This weekend is a trip on the wild side if you’re a rugby fan. We have so many matches being played by squads of varying strengths and importance.
If you’re really into your rugby – and I’ll assume you are since you’re reading some unknown blogger on the subject – this weekend will probably be one of the hardest to plan of the year.
In the event you get lost in the rush here’s a handy guide to what’s coming. It’s not a comprehensive preview due to the smorgasbord of action; consider it more a festival guide. For the sake of brevity, I’ll be focusing on the games played in or by Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Lions Tour: Reds v Lions
They may have planned to all along but the Reds have named a strong side – including 12 capped Wallabies – to take on the Lions at Suncorp after a very inexperienced Force outfit trotted out earlier in the week for their tour match.
Cooper is supposed to be proving his worth for Wallabies selection.
Ignore that, he won’t be selected.
Instead, cast your eye over the Reds forwards. Keep an eye on James Hanson who is fighting for a hypothetical third hooker spot in the Wallabies squad.
He may not be picked but will want to prove himself against a strong Lions pack as the next man up.
This is also a good opportunity for youngsters Jake Schatz and Ed Quirk to measure up against world class opposition.
The Lions will receive their sternest test to date and will need to start building to a consistent level of play, especially in the forward pack where they will expect to beat up the Wallabies.
June Tests: New Zealand v France
My favourite New Zealand rugby player, Ben Smith, is going to get a start for the All Blacks! He might be the form player in the Southern Hemisphere right now. I’d expect an undermanned French side to be well and truly sick of his tireless running and clever lines by the time this one is over.
Somehow Smith hasn’t deposed Israel Dagg from his position at the back though and will run on in a wing spot. The inability for form to influence the All Blacks might now be ominously similar to the Australian cricket team before it fell over. Hard to get in, harder to get dropped and all that.
On the other side of the coin, Frederic Michalak, who is 31 but feels older and plays scrum half for Toulon, even though he’s a fly-half by trade is still on the bench for the French. That’s probably all you need to know about the strength of this team for the first Test.
On the French starting team Wesley Fofana is a great player to watch. He’s one of the brightest young players to get a run since the World Cup. He had a strong Six Nations and a few good performances from him might stop Ma’a Nonu’s All Blacks career sooner than he expected.
Having said all that, last time France toured New Zealand with an under strength squad they actually won a Test. So don’t rule them out completely.
And returning to the scene of the World Cup Final loss will get their blood boiling.
South Africa v Italy
So, Heyneke Meyer has named a more adventurous Sprinkbok team to take on Italy than he was apt to name at the same time last year.
It might be finally obvious that South Africa needs to find a new crop of youngsters that can be both strong and creative enough to find a way over the try line. That certainly seems to be the case with Willie Le Roux getting his debut and starting from full back. I’m excited to see what he can do from there.
Jano Vermaak is also a debutant at half back. He’s been swift this year and has been a key to getting early ball to a refreshingly attacking minded Bulls backline this year.
Other debutants, Trevor Nyakane, Arno Botha and Jan Serfontein await their inclusion from the bench. Finally is seems the Boks are going through a much needed period of renewal.
Italy are yet to name their team but will probably play as Italy always do. The key for them will be to keep it close and possibly force errors of a greener-than-usual Springbok bench.
Super Rugby: Brumbies v Rebels
No, I haven’t forgotten the Super Rugby games. This one, kicking off our weekend on Friday, is a very important one. The Brumbies are perhaps less disrupted by players being called up than their Super Rugby performance so far would have suggested may be the case.
Matt Toomua and Nic White are still ready and available to lead the side around. There will be a need to fill the shoes of Ben Mowen and Stephen Moore in the pack though.
Apart from that business as normal should see the brutal, efficient, dominant field position Brumbies should get the job done here.
White has been training with the Wallabies this week and has been on good form. Look for another big game here. If Deans is still wavering about whether to select three hookers or halfbacks White will attempt to force his hand.
Force v Waratahs
Contrary to the belief of some (A certain Mr Foley?), in the grand scheme of things, even just this weekend’s scheme, this game doesn’t matter much.
What to look for? Well it’s a Sunday arvo, you’ve just watched a whole weekend of Test rugby so settle into some day time ball movement as a bunch of youngsters try and make a name for themselves.
The nature of two teams with players missing means the game will be disjointed for parts but hopefully there are some passages where individuals are allowed to express themselves on a dry daytime pitch.
Bakkies
Guest
On the Boks bench. Already turned 20.
