THIS WEEKEND 14-15 JULY
This weekend is one of the biggest of the year with no fewer than nineteen international rugby matches.
The Second round of the
Pacific Nations Cup features next.
The Churchill Cup enters the
last round of preliminary matches.
On Sunday the IRB Nations
Cup second round will take place in
The second 2011 Rugby World
Cup qualifying tournament got underway mid-week with
The third World Cup
qualifying tournament begins with the first round of African matches.
Finally, the Cyprus/Israel match to determine the final place in European Nations Cup Division 3C will now be played in September and not June 14 as was thought.
15.06.2008
Emerging Springbox
20,
14.06.2008
South Africa
37,
Reviews
A stronger
performance by
Previews
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_3681182,00.html
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_3681183,00.html
Last Five Encounters
07.06.2008
24.11.2007
19.11.2005
06.11.2004
26.06.2004
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-South Africa 1st,
Teams
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavanga, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Luke Watson, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.
Coach: Peter De Villiers
Notes
Lock Victor Matfield returns to the starting line up. He joins Bakkies Botha in the middle of the scrum for a record 37th
time for
Januarie is recalled after an ‘in house’ suspension, Conradie drops to the bench.
Tendai Mtawarira makes his test debut in the front row and joins BJ Botha.
Ryan Kankowski and Francois Steyn replace Rossouw and Pienaar on the bench.
Juan Smit will lead
Percy Montgomery edges closer to two milestones in his international test career-100 test caps and 900 points.
15 James Hook, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Jonathan Thomas, 6 Ryan Jones (c), 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements:
16 T Rhys Thomas, 17
Coach: Warren Gatland
Notes
James Hook will play his
first game for
Roberts has never played in the centres at any stage in his career.
Gareth Delve makes the
starting line up for
Reviews
Not too convincing by
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3555_3675938,00.html
Last Five Encounters
19.11.2006
24.06.2006
19.11.2005
07.06.2003
09.11.2002
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Australia 9th,
Teams
15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (Capt.), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Stephen Moore,1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Coach: Robbie Deans
Notes
New Zealander Robbie Deans is the first ‘non-Australian’ to coach the national side.
New caps Burgess and Hynes make the starting line up, whilst Cross and Mumm are on the replacement bench.
If Al Baxter takes the field
it will be his 50th test for
Reviews
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3556_3671966,00.html
Last Five Encounters
05.11.2006
19.11.2005
19.06.2004
12.06.2004
14.06.2003
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-England 3rd,
Teams
15 Mike Brown, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Tom Rees, 6 James Haskell, 5 Steve Borthwick (c), 4 Tom Palmer, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Ben Kay, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Danny Care, 21 Jamie Noon, 22 Mathew Tait.
New cap for
Andrew Sheridan is the only
survivor of the
Hodgson will play his first test since November 2006.
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richard McCaw, 6 Rodney So'oialo, 5 Alistair Williams, 4 Bradley Thorn, 3 Gregory Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata.
Replacements:
16 Keven Mealamu, 17, John Schwalger, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione
Lauaki, 20 James Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22
Coach: Graham Henry
Notes
Scotland 26,
Reviews
A big
surprise win by
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3560_3681634,00.html
Last Five Encounters
07.06.2008
07.10.2007
12.11.2005
18.11.2001
21.08.1999
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Argentina 4th,
Teams
15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), 14 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), 13 Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), 12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), 11 Simon Webster (Edinburgh), 10 Phil Godman (Edinburgh), 9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh, captain), 8 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), 7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), 5 Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), 4 Matt Mustchin (Edinburgh), 3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh), 1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh).
Replacements:
16 Dougie Hall (
Coach: Frank Hadden
Notes
Blair will play his 50th test.
15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi (Capt.), 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Federico Todeschini, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Martin Durand, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino, 2 Alvaro Tejeda, 1 Marcos Ayerza,
Replacements: 16 Pablo Gambarini, 17 Juan Gomez, 18 James Stuart, 19 Alvaro Galindo, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Federico Aramburu, 22 Federico Serra.
