THIS WEEKEND 16-17 JUNE

 

17.06.2007

Malaysia v Thailand in Kuala Lumpur (Vajiralongkorn Cup, formerly Kings Cup)-postponed

 

16.06.2007

South Africa 22, Australia 19 in Cape Town (Mandela Trophy and Tri-Nations)

South Africa won by 3 points. I predicted South Africa by 16.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3821_2415648,00.html

 

Previews

The Tri Nations series begins with Australia playing South Africa in Capetown. Australia goes into this match as underdog after moderate performances against Wales and Fiji. South Africa is the favourite due to two convincing wins over a weak England side, a win over Samoa and having provided the two finalists in the 2007 Super 14 tournament.

 

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_2360512,00.html

 

LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS

09.09.2006 South Africa 24-16 in Johannesburg (Mandela Trophy and Tri Nations)

05.08.2006 Australia 20-18 in Sydney (Mandela Trophy and Tri Nations)

15.07.2006 Australia 49-0 in Brisbane (Mandela Trophy and Tri Nations)

20.08.2005 South Africa 22-19 in Perth (Mandela Trophy and Tri Nations)

30.07.2005 South Africa 22-16 in Pretoria (Mandela Trophy and Tri Nations)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-South Africa 4th, Australia 6th

 

Teams

 

South Africa:

15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Francois Steyn

Coach: Jake White

 

Australia

15 Julian Huxley, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Stirling Mortlock, Capt. 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Matt Dunning.

Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Stephen Hoiles, 20 Phil Waugh, 21 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 22 Mark Gerrard.

Coach: John Connolly

 

New Zealand 64, Canada 13 in Hamilton

New Zealand won by 51 points. I predicted New Zealand by 96

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3551_2415311,00.html

 

Previews

New Zealand has made a number of changes to the lineups they used against France for this match against Canada. Canada struggled in the Churchill Cup tournament only winning against neighbours United States. This may be the monumental miss match of the year.

 

http://www.rugbycanada.ca/index.php?lang=en&page_id=10&news_id=3186

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3562_2360325,00.html

 

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

17.10.2003 New Zealand 68-6 in Melbourne (World Cup, Pool D)

22.04.1995 New Zealand 73-7 in Auckland

20.10.1991 New Zealand 29-13 in Lille (World Cup, quarter-final)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-New Zealand 1st, Canada 18th

 

Teams

 

Canada

15 Mike Pyke, 14 Justin Mensah-Coker, 13 Craig Culpan, 12 David Spicer, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Ryan Smith, 9 Morgan Williams, Capt.,

8 Sean-Michael Stephen, 7 Stan McKeen, 6 Colin Yukes, 5 Mike Burak, 4 Luke Tait, 3 Scott Franklin, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.

Replacements:

16 Aaron Carpenter, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Mike Pletch, 19 Josh Jackson, 20 Adam Kleeberger,21, Dean van Camp, 22. Ed Fairhurst

Coach: Coach: Ric Suggitt

 

New Zealand

15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Reuben Thorne (c), 5 Ross Filipo, 4 Troy Flavell, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Carl Hayman, 18 Rodney So'oialo, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Rico Gear, 22 Leon MacDonald.

Coach: Graham Henry

 

Samoa 13, Japan 3 in Sendai (Pacific Nations Cup)

Samoa won by 10 points. I predicted Samoa by 16.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3830_2415409,00.html

 

Previews

LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS

17.06.2006 Samoa 53-9 in New Plymouth (Pacific 5 Nations)

04.07.2001 Samoa 47-8 in Tokyo (Pacific Rim, Semi-final)

10.06.2000 Samoa 68-9 in Apia (Pacific Rim)

03.10.1999 Samoa 43-9 in Wrexham (World Cup, Pool D)

22.05.1999 Japan 37-34 in Osaka (Pacific Rim)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Samoa 11th, Japan 16th

 

Teams

 

