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 
Dammit! Ireland (Larmour again?) make a stupid kick over the top, and MABs score.
LikeLike
Easy conversion missed, luckily.
LikeLike
MAB yellow for deliberate knock-on, which is lucky for Ireland because Carbery threw a stupid pass.
LikeLike
MABs – sounds like someone’s aunt or grandma.
LikeLike
If I was inclined and able to participate in the upcoming Tory leadership thing I’d prolly vote for Kemi tbh. Not as stupid as some, not as tainted as others, doesn’t have ‘tit’ in her campaign logo.
LikeLike
TRY Larmour!
LikeLike
Craigs – easier to type than Maoris.
LikeLike
Can see an Ireland side with Frawley and Doak at half-back, and no-one being able to tell them apart.
LikeLike
@Craigs – I’d vote for the one I’ve never heard of.
LikeLike
Frawley, however, misses the conversion, but it won’t matter now.
LikeLike
MAB try as the hooter goes!
LikeLike
FT: 24-30. Yay!
LikeLike
Cmw – I know the least about Tugendhat and he seems sensible but that logo just won’t do. Seriously, i’d like someone as close to the centre as possible as damage limitation so Kemi is probably that (although my knowledge is fairly limited).
LikeLike
Thaum – it’s a good thing 😀
LikeLike
Kemi is a nutter.
LikeLike
@Craigs – Tugendhat is the one I know least about out of the ones whose names I recognise. But why vote for him when there’s the Pakistani guy from Kent who not even any of the other MPs have heard of?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thaum – less of a nutter than tge others though?
LikeLike
“Kemi is a nutter.”
Don’t think we’ve seen Beadle for a while, but you know…
LikeLike
Reminds me of Newport’s finest:
LikeLike
Craigs – more of a nutter than most of them. Thinks American right-wing nutter Thomas Sowell is a deep political thinker.
LikeLike
Thaum – he’s quite respected in a lot of Conservative circles though. And has been quite a prolific writer/academic. It’s not surprising.
Her aims in her launch letter (small government but some investment) seemed the best of a bad bunch. At least it was slightly positive.
LikeLike
In 1994 Tony Blair made his first speech as Labour leader and made the following quite reasonable statement:
By 2003 he was standing up in the House of Commons and telling lies to justify going to war in Iraq.
LikeLike
Good win this morning over MAB. Bitty at times. 2-2 in terms of wins – which is quite good.
Frawley played well after the 1st 10 mins – quick thinking by Earls and Larmour for the 1st try – MAB went to sleep at the lineout. Interesting PT for MAB – clearly criticism of non award for early tackle on Ringrose in 2nd test was noted.
Coombes seemed to impress NZ comms. Expect Treadwell to bench (minimum) on Sat as he didn’t go full 80 – Baird came on to put himself about quite well
Only comedy element was calling up Michael Bent as sub TH – Bealham injured himself in the warm up. Party of 40 was too small to support a test team and a 2nd XV playing a serious opposition.
LikeLike
Trisk – Timoney played very well too.
LikeLike
Yep, pack was pretty good. Backline looked a bit thrown together at first – not surprising as Earls rarely plays centre and McCloskey was just off the plane – but good pass from Stu for the 2nd Larmour try.
LikeLike
Can see an Ireland side with Frawley and Doak at half-back, and no-one being able to tell them apart.
Put Frawley at 12, and Ben Healy at 10 with Doak….
LikeLike
*tsk*
LikeLike
Baby 8 team 6-Nations finishes tonight, with Wales and SA in the Final. Should be a cracker!
LikeLike
11 changes this week! Nienaber getting more consistency into the side!
LikeLike
Probably the biggest surprise is Hendrikse being retained over Faf, but then hte difference in their play was significant. Damian Willemse at 15 with Willie le Roux on the bench is good too, as Willie can come on and direct the traffic in the second half. Siya Kolisi needs a big game – knives are out for him, and not just from the usual mob who have never rated him as a player or skipper, but because his form has noses-dived in the last year. Ditto Pollard, PS du Toit (albeit both coming off disrupted seasons), Bongi and Franco Mostert.
LikeLike
Looks weak.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never weak. Dreadfully predictable, but not weak. Would be nice if Hendrikse had a pass on him that went straight to Am and bypassed Pollard and de Allende, but not gonna happen. Wales by 13.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, absolutely Kemi can fuck right off. Nothing quite so Tory as appointing an appalling bigot to be the Equalities Minister
LikeLiked by 2 people
Refit – who is your least worst option?*
* they can all fuck off imo.
LikeLike
Probably either Truss or Mordaunt (although her screeching u-turn on LGBTQ rights is rather alarming).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mordaunt (although her screeching u-turn on LGBTQ rights is rather alarming).
Refit, I’ve just been reading about this.
What sort of “leader” rows back on support on minority rights in order to fulfil their own personal ambition?
Although, yes, the question is moot due to the person being replaced, ambition is everything, substance doesn’t matter
Honestly, I really don’t like making sweeping statements about large groups of people, but if she has to deny her support for Trans people, it’s always trans, “the gays” are okay now seemingly, then the party members and their supporters are shites
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Tories are going to fight the next election on their Culture Wars, ignore the cost of living, the billions spaffed away on nothing, the lack of preparedness for a pandemic, in which they played an active part, their behaviour during the pandemic, the huge infrastructure overspends and delays (HS2, Elizabeth line etc), ignore the criminalisation of protest and the rigging of media, “just get those dreadful trans people using the right toilet”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mordaunt makes me think of the pre-treatment prior to bitumen of galvanised posts for level crossing flashing warning road lights. Now that Rehman from Rainham is out I would vote for her out of this lot just on that basis.
LikeLike
Zahawi;
“Boris Johnson is a friend of mine of 30 years. If he wishes to serve in cabinet, I would certainly offer him a job.”
These people are shameless
LikeLiked by 2 people
And if anyone’s got a better reason for preferring any of them then I’d like to hear it.
LikeLike
Rhyming Rainham with “train ’em” whilst writing a Billy Bragg tribute song is an act of genius
LikeLiked by 3 people
@Ticht *cough*
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
I think OT’s Bombay sandwich has more structural integrity and common sense than the Tory leadership contestants put together. Should that be leadershiT contest? It’s a contest for Tories as to who the biggest shit is?
LikeLike
LikeLike
Ah, the Glorious Twalth.
LikeLike
It had a happy ending. Justice was served.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Speaking of funny*, there’s this from the G’s Politics Live blog….
*by which I mean ‘fucking scary that these people can vote’.
LikeLiked by 2 people
When does the Tory vote of no confidence in its own government take place?
LikeLike