Pre-RWC test matches

[Stargazer]

This should be a good curtain raiser. That clip though! A few high tackles that would get you sent off now.

[Machpants]

@Stargazer NZR making sure king Carlos is good to go, in case of injury to beaudy or Richie

[Bones]

I see Tana, Mick Jones and Forbes are lacing up for the curtain raiser too.

[Duluth]

@Bones Forbes is playing, I think the other two are coaching

[Yeetyaah]

@Bones Jones and Umaga are the coaches of the sides, they aren't playing, Carlos said that on the breakdown.

[Bones]

@Yeetyaah said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@Bones Jones and Umaga are the coaches of the sides, they aren't playing, Carlos said that on the breakdown.

Bloody facebook and it's fake news.

[Stargazer]

Friday 9 August 2019, kick-off 3.00pm NZT: Tonga v Canada - Sky Sport 1

[Stargazer]

Full time: Tonga 33 - 23 Canada

[MiketheSnow]

OK Here we go

England v Wales
Sunday 11 August 2019

England XV:
Elliot Daly; Ruaridh McConnochie, Henry Slade, Piers Francis, Anthony Watson; George Ford (C), Willi Heinz
Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola

Subs:
Jack Singleton, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam
Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Joe Cokanasiga

Wales XV:
Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies
Nicky Smith, Ken Owen, Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty

Subs:
Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler
Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin

Experimental backline for England, almost full-strength team for Wales.

Going to be interesting.

Anscombe better have his kicking boots on.

Wales by 6-9

[Stargazer]

Ireland
15 Jordan Larmour, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Chris Farrell, 11. Dave Kearney, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Luke McGrath, 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Andrew Porter, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Jean Kleyn, 6. Rhys Ruddock (c), 7. Tommy O’Donnell, 8. Jordi Murphy.

Reserves:
16 Niall Scannell, 17. Cian Healy, 18. John Ryan, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Tadhg Beirne, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Jack Carty, 23. Mike Haley

Italy
15 Edoardo PADOVANI, 14 Angelo ESPOSITO, 13 Tommaso BENVENUTI, 12 Marco ZANON, 11 Giulio BISEGNI, 10 Carlo CANNA, 9 Guglielmo PALAZZANI, 8 Jimmy TUIVAITI, 7 Maxime MBANDA’, 6 Giovanni LICATA, 5 Dean BUDD (c), 4 Alessandro ZANNI, 3 Marco RICCIONI, 2 Oliviero FABIANI, 1 Nicola QUAGLIO.

Reserves:
16 Federico ZANI, 17 Andrea LOVOTTI, 18 Simone FERRARI, 19 Marco LAZZARONI, 20 Renato GIAMMARIOLI, 21 Callum BRALEY, 22 Ian MCKINLEY, 23 Matteo MINOZZI.

[Stargazer]

Fiji
1 Campese Ma’afu, 2. Sam Matavesi, 3. Peni Ravai, 4. Tevita Cavubati, 5.Leone Nakarawa, 6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7. Semi Kunatani, 8. Viliame Mata, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Ben Volavola, 11. Patrick Osbourne, 12. Levani Botia, 13. Semi Radradra, 14. Vereniki Goneva, 15. Setareki Tuicuvu.

Reserves
16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Kalivati Tawake, 19. Tevita Ratuva, 20. Peceli Yato, 21. Nikola Matawalu, 22. Josh Matavesi, 23. Kini Murimurivalu

.

[Stargazer]

USA

.

Japan

[Bones]

@MiketheSnow interesting to see McConnochie there on the wing - I had assumed when watching him play 7's that he was a loosie. Good sized winger!

[MiketheSnow]

@Bones said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@MiketheSnow interesting to see McConnochie there on the wing - I had assumed when watching him play 7's that he was a loosie. Good sized winger!

With Cokanasiga to come on

[sparky]

@MiketheSnow said in Pre-RWC test matches:

OK Here we go

England v Wales
Sunday 11 August 2019

England XV:
Elliot Daly; Ruaridh McConnochie, Henry Slade, Piers Francis, Anthony Watson; George Ford (C), Willi Heinz
Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola

Subs:
Jack Singleton, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam
Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Joe Cokanasiga

Wales XV:
Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies
Nicky Smith, Ken Owen, Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty

Subs:
Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Aaron Shingler
Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin

Experimental backline for England, almost full-strength team for Wales.

Going to be interesting.

Anscombe better have his kicking boots on.

Wales by 6-9

England picking two very short opensides indeed as their two flankers. Real backrow diddly men. More height in the England wings these days than their forwards. Wales should dominate at the lineout and hammer them with the driving maul.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

In the mean time, Japan have won the Pacific Nations Cup after a convincing 34 - 20 win over the USA.

Fiji beat Samoa 10 - 3.

Final standings:
1 Japan
2 Fiji (better points differential than USA)
3 USA
4 Samoa
5 Tonga
6 Canada

[Machpants]

@Stargazer England can't count. Wales will be all over them, cementing their place as number one team in the world

[sparky]

Ireland 29 Italy 10

Rugby

Joey Carbery injury overshadows facile Italy win

Outhalf a concern for World Cup after suffering injury at the Aviva Stadium

[Kruse]

@Machpants said in Pre-RWC test matches:

@Stargazer England can't count. Wales will be all over them, cementing their place as number one team in the world

Only time ever I'm actually supporting the English Rugby team.
Even then, when I think about it... is the #1 Ranking THAT important... that I'd cheer England?