atlas
Guest
And right now - test match USA v Ireland (played in Houston) -stream here if you're keen: http://nutjob.eu/njtvx4.html
atlas
Guest
some results that won't make the headlines here ASIA5N - Singapore 20 - 17 Malaysia NC - Romania 30 - 20 Russia ASIA5N - Qatar 13 - 7 Guam PNC - Canada 36 - 27 Tonga TC - Georgia 15 - 20 Emerg. Ireland ASIA5N - India 13 - 30 Iran INT - China 13 - 37 Indonesia And Junior World Cup matches playing today 9 June (France) - streamed live on irb.com South Africa -England France - USA Ireland - Fiji New Zealand - Australia Argentina - Samoa Wales - Scotland JWC: Australia confident ahead of Baby Blacks test
Bakkies
Guest
Paul like you just said I think it is other countries just get better. Same goes with the Olympics there are other countries getting better swim times then Australia. Yes it is sometimes due to Australian coaches but these people are professionals and there are only a limited amount of spots available in Australia. GB had a good swim meet in Beijing but were poor in London. Their improvement was due to Australian training methods and coaching plus a change in attitude. The French have always had good skills and they don't regularly rely on power. They are suffering due to a lack of coaching (jobs for the boys), mental work as you can't be inconsistent in the modern era (in the amateur era they got away with it) and poor tactics. A lot of skills work is happening in Europe and mini/youth Rugby has been revamped in England and Ireland to focus more on game sense, skills. Union staff are becoming more involved with clubs/schools. Rugby numbers are growing and there is an attitude of giving everyone a go at kids level. Ireland are already pumping out more confident youngsters then ever before. Players like Zebo, Stuart Olding, Henderson, Henshaw, Luke Marshall have slotted in comfortably at provincial level and gone on to Ireland squads. They have better all round skills and game sense then the players pushed through by Eddie O'Sullivan (Fitzgerald, Kearney, etc). Henshaw an outside centre grabbed the Connacht full back spot. He is only 19 and has Kearney like skills under the high ball, good positioning and confident in running in to contact. Pass and vision needs a bit of work but that is due to the conditions, his team generally make silly errors on attack and the positions he is playing in which rely more on running, ball retention and catching. Olding is like a small Robbie Coleman, Matt Giteau style player which is rare for a 10/12 in Ireland (Madigan is similar you would compare him more to Cruden).
atlas
Guest
for the players involved, this match will be more important than any we've mentioned - and good to see Gavin Hastings there and being involved perhaps on his way to see the Lions tests? maybe similar to the sessions John Kirwan and former Scotland coach Frank Hadden ran here -Thailand - in 2011 as well as other spots in Asia, sponsored by HSBC The Cambodian Federation of Rugby will host a game at 3pm tomorrow at the Old Stadium between two sides comprised of locally based players to help select members for the national team, which takes on Brunei in two matches on July 5 and 7 at the same ground as part of the 2013 HSBC Asian 5 Nations Division V competition. Watching from the stands tomorrow will be Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings, who will also attend grassroots training sessions this morning at 3G Field and this evening at Krousar Thmey school.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Wow that's as remote as it gets! Nothing beats watching rugby in thailand tbh!
Bakkies
Guest
Placid, Staniforth and Northam put in decent shifts. I say Staniforth will be the long term replacement for Kimlin in the Brumbies ranks. He is already 197cm at 18 and not a bean pole.
Paul
Guest
I believe its more to do with coaching depth in many sports. Other countries are investing more in coaches that come from countries that have historically done well. You only have to look at rugby to see the impact SANZAR coaches are having in Europe and this will trickle through to development levels. This is also evident to swimming, cycling, hockey and cricket and many Olympic sports. Nonetheless, I was very impressed with the Irish. I wouldn't expect that skill level from any NH team, I also believe NZ and Australia are severely lacking in international experience in the junior levels. Why is it that Europe can run the 6N u20 championships for the past 6 years yet we are still relying on kids playing in amateur and semi professional club levels. A 3N is over due and should be held as a tournament every year or 2. You can see how the gap has closed considerably in this age group between sh and NH teams. Even the Argentinians perform very well due to having players in numerous professional clubs in Europe.
LionRampant
Guest
Shame. He's terrifying at 7s. And the USA look to get him involved early with the old x-field kicking. Presumably, he'll be out in Moscow at the (last ever?) World 7s.
atlas
Guest
ha ha, haven't heard that word in a long time. You're not familiar with the phrase 'feed it to the ducks' then? No chance of that here anyway in our conservative corner of Thailand - a town with no beer. 4,000 people and no pub or bar, take-homes only. Chang with ice.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Always room for one of those...
RebelRanger
Guest
FORCE/ WARATAHS !! Y U NO LIST LINE UPS? These next 2 weeks are hard enough for fantasy coaches
Jonty
Guest
Yeah I blame Gen Y - a talentless unmotivated lot.
Johnno
Guest
Plus the under-20 world cup which is being held in France, and the 2nd division Junior world rugby trophy in Chile.. Italy may win promotion back to the top division, Canada I think are in the final, they beat Tonga under 20's. There men's senior team beat Fiji this week in the PNC in Canada, things on the up for Canada rugby. USA VS Ireland in Houston this weekend to, so a bumper weekend of rugby.
Johnno
Guest
Sadly the Samoan side are not at full strength. they are with out there 4 best locks. And depth wise Samoa doesn't have the depth of say the wallabies,bok's, or kiwi's in that position. http://www.rugby365.com/article/54232-samoa-face-lock-crisis
Carl Pieters
Guest
The Samoan side touring South Africa, are they a b side? Because the Lions thrashed them last week... Curious to know.
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Might be cheering for the WA Anchors in this one - not sure yet - but would like MMM to have a good game and make the lions final 6....
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Good program. Will be hard to include a Thai massaaaaaaage in your schedule but I reckon it's feasible! ;)
atlas
Guest
Jun 7, China v Indonesia (15:00 local, 07:00 GMT, 14:00 ICT) Jun 7, India v Iran (17:00 local, 09:00 GMT, 16:00 ICT) enough!
Elisha Pearce
Guest
Sorry Riccardo. Don't you worry, my F Saili bandwagon is still in swing. He should be playing but Hansen loves an incumbent! :P I am very happy Ben Smith got a call up though. Should have been at full back. And I can see his worth at centre too, it'll take a while to transition there though.