It’s Christmas in July as the Northern behemoths head south to upside-down-world and a feast of rugby! With this being the last July tour before the World Cup next year in France, there are markers to be put down, there are points to be made and there are matches to be won! Not the usual ‘development tours’ we see, but full-blooded Tests, with a capital T and an exclamation mark to boot. So who’ll be the turkeys (not Türkiye, as they’re not playing anyway), who’ll get a stuffing and who’ll provide the trimmings and the sauce? A veritable smorgasbord awaits:
Romania v Italy
After slaying the Welsh dragon in February, there’ll be a sprightly step in the Italian dressing room before facing off with a Romanian side that lost its last two matches (narrowly to let’s-replace-Italy-with-Georgia, and more convincingly to Spain) to end a decent five match winning streak prior to that. Solid second tier, but not enough to get past Italy, who broke a 36-match losing streak at the Principality with THAT try. It won’t be a canter, but Italy should start their summer series with a fairly comfortable win: Italy by 15 over Romania
Australia ‘A’ v Samoa
Much talk around the improvement of Australian sides in Super Rugby this year, but frankly I’m not sure where that came from. A couple of wins against Kiwi sides masked the fact that they only got one side in the semis and propped up the bottom of the combined table along with the Samoan and Fijian sides. The Brumbies were the only consistent side in Australia, but they’ll have too much depth anyway to field an ‘A’ side that will see off Samoa easily enough. No idea what to expect from Samoa, or who they’ve selected, but history tells us they’ll be blood and thunder for 60 minutes, whilst still getting the wrong end of the scoreboard and cards, and fade away as the superior conditioning and game plan of the Aussies takes control: Australia ‘A’ by 23
Fiji v Tonga
A spicy affair for sure, although Fiji have emerged as the most consistent of the Pacific Island sides in recent years, combining some electric running from all 15 (or 23) players at times, with brutal defence and a set piece that’s better than most of their neighbours. It’ll be fierce, it’ll be fast, it’ll be fun to watch from afar, but ultimately Fiji will have too much: Fiji by 13
Japan v France
Two of the world’s great cultures and two of the world’s great cuisines. Most recent and next hosts of rugby’s great showpiece. Two sides renowned for silky skills and derring-do with ball in hand, but that’s where it ends, I’m afraid. France are building up a fearsome head of steam in the lead up to their home World Cup and have oodles of talent and power in most positions, led by Dupont and Ntamack at 9 and 10, behind a pack that won’t step back for anyone. Japan have been solid recently, with good wins over second-tier sides and running the likes of Scotland, Australia and Ireland relatively close (bar one blowout against Ireland), so they have the wherewithal to mix it with the big boys. However, this is a France on a mission and they should stroll away with it in the end: France by 33
New Zealand v Ireland
One of the most eagerly awaited July series, with Ireland having got the measure of the Kiwis in recent years. But not in New Zealand. Both sides come into the series with question marks hanging over them – the All Black pack got dusted in Dublin and flayed in France last year and they’ve gone with Scott Barrett at 6 in an effort to bolster the lineout and scrum. Worked a treat in the 2019 Semi against England, didn’t it? Ireland’s Leinster-dominated side has struggled against top packs, but they’ll probably fancy they’ve got the wood on the Kiwis up front. The AB backline has suffered some Covid disruptions, but such is the depth of talent in New Zealand, they’ll be fine there. The noises coming out of New Zealand are ominous and they’ll throw everything at Ireland this week. Perhaps overly generous, but it’s New Zealand by 17
Australia v England
Another hugely anticipated match as Eddie’s eagles got their wings clipped in the 6N, amidst rumblings around his sometimes leftfield selections. Australia have been building quietly under Dave Rennie and demolished a Bok scrum last year thought to be their key weapon. The Aussies always bring that mongrel spirit to matches like this and they won’t back down against England’s forwards. It’s an intriguing match-up with England’s centres – as ever – a topic of debate and the backs in general, from 9 to 15, with the exception perhaps of Marcus Smith being anything but nailed on. Both sides are actually a little unsettled and it could go either way, with the match-up between Smith and Cooper at 10 a key contest. Australia will look to run England around the park, whilst England will look to smother the Aussies before letting loose later on. Could go either way, I’m backing Rennie’s Roos to break some hoodoos: Australia by 2
South Africa v Wales
Everyone in Wales apparently thinks the Boks will smash Wales. So does everyone here. Except for the people who think it’ll be a tight, ugly affair. Of which I’m one. The Boks are generally slow out of the starting blocks in the international season and are probably most vulnerable in this first Test. That said, it’s a pretty settled squad, with most of the players in their prime, or near enough. They’ve all played together for a few seasons and so should be settled enough. Wales, on the other hand, have come off a horror 6 Nations, only winning one match and losing to Italy in the final match – but they also got three losing bonus points, so three tight defeats. Whatever the missing links are in the Welsh side, it’s not guts and defence and bloody-mindedness. And the matches between Wales and South Africa have been tight in recent years, so I expect another tight affair, with the Boks perhaps easing away at altitude later on: South Africa by 9
Argentina v Scotland
This has all the potential to be a cracker, with Argentina now under the tutelage of Michael Cheika and with some of the Euro-based players back in the fold. Having stunned the ABs in 2020 and played some fabulous rugby in the process, they slipped back badly in 2021, winning only one match, against Italy. Scotland’s all-new, all-singing, all-dancing style fell a bit flat in the 6 Nations after a promising start and the Scots once again failed to live up to expectations. That said, they have some wonderful, athletic forwards and some serious gas out wide that can blitz most defences on its day. This could be a great match. Would back Argentina’s 2020 version, but not the 2021 version, albeit they’ve changed management and got a few players back: Scotland by 5
Merrily foretold by Deebee7
Onna telly this week
Thursday 30th June
| Scotland v Italy (U20s) | 19:00 | YouTube |
| Wales v Georgia (U20s) | 19:00 | YouTube |
Saturday 2nd July
| Japan v France | 07:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| New Zealand v Ireland | 08:00 | Sky Sports Action |
| Australia v England | 10:55 | Sky Sports Action |
| South Africa v Wales | 16:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Argentina v Scotland | 20:10 | Sky Sports Main Event |
Tuesday 5th July
| France v South Africa (U20s) | 16:00 | YouTube |
| England v Ireland (U20s) | 19:00 | YouTube |
Wednesday 6th July
| Scotland v Georgia (U20s) | 16:00 | YouTube |
| Wales v Italy (U20s) | 19:00 | YouTube |
Ovally Balls 
BB, I don’t think that is true.
