rugby Park are right on top of the pitch and with the atmosphere slightly less noisy than a packed Murrayfield, you can hear the thud of bone-meeting-bone when these big Tongan men go into the contact situations which they so relish. It's not always the most pleasant sound!"

Get involved

Stewart Milligan: And best hairstyle for the autumn internationals goes to Tongan number one Tevita Mailau, who's gone for the bald on top, party in the back look.

Penalty

Latiume Fosita is no slouch off the tee. The Tongan 10 has another tricky kick after Alex Dunbar is identified, wrongly, as a tackler jumping to his feet and playing the ball.

Fosita steps up and clumps over another fine kick.

Penalty

Rob Harley spills forward in midfield and Scotland get on the wrong side of the offside line and referee JP Doyle as they try and get the ball back.

Latiume Fosita lands from distance to reduce the gap to one point.

Get involved

Calvin Jones: Tonga have a 106kg full back?! Starting to think all Tongans are monstrous.

Vungakoto Lilo looks like he eats steaks that weigh more than opposite number Stuart Hogg.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"It was good patient play there from Scotland.

"They knew exactly what they wanted to do, kept their composure and executed it well."

Conversion

Greig Laidlaw slots the extras. Maybe it would have been worth the Tongans trying a bit more skulduggery...

Try

This time, probably on their last chance before the penalty try is awarded, Tonga stay onside. But the Scotland bodies are lower, tighter and going forward. Blair Cowan emerges from the bottom of the pile to claim the try.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"That's two within 30 seconds that were the most obvious offsides.

"There's three Tongan players engaged in the maul and Mailau just comes round so blatantly at the side."

Sin-bin - Nili Latu

Nili Latu will have 10 minutes to work out the location of the offside line.

The Tongan captain certainly seems to need some revision as he charges into the side of a Scottish rolling maul when Blair Cowan was still firmly attached to his team-mates. Yellow card.

Scotland turn over possession straight from the kick-off with some committed counter-rucking. Tongan defence scattered and Greig Laidlaw is five metres short.

Penalty

Scotland infringe as they attempt to snatch back the ball at the breakdown. Latiume Fosita punishes them with a kick that he got underneath, but set off on the right trajectory.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Scotland have done very well in the first two games playing well out of defence and with their offload strategy.

"But, we all know when you offload, there's a risk and it can go either way."

Tonga have field position up in the Scotland 22, but Ross Ford keeps his nerve to pick out Richie Gray in the line out. Clearing kick upfield is matched by a Tongan reply.

Johnnie Beattie claims well, but Finn Russell pushes his luck after a half-break and Tonga have possession on the Scotland 22. Both side looking like they want to get the ball in hand and along the line.

Get involved

Connor: Rugby should be played on grass, not a 3G surface.

Warming the vocal chords

Chris Jones

BBC Radio 5 live reporter

BBC

"Former Wales and Lions scrum-half Rob Jones about to go live on 5 live from the Angel hotel, with the choir in full voice in the background."

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Scotland had two very good attacking line-outs there.

"One worked, the other didn't so they'll be disappointed they didn't make the most if it."

Too clever for their own good?

Scotland try to innovate with a line-out close to the Tonga line, putting Jonny Gray up in the middle while centre Alex Dunbar swoops to the front to take Ross Ford's short throw-in.

Dunbar, perhaps sensing 18-stone of Tongan poised to splatter him, fails to gather though.

Tevita Mailau slides south at the first scrum and is pinged by the referee. Finn Russell steps up and thumps a deep kick down into the Tongan 22-metre line and Scotland are within striking distance for the first time.

Andy Nicol

Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"It's been a good performance so far from Scotland in these autumn internationals against New Zealand and Argentina.

"They need to step up here with a win against Tonga and a very strong performance."

Kick-off

Greig Laidlaw returns the kick-off back up towards halfway after a secure gather from his forwards.

Tonga to get us under way...

The war dance is watched in respectful silence by the crowd. None of the singing and jeering that descended on the All Blacks at Twickenham a fortnight ago.

The end of Flower of Scotland is marked with a booming blast of a field gun on the pitch.

Now for the Tonga's Sipi Tau haka...

Nice dressing rooms at Rugby Park. Scotland are last out of their oak-panelled lair and onto the pitch.

Why is a football club's home called Rugby Park? Well, back in the day Kilmarnock's footballers were code-crossing superstars, swapping to the oval ball when they felt like it.

Anthem time.

Chris Paterson

Former Scotland full-back on BBC One

On the artificial surface at Rugby Park: "It's a fast surface, and the rain earlier will make the ball a bit greasy.

"The game will be fast, it will be quick, the ball will move quite quickly out of the scrums and the rucks."

Scotland coach Vern Cotter: "This Tonga team will offer us different things than New Zealand and Argentina, they have a more physical, direct form of play. We have to get used to that and a new stadium and and new field.

"They may think that the field favours them, getting the big guys around the paddock. We will have to get up quickly to put pressure on. I think it favours us with our speed.

"Either way it is the same for both teams and I think that it will come down to the last few minutes."

Andy Burke

BBC Scotland at Rugby Park

"We're expecting close to a full house here at Rugby Park for this one, which is another indication of the positivity that has returned to the national team under Vern Cotter.

"There are several factors that make this an intriguing match up. Firstly is the surface. This is the first top-level international that will take place on an artificial surface, so it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt, especially given the heavy rain in Ayrshire this morning.

"Tonga won at Pittodrie in 2012 to signal the end of Andy Robinson's reign as head coach, so that is still fresh in the minds of the fans, but does it still haunt the players? We're about to find out."

BBC One

Right, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have finished their Saturday afternoon pootle around Abu Dhabi which means that BBC One is all Scotland v Tonga.

