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 
There’s similar moans and groans from Munster about lads in squads just to hold tackle bags…..
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It’s not a good way to run a programme, is it?
Yet again, we seem to have peaked too early for a world cup, and need to be bringing more players through, but no, it’s all Leinster, who have proven themselves very beatable this year. Not to mention the stupidity of playing Sexton with his multiple HIAs.
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Good luck with your teams today everyone – potential for some great games, but who knows?
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Japan have gone for controlled chaos, off-load anywhere tactics today.
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Japan 8-7 up a couple from half time. Been an absolute helter-skelter half of rugby. France running it from all angles, almost being forced to by Japan, who are very comfortable with this style.
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As Refit says.
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Japan have scored another absolute better down the left wing with handling and support out of the top drawer. Shit that was lovely! 15-7 and good for the lead! France need to do something different in the second half, because they’re not going to out-Japan the Japanese today.
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*belter
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Stupid time of day for a rugby match.
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YES!!!
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First blood to Ireland. Porter over from close range. 0-7 after 4 mins.
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McCloskey wouldn’t have dropped that.
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That should be a red.
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Yellow? Fuck off.
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Second yellow for the ABs for tackling Ringrose off the ball. Should have been a penalty try, cos Ringrose would have been in.
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Piper’s bottled that. No cover is going to get Ringrose. That should be a pen try.
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Another card, this should be! Will it be red this time?
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Yep, can’t wriggle out of that one.
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Ooh, that was nasty. Ringrose out cold and Ta’avao not doing much better after a head clash.
Red card for the NZ player – upright in the tackle and no mitigation.
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NZ in danger of another card for too many penalties.
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And Ireland fail to score!
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Uncontested scrums.
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If we carry on like this there will be more New Zealanders playing for Ireland than for the All Blacks.
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Lowe takes his eye off the ball and drops a pass, with the try line begging.
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France have won 15-20.
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I don’t recall New Zealand being down two yellows and red in a match before, let alone the one half
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ABs trying to put 15 on the field. Spotted by Peyper though.
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ABs get a penalty and go for the corner. Ryan ends up with a yellow.
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Yellow for Ryan, not retreating for a NZ penalty right on the try line.
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And, inevitably, the ABs score a sneaky try.
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Spot of luck there, but he took it well
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Beauden scores. Lots of pressure from NZ, then the ball squirts out the side of a ruck, hits Barrett’s foot, rolls over the try line and he jumps on it.
7-10 at half time.
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Just tuned in and they go off for half time. AB’s score on the whistle. Typical. Sounds like it was a niggly half with all the cards.
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We’re still going to manage to lose this, aren’t we?
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Yes, Thauma, you are. Now watch the 2nd half calmly and without expectation so the win is even sweeter when it happens.
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TRY!!!!! Porter again!
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I thought they’d blown it by going to the tight there, but you can’t beat a good High BMI game
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Lowe making mistake after mistake. Blew that try, which should have been a gimme.
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Good handling and continuity from Ireland until Lowe launched it into the stand
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This is playing havoc with my Bru picks
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Ireland’s defence has been excellent
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That was a brilliant tap-tackle on J.Barrett.
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I’m staying silent.
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Fucking hell, the state of the hair in the ABs squad.
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Thaum, is Cooney crocked or still not getting a game for Ireland?
It’s baffling, if so
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Refit, the re-emergence of the mullet is a blight
full disclosure, I did sport said abomination at one point in the past
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POM with a lovely 50/22!
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Ticht – the usual.
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The mullet has never fallen out of fashion amongst NRL hookers.
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Penalty Ireland! In the 22! I can’t spake!
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