Townsend obviously rates Kinghorn at 10 otherwise he wouldn’t have picked him there for the 6N and dropped Hastings.
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…same for the Autumn internationals in fact
He’s played one season as a ten, I think Kinghorn has a lot to offer. He comes with mistakes for sure, but he plays the game I want to watch
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Pfft! All this talk of world class 10s is making me queasy. We don’t have a decent club 10, never mind international class. And all they’re asked to do it kick it high in the air anyway.
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Funny how none of these “world class 10s” have been in a RWC winning team……
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Well, there is only one RWC winning 10 still playing the game.
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Come on lads and lassies, a bit of support for a young guy trying to nake a go of a new position is worth some support, especially as he’s not a “hoof it into the azure and see what happens” merchant
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Itoje and Underhill out of the decider with Oz on Saturday. It’s annoying that they can’t play but I’m glad concussion is being taken seriously.
Jack Willis cleared to play.
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English is a tricky language at times
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This is beautiful:
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Craigs, Earl should probably have been on tour, he was only player of the season in the league
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Ticht – sometimes I look back at my posts and wonder if I’ve been day drinking so you are in glorious company.
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Ticht – for me Ben Earl is too much of a utility loose forward. Like Jack* Clifford, he’s good at a lot of things but not a specialist**. So whilst he would be a useful addition in the subs, I’d prefer Willis and Lawes as our flankers.
* so very nearly wrote Max Clifford.
** prepared to be corrected.
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I get the feeling that EJ reacts against selecting a player who is thought good by other ‘experts’ or influence groups
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Yes, exactly that, Slade.
I thought England had a better shape in the first half, with Smith playing ten and looked more stilted in the second when Faz spent more time at first receiver. Resourcing the breakdown also went a lot better for fast ball. Van Portfleit has a really nice pass on him, last 9 England had that had one so good I think was Kieran Bracken. Still prefer Lawes in second row, with two flankers.
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Also, tho I hate to say it, Faz actually looks a better player in the 12 position, and was looking sharper than he has in a couple of years. Itoje looks like he needs a rest and reset anyways.
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France are currently ranked 1st in the world with Ireland 2nd
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Late review of NZ/Ireland. For me, the odd thing – post match – was that I didn’t really feel any great degree of euphoria over the win (not that I wasn’t yelling at the tv during the game), but unlike Chicago or Nov 2018 this seemed – if not expected then a likely outcome given 2 fairly well matched sides.
This time Ireland played well, forced NZ into stupid errors (cards etc) and reaped the rewards.
If anything – you’d be thinking that they should have won more convincingly. Lack of composure in 2nd 20 probably cost a couple of tries – by comparison NZ punished Ireland’s mistakes in 1st test pretty much all the time.
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Trisk, I thought Ireland looked comfortable throughout the match, I can understand that there wasn’t the same euphoria because to be honest it wasn’t knife-edge close.
Ireland were very much the better side.
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For CMW, OT and other ‘Village’ aficionados.
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This latest episode in the ongoing run of “What’s wrong with these people?” stories of MPs behaviour is quite something. If nothing else it left me reflecting on what people are willing to say these days to avoid getting done for drink driving and the contrast with a few decades ago.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/11/tory-mp-jamie-wallis-banned-driving-failing-stop-crash
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Well it finally happened.
Hamish Watson missed a tackle in international rugby for the first time since 2018/19 spanning some 25 matches.
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Oops, posted too soon
It was the occasion of his 50th cap on Saturday past, and he won the POTM gong too.
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Hamish oot!
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McCloskey starting for Ireland today. Also, Lowry back.
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Poor start for Ireland. 7-0.
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Ah. Fortunately only 5-0.
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TRY Larmour!!!!
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5-7!
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Bugger! My stream not working and I’m going into a presentation in 15 minutes. Wouldn’t normally be an issue, but I’m one of the speakers so can’t turn off sound and screen!
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Ireland win a penalty, but Frawley misses touch. Maoris run it back, but Ireland saved by a (forced) knock-on.
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Deebee – cancel the meeting! More important things going on!
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Line-out not going well. That’s two in a row lost.
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Thauma, would love to but it’s with a bunch of companies in the Midlands and I’ve watched too many episodes of Peaky Blinders to turn my back on them!
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:-)
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Penalty Ireland! 5-10
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Uh-oh. Yellow for our heroes.
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Maoris’ turn to lose a line-out in Ireland’s 22, and Ireland end up MABs’ 22.
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Yellow card for MABs!
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TRY Ireland!
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Timoney, I think. See, lots of Ulstermen on this side.
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5-17!
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… And that’s the score at oranges.
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Penalty Ireland! 5-20.
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Looks like Larmour’s going to the bin for an early tackle. And there’s a penalty try (somewhat dubiously).
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Lowry got absolutely clattered and is going off.
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TRY Coombes!
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Conversion goes wide. 12-25. 10 mins to go.
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