You don't even need to turn on the telly. A click on the big play button at the top of this page will bring the coverage straight to your screen.

Get involved

We're asking what are the best team-talk or psyche-up line you have heard?

Niall O'Donnell: A mate once refused to pack down until he heard the the opposition prop speak. As a psyche up trick it backfired - we were hammered.

SNS

A quick note about the artificial surface on which Scotland will face Tonga today. The 3G pitch at Kilmarnock's Rugby Park was installed over the summer, in order to allow the Scottish Premiership football club to make greater commercial use of the stadium.

The pitch meets the guidelines set by both football and rugby union's world governing bodies, and was installed by a United States-based company that also provided the artificial surface for Cardiff Arms Park.

Getty Images

There is plenty of gas and go in that Scottish back three.

Tim Visser, who has seven tries from his previous 14 Tests, is included at the expense of Sean Maitland with Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour alongside him.

Scotland would do well to get them into the game early, rather than be drawn into a battle of the big fellas up front.

Team news

Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Sean Lamont, Alex Dunbar (all Glasgow), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Finn Russell (Glasgow), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Geoff Cross (London Irish); Richie Gray (Castres), Jonny Gray (Glasgow); Rob Harley (Glasgow), Blair Cowan (London Irish), Jonny Beattie (Castres).

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Kieran Low (London Irish), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Chris Cusiter (Sale), Duncan Weir (Glasgow ), Duncan Taylor (Saracens).

Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo; David Halaifonua, Siale Piutau, Hemani Paea, Fetu'u Vainikolo; Latiume Fosita, Sonatane Takulua; Tevita Mailau, Aleki Lutui, Paea Fa'anunu; Tukulua Lokotui, Joe Tu'ineau; Sione Kalamafoni, Nili Latu (capt), Viliami Ma'afu.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Sione Lea, Sila Puafisi, Lisiate Fa'aoso, Hale T Pole, Tomasi Palu, Kurt Morath, Sione Piukala

Scotland centre Sean Lamont is only too aware that the positive vibes from the free-scoring win over Argentina and battling performance against New Zealand could be wrecked with a defeat by Tonga.

"If we don't lay down a marker, what we've done for the last few weeks is just talk, so we've got to keep this momentum going," he said.

"There is a lot of positivity, and the passion is back."

For a taciturn man, head coach Vern Cotter likes rugby of the champagne vintage.

Wales v New Zealand (17:30 GMT)

@DanCarter

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter will be a spectator when his side face Wales today, having been left out of the squad - but he's still enjoying the scenery.

"Another city, another castle," he tweets. "Cardiff threatening with some sunshine. Anyone coming to the game today?"

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Scotland legend Gregor Townsend has backed the decision to play Tonga on some of that new-fangled synthetic stuff.

"It's a great concept, we've played a couple of times on Cardiff Arms Park [which also has a 3G pitch], which created a really fast-paced game," he said, while wistfully imagining how much easier it would have been to step lumbering back-row forwards if he hadn't had to play most of his rugby in cabbage-patch conditions.

Get involved

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Earlier this week, James Haskell found a memorable phrase to sum up England's underwhelming autumn so far.

"It is no use training like Tarzan and playing like Jane," said the Wasps flanker.

Which got me thinking, what are the best psyche-up lines you have heard, either at the top level or for Old Rubber Duckians fifths?

Here is a link to get the grey matter working.

Ian McGeechan finds the sort of passion that could inspire the Dalai Lama to extreme violence on two Lions tours of South Africa.

Give us your suggestions on #bbcrugby or 81111 on text.

Scotland v Tonga (14:30 GMT)

@OfficialKillie

Kilmarnock FC: The Scotland team have arrived for the first ever tier-one international on a synthetic surface!

Geoff Cross's beard will give the Tongans some 80's-style astro burn, even if the Rugby Park pitch doesn't.

BBC Coverage

BBC One

And the good news is that whichever match floats your boat, BBC Sport will keep you bobbing along with live coverage.

BBC One will be across Scotland v Tonga, 5 live sports extra will be getting their Ireland v Australia on, BBC Two and 5 live will be tag-teaming up to take down Wales v New Zealand before 5 live goes solo on England v Samoa.

Got all that? Don't worry there will be timely reminders all along the way.

The mother and father of rugby days

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That is just the start of the fun with a day of rugby busier than a One Direction ticket hotline. It is so good that Mum and Dad McCaw are over for a piece of the action.

This is how it rolls:

Can Ireland beat Australia? If so, are they favourites for the Six Nations? Ireland v Australia is at 16:30 BST.

Wales's run of defeats against Australia stretched to 10 Tests a fortnight ago, can they buck an even heftier historical trend against the All Blacks? The world champions are gunning for a 26th successive win over Wales from 17:30 GMT.

Two out of three ain't bad sang Meatloaf. The portly American rocker wouldn't be drawn on what he makes of one out of three though. That is the autumn ratio England will want to improve to against Samoa at 19:00 GMT.

That was then though and this is a five-try win over Argentina, a creditable performance against the All Blacks and a brave new dawn later.

Vern Cotter's boys in blue are up in the first match of the day, taking on Tonga in Kilmarnock at 14:30 GMT.

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Those were Gavin Hastings' words when Scotland last played Tonga two years ago, losing 21-15 to the Pacific Islanders.

It was Scotland's 10th defeat in 13 Tests and followed a wipeout Wooden Spoon in that year's Six Nations.

Then-coach Andy Robinson warned there would be "consequences" and duly delivered his own resignation the next day.

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"People who were wearing the dark blue jersey of Scotland should be ashamed of being part of that team.

"It's so sad that we are talking about the team I just absolutely love. We really are not at the top table now."