Coach:
Notes
Wingers Borges (Benetton Treviso) and Agulla (Dax) replace Tomas de Vedia and Jose Maria Nunez Piossek. Borges will play his 12th test and Agulla his 25th.
Reviews
Previews
Last Five Encounters
03.06.2005 NZ Maoris 29-27
in
01.11.1999 NZ Maoris 25-10
in
04.06.1994 NZ Maoris 34-13
in
31.10.1992 NZ Maoris 35-34
in
30.08.1980 NZ Maoris 22-9 in Rotorua
GWC
Teams
Reviews
Previews
No previous encounters
GWC
Teams
Saxons won by 22 points. I predicted Saxons by 12.
Previews
GWC
Teams
15 Nicholas Abendanon, 14 Ugo
Monye, 13 Oliver Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Matthew Banahan, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Thomas Guest, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6
Replacements: 16 Andrew Titterrell, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Christopher Robshaw, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Adrian Jarvis, 22 Benjamin Foden.,
Coach: Steven Bates
Reviews
Previews
http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_3684722,00.html
Previous Encounter
02.07.2005
GWC
Teams
15 Michael Pyke, 14 James Pritchard , 13 Bryn Keys, 12 David Spicer , 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Edward Fairhurst (Capt.), 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Andrew Wilson, 6 Adam Kleeberger, 5 Luke Cudmore, 4 Stewart Ault, 3 Scott Franklin, 2 Michael Pletch, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.
Replacements:
16 Douglas Wooldridge, 17 Benjamin Johnson, 18
Coach: Kieran Crowley
Notes
New caps are Cudmore and Keys.
Reviews
Previews
http://www.namibian.com.na/2008/June/sport/08B8FE4A6.html
No previous encounters
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Namibia 2nd,
Teams
15 TC Losper,
14 Deon Mouton,
13 Bradley Langenhoven,
12 Jaco van Zyl,
11 Ryan Witbooi,
10 Melrick
9 Eugene Jantjies.
8 Tinus du Plessis,
7 Pieter van Lill,
6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis (captain),
5 Deon Pieters,
4 Wacca Kazombiaze,
3 Jane du Toit,
2 Hugo Horn,
1 Johnny Redelinghuys.
Substitutes:
16 Hauta
17 Ivan
18 Ockert du Plessis,
19 Gawan Esterhuizen,
20 Elrich Jansen,
21 David Philander,
22 John Drotsky.
Head Coach: John Williams
Reviews
Previews
No previous encounters
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa table-Morocco 7th,
Teams
Reviews
Previews
Previous Encounters
10.04.2004
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Tunisia 10th,
Teams
Reviews
Previews
http://www.gazettebw.com/sports/vultures-ready-for-uganda.html
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sports/Musoke_skips_Botswana_trip.shtml
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/30/633058
Previous Encounter
16.11.2002
GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Uganda 3rd,
Teams
Ronald Adigasi
Joel Anguyo
Robert Bibagamba
Eric Butime
Dennis Etuket
Obong Onen Jonathan
Phillip Karumuna
Joel Kimuli
Anthony Kinene
Felix Lubega
Anthonu Lugya
Solomon Mawanda
Alexander Mubiru
Timothy Mudoola
John Musoke (Capt.)
Kenneth Mutabaruka
Mathias Ochwo
Stephen Ogwete
Robert Seguya
Moses Soita (Vice Captain)
Victor Wadia
Coach: Yayiro Kasasa
Thanks to Ramsey Fidel Olinga, Development Manager Uganda Rugby
Coach: Gareth Gilbert
Previews
Last Five Encounters
10.11.2007
22.07.2006
16.06.2001
1999
30.10.1998
GWC Rugby Rankings: Asia Table:
Teams
Reviews
Previews
Previous-Last Five Encounters
04.11.2007
20.10.2004
GWC Rugby Rankings: Asia Table-India 13th,
Teams