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 
Thanks OT – sounds sensible. It may be my memory playing silly buggers, but it seems to me that everything has at least doubled in price since I was over five years ago and some things even more. Either way, I’m still convinced that the real impact of Brexit is only going to be seen in retrospect in a few years as the incremental impacts across a range of sectors gradually adds up. I would love to be wrong (not about Brexit, but about its impact), but my gut tells me not.
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– kind of SA to do that after I’ve made my Superbru prediction!
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What was your prediction? Anything less than Wales by 30 and you were wrong anyway.
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How’s it going Johnston?
Tee-hee-hee-hee………………………..childish, I know but very pleasing
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It’s lovely to watch, isn’t it?
I think that this evening either he will quit, most of his cabinet will quit if he won’t, or he’ll call a snap election.
If he does quit, I fear his replacement will be even worse, though.
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Wales and Italy locked at 20-apiece going into the last ten of the U20 Test. Great defence by Wales for much of this second half, repelling wave after wave of Italian attacks until the last minute or so. Heroic. Almost exactly the opposite of what’s happening at Number 10.
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Now Slimy Gove’s been sacked!
Dilyn the dog and Larry the Downing Street cat have reportedly been offered cabinet posts, but turned them down.
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Fairly nasty result for Scotland U20 vs Georgia…. 55-17 to Georgia
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Yeah, this year’s crop aren’t great.
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Have to admire a man who sticks to his guns.
And turns them on his colleagues, friends, his legacy and the government he has tried to build.
Have to admire that.
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Still there. An unnamed Johnson supporter claimed “It’s not quite as Doomsday as people were thinking a few hours ago.”
The British version of Saddam’s Comical Ali, forever remembered for claiming Iraq would crush the US forces even as a column of M1 Abrams tanks moved unhindered through the streets and airport in Baghdad.
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Wales vs Boks in the Juniors Final next week. Adds another nice bit of spice to the current series!
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New education secretary appointed on Tuesday.
Quits on Thursday.
It really is the Bonfire of the Inadequates isn’t it.
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Staffer to resign. Long live the new arsehole!!!
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15. Freddie Steward
14. Jack Nowell
13. Guy Porter
12. Owen Farrell
11. Tommy Freeman
10. Marcus Smith
9. Jack van Poortlviet
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje
5. Jonny Hill
6. Courtney Lawes (C)
7. Sam Underhill
8. Billy Vunipola
Finishers
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Jack Willis
22. Danny Care
23. Henry Arundell
Dunno why Freeman isn’t onna bench and Arundell not starting but there we go. Looks alright otherwise.
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Happy Borisgone Day everyone!
Though he will stick around until the autumn like a bad smell.
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*spaffer. Stupid autocorrect.
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“the government he has tried to build”
Steady on.
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What a great birthday present!!!
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Happy Birthday Thaum!
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Kinda done before but still quite funny:
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Happy Birthday Thaum.
Happy Birthday everyone!
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Happy birthday Thaum 🎉🎉
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Thank you, thank you!
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Who will it be though? Javid? IDS? Fabricant?
So many choices.
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That Gavin Williamson is a bright young thing isn’t he?
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So far you’ve a choice of Steve Baker and Suella Braverman!
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Refit – I remember Larry penning a blog post about time and space onna rugby pitch which Squidge essentially covers in his play off 10 or 9 section that video.
Great minds etc.
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Cmw – don’t worry, there will be other brave souls.
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@Craigs – I wouldn’t know who I’d want them to choose anyway. Or even whether I’d hope it was the best or worst of the bunch. Ideally someone who thinks they need to call a General Election quickly I guess.
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Slow down there, CMW, I’d like the Durham fuzz to issue a fixed penalty notice to Keir Starmer first.
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Oh, Frabjous Day……………………………………………especially for Thaum
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What the hell is EJ playing at?
If we lose all three games will he go?
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Happy Birthday Thauma! Hope it’s a good one (apart from 10DS)
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Well, Sexton named at 10. Hansen for Earls, and that’s it.
Can pretty much see that same line up will play 3rd test too. None of starting XV will start vs MAB, and by implication none of the starters vs MAB will start 3rd test.
Farrell is going all out for a series win (or just a win) and building depth for RWC is not a consideration.
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No Dab, he won’t. The idiot is going to claim series loss in the name of development, and the other idiots are going to applaud him, say they have had a review, and its all peachy.
Happy bday Thaum.
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Interesting – English followers think too much experimentation and this Irish follower thinks too little.
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This one too! McCloskey, Cooney, Doak, etc.
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Maybe Casey?
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this Irish follower thinks too little.
Don’t be so harsh on yerself.
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Wales seem to be in the same boat as Ireland – looking for a scalp, rather than building depth. Only one change, with Horse in for Josh Adams. From Pivac’s comments, I think he’s a Grand National type breed:
He’s six foot four [193], good in the air and runs all day.
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Crikey! There are loads of punters on SA rugby forums who think this experimental Bokbarian side is going to win by 15 to 20 points tomorrow. I’ve got Wales by 9 on Superbru. I don’t remember a Bok side thrown together like this ever having the cohesion to win a tough Test. I would obviously love to buy into the hype that our back three will rip Wales to pieces and that our pack is both grizzly and mobile, but I don’t buy it.
Wales by 23.
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Mr Pie nails it for me:
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From Pivac’s comments, I think he’s a Grand National type
Yes, I can imagine Willie Mullins talking in that type of language.
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@Tris: Either go full on experimental, or try to get some momentum by picking your strongest side and going for the win. What EJ is doing is neither. Aus by 20.
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Had a bit of insight into the Ireland squad while visiting the auld sod last week.
Seems McCloskey is picked for the training squads to be a battering ram for the players they intend to put into the actual squad. I’d be really pissed off if I were he. He’s in top form, particularly when partnered with Hume, who isn’t as good without McCloskey inside. The two of them together are magic; there’s a real symbiotic partnership there.
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