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 
grrr
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Conversion missed! Still 3 points in it.
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Ulsterman comes on and scores!!!
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I predicted that as soon as he joined the maul. :-)
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Think Savea was a little hard done by there, but Ireland take full advantage and score from the lineout.
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Conversion is good and it’s 22-32!
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Refit – agree; the ball was out.
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Aki is injured. Shame we don’t have McCloskey on the bench. Suppose it will be Earls.
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OT I think Saves didn’t come from behind the ruck, but in any event if it was a penalty it should have also been a yellow card
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Beirne is playing out of his skin tonight.
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When England sack a coach that goes on to work for Ireland with many fewer resources and that team goes on to produce a series performance like this, it just goes to show what a bunch of bellends the RFU are.
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This is difficult to process just how big this is
Well done Ireland, brilliant just brilliant
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POM in pieces on the sideline.
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POM in tears.
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I am too!
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Thaum, you csn crack open the wine now
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marvelous and seismic
Bearne MoM for me……………
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Wow!!!! Congratulations Ireland (and Thaum, Trisk etc)!!
Enjoy today 😀
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Ticht – I’m gonna wait until noon. :-)
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Wrap the England win into the celebrations Thaum? 😉
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Refit – hehe, we’ll see!
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What a great performance. Similar to the Chicago game where we streamed ahead, weathered a storm and were able to reassert patterns.
NZ really answered the physical challenge after half time but Beirne led the retrenchment.
Keenan also had a fantastic game.
Thaum, Trisk, Tcod, and the rest: what a time to be alive!!
Hope everyone on here is keeping well.
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Ireland’s defence is awesome, but their attacking patterns are terrific too, nice slick handling done at speed
Farrell has done a great job
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Hello, Piper! What a day!!
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@ticht
There will still be people in the RFU and the pubs of Richmond-upon-Thames who call him a “donkey” and a “thick northern monkey”.
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OT, there are people in the RFU and the pubs of Richmond-upon-Thames who are idiotic arseholes
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I don’t live in Richmond anymore lads.
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What a result! That is absolutely magnificent! I’ve no more words, except I probably owe Bobbi-K an apology for scoffing at his musings before the tours started.
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Love it when games kick off at the advertised time. Ducked out of a family video call just before 5-to for the match. Had to sit through fucking drumming.
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This.
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England getting very lucky at the moment. Aus all over them otherwise.
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The timing on the pass to Hill was horrible, he had to stop and reach behind. Lucky we had a pen advantage.
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Well…. (to plagiarize David Allen Green)
When I watched Chris Oti score N tries or stood in a pub in West Ealing and saw England put 50 points on Ireland – never thought I’d see the day we’d beat NZ ever – never mind 2 in a row AWAY !
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Well, shit.
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Oh dear.
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Wright did really well to drop back behind White, after giving the pass.
7-3 Aus
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Billy hard done by there. England garbage so far.
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In retrospect- 1st test performance probably wasn’t so bad but every mistake cost 7pts…
Ireland were the better team in 2nd and 3rd tests and for a good chunk of the 1st….
Some good tries today – 2nd and 3rd were brilliant….
Beirne was brilliant today – quiet in the 1st test which was his first game of any kind since 6N. Ryan played well – as well as he has in couple of years. Aki/Henshaw were great combo.
Lucky, lucky with Porter yellow…. and Wenger-like I missed Aki on NZ TH.
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Care off, JvP on.
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England were absolutely bobbins in that half yet go in one point up.
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.great to go in ahead!
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What a tackle on Freeman, by Wright. Ball goes to Steward though, who steps and scores.
10-11 Eng at half time. No idea how we’re ahead. 🤷♂️
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Genge going full baby rhino.
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I’m sure he’s at least a teenage rhino.
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OF forcing things a bit – to make up for those missed kicks?
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Nowell very very good defensively…………………
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Just got a feed in time to see Genge in full flight! Quite the sight. Was Lawes a little lucky with what appeared to be a no arms tackle before that? When they got pinged for the high one?
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Smith has some wheels!
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…………and the little twat scores!!
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