Japan

15 Bryce Robins (Ricoh),14 Christian Loamanu (Saitama Instutute of Tech.),13 Yuta Imamura (Kobe Steel),12 Shotaro Onishi (Yamaha Motor),

11 Kosuke Endo (Toyota Motor), 10 Eiji Ando (NEC), 9 Tomoki Yoshida (Toshiba), 8 Takuro Miuchi (NEC), 7 Glen Marsh (NEC),6 Hare Makiri (Fukuoka Sanix), 5 Luke Thompson (Toshiba), 4 Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba), 3 Tomokazu Soma (Sanyo), 2 Yuji Matsubara (Kobe Steel), 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura (Coca-Cola West Japan).

Replacements

16 Mitsugu Yamamoto (Sanyo), 17 Ryo Yamamura (Yamaha Motor),18 Takanori Kumagae (NEC), 19 Yasunori Watanabe (Toshiba), 20 Yuki Yatomi (Yamaha Motor), 21 Koji Taira (Suntory), 22 Go Aruga (Suntory).

Coach: John Kirwan

http://www.rugbyjapan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=26

 

Samoa

15 Loki Crichton, 14 David Lemi, 13 Anitelea Tuilagi, 12 Seilala Maposua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Elvis Seveali'i, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Alfie To'oala, 7 Justin Purdie, 6 Leo Lafaialii (c), 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Iosefa Tekori, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Muliufi Salanoa, 1 Justin Vaa ,

Replacements

16 Tamato Leupolu, 17 Donald Kerslake, 18 Filipo Levi, 19 Semo Sititi, 20 Steve So'oialo, 21 Josh Keil, 22 Lome Fa'atau.

Coach: Michael Jones

http://www.manusamoa.com.ws/

 

Tonga 21, Fiji 15 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)

Tonga won by 6 points. I predicted Fiji by 15.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3830_2415338,00.html

 

Previews

LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS

10.06.2006 Tonga 25-24 in Gosford (Pacific 5 Nations)

16.07.2005 Fiji 24-19 in Nuku’alfa (WCQ Oceania R3)

15.06.2005 Fiji 19-11 in Suva (WCQ Oceania R3)

05.06.2004 Fiji 27-26 in Nuku’alofa (Pacific Tri Nations)

11.07.2003 Tonga 23-22 in Nuku’alofa

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Fiji 12th, Tonga 17th CHANGE

                                                         Pacific Table-Fiji 4th, Tonga 5th CHANGE

 

                Fiji-Tonga stats – as of 15 June 2007

 

FIJI’S OVERALL RECORD VERSUS TONGA

Played         Won           Lost               Drawn              Pts For Pts Agst

  77               52              22                    3                   1,409                  889

 

Most consecutive victories

Fiji                   – 9       (1968-77)

Tonga – 3       (1926-28)

 

Biggest winning margins

Fiji                   – 35     (Fiji 39 Tonga 4, 28/08/82, Suva)

Tonga – 14     (Tonga 32 Fiji 18, 27/07/96, Nuku’alofa)

 

Highest points scored

Fiji                   – 47     (Fiji 47 Tonga 20, 06/07/02, Nadi)

                                    (Tonga 22 Fiji 47, 07/06/02, Nuku’alofa)

Tonga – 37     (Tonga 37 Fiji 39, 26/06/99, Nuku’alofa)

  

FIJI’S RECORD AGAINST TONGA AT HOME

Played         Won           Lost               Drawn              Pts For Pts Agst

   35              28               7                     0                     719                   339

 

Most consecutive victories in Fiji

Fiji                   – 6       (1968-77, 1984-91, 1995-2005)

Tonga – 2       (1926)

 

Biggest winning margin in Fiji

Fiji                   – 35     (Fiji 39 Tonga 4, 28/08/82, Suva)

Tonga – 13     (24-11 on 12/06/93, Suva)

 

Other match facts:

 

•           Fiji have won their last six home games against Tonga, whose last victory here was in 1993 when they triumphed 24-11, a result that ultimately eliminated Fiji from the 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.

