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 
Dan Biggar always gets carded just before half time in games we look like doing well in in SA.
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Wales are winning just about everything, the Boks look very rusty and under cooked
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I’ve only got it on the radio. Sounds like a lot of Bok mistakes.
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One for the purists as they say. Good defence and quick reaction to turnovers by Wales all the difference.
SA very slow at the breakdown, as if they expected to win them just by showing up. Forwards are asleep and both SH and FH dreadful. Not a hint of an idea, box kick after box kick with no chase. No wonder Welsh defence is having a field day.
Biggar being his usual, mister Cool for a DG, and mister gobby when righfully receiving a YC. Am enjoying this. Wonder if altitude will play a part in the 2nd half but I’d expect the hair dryer treatment in SA locker room.
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Faff is having a bit of a howler
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That’s ominous, the Boks started to click up front and got one back through their maul
10 – 18
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and another from the maul.
It’s like a sleeping dinosaur waking up and stretching out, blinking and licking its lips
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Jeez!
EJ complaining that the ref tried to favour Aus after the red, to balance things up a bit.
Well, who’s idea was it to wind up the opponent with a view to getting him sent off???
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Faff is really poor today
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A six point lead is always my favourite margin in these situations.
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Two point lead even better.
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AWJ in the bin, not quite sure why
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Cracking coverage by SA TV. AWJ’s received a yellow card, but they missed it happening and no idea what it was for.
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Kolbe gets a push in the back from North and he squares up to Biggar.
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Zammo’s a naughty boy.
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Wales down to 12
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Director needs shooting.
Yellow for Carre and a penalty try to SA.
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Ha, Wales score from a maul
This is an absurd last ten minutes
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Bloody hell, Wales hit right back. Penalty from the restart, Biggar to the corner and Lake detaches from the back of the maul to score.
Conversion missed, all square 29-29. 2 mins to play
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It takes an 82nd minute penalty for the Boks to win it.
Hard luck Wales, a draw might have been the fair result
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May not have been the best rugby but good drama in SA.
Wales almost won, and scored from a maul when 13 vs 15. Ballsy!
But my, their discipline! The Boks were there for the taking and won’t be so rusty next week.
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Gah!
Great effort -why are NH teams being so ill-disciplined?
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So it’s left to Scotland to bring back some honour for the Northern Hemisphere!
Oh dear…
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BB – France won so it’s OK.
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France weren’t playing a Southern Hemisphere side. Unless someone’s moved Japan…
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The Boks were crap tonight, partly self inflicted, partly because Wales played us and partly because for some reason we always struggle against Wales.
Must say, from about 30 minutes in I thought we’d win and more comfortably than we did, but as ever, Wales kept us on honest. Glad we vsme through in the end, but that was a great chance for Wales to break their duck in SA
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What time does Argentina v Scotland start?
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According to the top of the page, 20:10 UK time.
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Missed all the fun at the end as I had to serve dinner up just after SA first went ahead and Wales got a card. If the chaps on the radio were to be believed Wales more or less blew it with a run of basic errors in the ten minutes after half time to give SA easy field position for the mauls.
Hope Tom Francis is OK, didn’t sound good.
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On reflection, up until about 60 minutes I thought the Boks were simply not gonna get their shit together. It’s frustrating that they take too long to click, but by the same token, Wales were doing what they needed to (albeit on the back foot quite often) and it would have been no disgrace losing today. Played Wales, although I know it’s frustrating!
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@Deebee – “would back the Boks to score between 25 and 30, which should be enough in the end.”
Well 25-29 wouldn’t have been , but 30 would. So do we let you have that one or not….
Good predicting by the way, you’ll be wrong next time.
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BB – a wins a win ok.
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*Digs deep into barrell of northern hemisphere pride*
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They just had a pic of George Horne at hooker in the lineup
Rather alarming injury list if that’s the case, though they did call him George Turner
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I seem to have two stream options. No commentary, but crowd audio, or just the Premier Sports comms and no crowd.
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None of this ‘respecting the kicker’ malarkey in Argentina.
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I didn’t realise Cheika was in charge of Argentina.
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Cripes, the Arg 15 just ran *through* Scotland.
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18-6 36mins played
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stream options ?
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@SBT – this is crowd, no comms https://www.vipbox.lc/argentina-vs-scotland-1-live
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The revised Scotland lineup, that Ticht mentioned above
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Good lord, the ref just called a squint lineout.
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The ref’s just penalised Scotland for not striking in the scrum. This is weird.
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SH 4 NH 0
Turns out Kitson was right after all. Must be a new experience for him.
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Been travelling back from Ireland all day, so missed all the rugby – thanks for the recaps!
And HAPPY 40th, CRAIGS!!!
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Cheers thaum!!!
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Happy 40th for yesterday Craigs! I’m assuming it was a great day and night!
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The day after we had international rugby for the first time in months, Craigs celebrates his 40th … and kills the blog. Not a small feat.
Bon anniversaire, Craigs.
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