Pre-RWC test matches

[Rapido]

@mariner4life said in Pre-RWC test matches:

Can someone explain to me, using small words because i am a bit dim, how Devin Toner escaped any sanction at all for something that looked very much like what Red Barrett did to get a red card and 3 weeks?

Irish privilege ..... obvs ...
Least red carded team in world rugby ......

[Daffy Jaffy]

[mofitzy_]

Looks full strength, though they probably need it v Japan.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Here is the Bok starting XV for the Saitama encounter, with the corresponding player in each jersey from the 2015 game reflected in brackets:
15 Willie le Roux (Zane Kirchner), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (Bryan Habana), 13 Lukhanyo Am (Jesse Kriel), 12 Damian de Allende (Jean de Villiers), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Lwazi Mvovo), 10 Handre Pollard (Pat Lambie), 9 Faf de Klerk (Ruan Pienaar), 8 Duane Vermeulen (Schalk Burger), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (same), 6 Siya Kolisi (Francois Louw), 5 Franco Mostert (Victor Matfield), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Lood de Jager), 3 Frans Malherbe (Jannie du Plessis), 2 Malcolm Marx (Bismarck du Plessis), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Tendai Mtawarira).

[Bovidae]

This weekend's test matches highlights the difficulties the emerging rugby nations have to get games against tier 1 or even tier 2 opposition. While Tonga and Samoa are lucky to be playing NZ and Aust, respectively, Japan plays SA and Georgia plays Scotland spare a thought for some of the other teams going to the RWC.

Uruguay is playing an Argentinean XV while I assume the best Argentinean squad is playing Randwick (featuring Andrew Walker). For the other teams, Namibia is playing the Southern Kings and Russia is playing Connacht.

[Bovidae]

Cheika has selected some non-RWC players in his team to play Samoa.

Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Jack Dempsey, David Pocock (c), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Jordan Uelese, James Slipper.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Luke Jones, Liam Wright, Rob Valetini, Nick Phipps, James O'Connor.

[Stargazer]

Samoa team to play Oz:

[Chris B.]

@Daffy-Jaffy Only Pieter Steph surviving in the starting line-up - but three more on the bench.

2015 edition looks a bit stronger to me. Mainly in the halves.... and less old men.

[dogmeat]

@Stargazer Bloody hell Tusi Pisi's nearly as old as me - well not really.... at all

but nevertheless

[KiwiMurph]

quite a few recognisable names in the Samoan side. Lot of NZ rugby experience amongst those names.

[MiketheSnow]

Wales team to face Ireland at Landsdowne Road this Saturday named

Pretty much working out who are the starters and who are the finishers come the WC

[Stargazer]

Ireland team to play Wales

[MiketheSnow]

Ooh we've got a proper Test on our hands.

[MiketheSnow]

England 9 - 0 Italy
Half-time

Shitter than shit

[Machpants]

@MiketheSnow yeah England may well knock some big names out of the cup but recently they are so inconsistent.

Not that the ABs are better

[Bones]

Jebus what is with England producing absolute moronic douches in the front row. Sinckler not starting so they have Genge instead, chewing gum while playing rugby of course.

[sparky]

England won 37-0 scoring 4 tries.

England will make the Semi finals at least in Japan, Italy won't get out of Group B.

[MiketheSnow]

@sparky said in Pre-RWC test matches:

England won 37-0 scoring 4 tries.

England will make the Semi finals at least in Japan, Italy won't get out of Group B.

Will fall at the QF stage

[Stargazer]

Full time: Scotland 36 - 9 Georgia

[Nepia]

@Billy-Tell said in Pre-RWC test matches:

6N took down 20 odd videos from squidge rugby and filed copyright...!

I finally got round to watching a few of his videos this week, was going quite swimmingly and then got to the OZ video and he called Pocock the best player in the world. I've reported him to YouTube.