            None of the players who featured in that 1993 match are playing       this weekend, though Tonga assistant coach Isileli Fatani played at lock that day. Fiji’s coach was Esala Teleni.

 

•           Three uncapped players are in the starting line-up for the FMF Flying Fijians (Michael Tagicakibau, Waisea Luveniyali and Deryck Thomas), with another four on the bench (Vereniki Sauturaga, Dale Tonawai, Jone Daunivucu and Sisa Waqa).

 

•           Tonga have one uncapped player in the starting line-up – fullback Mesui Lemoto (games versus the Junior All Blacks and Australia A are not counted as Tests). Reserve hooker Feki Moala is also uncapped.

 

•           Only four players in the FMF Flying Fijians’ 22 played against Tonga last year when Fiji lost 23-24 in Gosford (Sunia Koto, Norman Ligairi, Kameli Ratuvou and Ifereimi Rawaqa). Eight Tongans that featured in that match are playing this weekend.

 

•           Fiji fullback Norman Ligairi is now equal third in the all-time list of try-scorers for Fiji with 16. One more try will put him into second ahead of Vili Satala and Fero Lasagavibau, but behind Sainivalati Laulau’s record of 20.

 

•           If Alifereti Doviverata takes to the field, he will earn his 39th cap       for Fiji and will be eighth overall in Fiji’s all-time list, level with Waisale Serevi.

 

•           The first Fijian to score a Test hat trick of tries was Rewa wing  Isikeli Daveta, who achieved the feat against Tonga in 1932. Since then, three other Fijians have done likewise against Tonga – Etuate Nima (1947), Tom Mitchell (1987), and Manu Tiko (1999 

 

Thanks to Jeremy Duxbury, Fiji RFU.

 

Junior All Blacks 50, Australia Á 0 in Dunedin (Pacific Nations Cup) -Non test

JAB’s won by 50 points. I predicted JAB’s by 8.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3562_2415250,00.html

 

This will be the deciding encounter in this competition.

 

Georgia 22, Italy ‘A’ 20 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Georgia won by 2 points. I predicted Georgia by 7.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3888_2415987,00.html

 

Previews

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

06.09.2003 Italy 31-22 in Astia

27.01.2000 Italy ‘A’ 51-7 in Livorno

11.04.1998 Italy ‘A’ 31-14 in L’Aquilla (WCQ Europe, Pool 2, RB)

 

Romania 28, Namibia 16 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Romania won by 12 points. I predicted Romania by 25.

 

Reviews

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3551_2416020,00.html

 

Previews

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER

These two teams have met only once before during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The match was played in Launceston, Tasmania, only an hour from where I live. The locals had little idea who was who so all those with surnames A-K were to support one team and the rest the other. Romania ran out winners 37-7.

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Romania 15th, Namibia 24th

 

Emerging Springbox 24, Argentina ‘A’ 10 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Emerging Springbox won by 14 points. I predicted Argentina ‘A’ by 3.

 

Reviews

The Emerging Springbox took out the IRB Nations Cup with a convincing win.

http://www.planet-rugby.com./Story/0,18259,3551_2416095,00.html

 

Previews

The two strongest teams in the tournament play for might as well be the final.

 

England Counties 21, Russia 13 in Moscow

Counties won by 8 points. I predicted Counties by 15.

 

Russian team could well be below strength due to clubs not willing to release players.

 

China v Singapore in Singapore (Asia Nations Series, Div.3)

China has moved along since it first played Singapore in its first test match back in 1997. Ten years later China returns to Singapore.

 

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

19.05.2001 China 33-6 in Guangzhou (SC Tri-Nations/Asia Shield)

25.06.2000 China 15-13 in Aomori (Asia Championship, Div.2)

01.11.1997 Singapore 23-3 in Singapore (China’s first test match)

 

GWC Rugby Rankings: Asia Table-Singapore 7th, China 9th

 

Prediction: Singapore by 8