The two rugby hemispheres come back together this year July, with several massive series taking place across the globe.
Can Ireland win a first Test on New Zealand soil? Will Australia at last end this losing run to England? Can a struggling Wales spring an upset in South Africa?
It really is a tantalising few weeks of rugby.
Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it comes to hand, plus our match previews and the odds.
Other team line-ups are yet to be announced.
Japan vs. France | New Zealand vs. Ireland | Australia vs. England | South Africa vs. Wales | Argentina vs. Scotland
Saturday, July 2
Japan vs. France, Toyota Stadium, Aichi Prefecture, 3:00pm [4:00pm AEST, 7:00am GMT]
Japan: Ryohei Yamanaka, Gerhard Van Den Heever, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Siosaia Fifita, Takuya Yamasawa, Kaito Shigeno, Tevita Tatafu, Ben Gunter, Michael Leitch, Jack Cornelsen, Wimpie van der Walt, Asaeli Ai Valu, Atsushi Sakate, Keita Inagaki. Replacements: Daigo Hashimoto, Yukio Morikawa, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Warner Dearns, Faulua Makisi, Daiki Nakajima, Lee Seung-Shin, Taichi Takahashi.
France: TBC
Preview:
Japan coach Jamie Joseph recalled World Cup stalwart Wimpie van der Walt to his second row for Saturday’s test against France at Toyota Stadium as he looks to match the Six Nations champions at the set piece.
There were six changes to the team that routed Uruguay 43-7 last weekend as scrumhalf Naoto Saito, hooker Shota Horie and fullback Ryuji Noguchi withdrew from the squad due to being in “poor condition”, the Japan Rugby Football Union said.
South African-born winger Gerhard van den Heever keeps his starting spot after scoring a try on debut against Uruguay at the age of 33 last week.
Hooker Atsushi Sakate will lead the team for the second time in the first of two tests against the French, while Takuya Yamasawa will again run the backline from flyhalf.
“The first thing we have to do is match their set piece, or better it,” Joseph said. “They’re very strong in the line out and at scrum time and they play a power game. This is what France will bring to the match, and we’ve got to be able to handle that.
“Our game plan will be to keep the ball in play and attack them at every opportunity, while being mindful that we need to strike the right balance and understand that the heat is going to play a big part.”
Japan have never beaten France but drew 23-23 with the three times World Cup finalists in Nanterre the last time they met in 2017.
-Reuters-
New Zealand vs. Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland, 7:05pm [5:05pm AEST, 8:05 GMT]
New Zealand: Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tuungafasi, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta’avao, Pita Gus Sowakula, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo’unga, Braydon Ennor.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson Park, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Finaly Bealham, Cian Healy, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Bundee Aki.
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] New Zealand $1.25 -9.5 $1.85; Ireland $3.70, +9.5 $1.95
Preview: Ravaged by COVID, All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made several surprise calls in his first All Blacks side for 2022 with lock Scott Barrett moving into blindside flanker as Foster looks to bulk up his forward pack. The Barrett move has become the major talking point of this team as Foster attempts to counter the physicality the Irish pack will bring to Eden Park, while the switch also gives the lineout another option.
In another surprise decision, Ofa Tuungafasi got the nod at tighthead with Nepo Laulala omitted from the 23 through a sore neck, while George Bower was listed ahead of the more experienced Karl Tu’inukuafe. This is an area that Ireland will be keen to strike with their impressive front row in Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter, looking to replicate their impact in Dublin last year, while their tight passing game caused plenty of headaches for the All Blacks.
All three Barretts will get a start on Saturday, with Beauden beating out Richie Mo’unga for the No.10 jersey, while Jordie starts at fullback with Foster forced to dig deep for his backline with several COVID-complications.
Quinn Tupaea and Reiko Ioane will cover the All Blacks midfield with David Havili and Jack Goodhue scratched through Covid, while there’s no room for league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Ireland will no doubt look to exploit the channel through Gary Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw with their game plan revolving very much around Johnny Sexton.
History will be on the All Blacks side this week with an unbeaten record at Eden Park since 1994, but a strong win in Dublin last year will be fresh in the Ireland team’s mind. This will be a tight contest and Ireland have a strong chance to put an under-manned All Blacks to the sword, but New Zealand at home, under pressure are a different beast. Tip: New Zealand by 3.
Australia vs. England, Optus Stadium, Perth, 7:55pm [10:55am GMT]
Australia: Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper, Rob Leota, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, Angus Bell. Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Matt Philip, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Jordan Petaia.
England: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Joe Marchant, Owen Farrell, Joe Cokanasiga, Marcus Smith, Danny Care, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes (C), Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola. Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack van Poortlviet, Guy Porter, Henry Arundell.
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Australia $1.52, -4.5 $1.90; England $2.45, +4.5 $1.90
Preview:
England coach Eddie Jones has recalled scrumhalf Danny Care and number eight Billy Vunipola after lengthy absences in an experienced side captained by Courtney Lawes to take on the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday in the first of three July tests.
While the core of the starting side that will be looking for a ninth straight win over Australia is made up of grizzled veterans, three players could make their test debuts off the bench at Perth Stadium.
Former England under-20s skipper Jack van Poortvliet will back up Care at halfback, while centre Guy Porter and exciting 19-year-old fullback Henry Arundell — an apprentice player — could also launch their international careers.
Care was banished to international exile after a disagreement with Jones in 2018 but gets another chance at the age of 35 in the absence of Ben Youngs, while Vunipola will play his first test since the 2021 Six Nations.
His brother, Mako Vunipola, also brings 67 caps worth of experience to the bench in a side that looks set up to muscle the Australians off the park.
Owen Farrell’s kicking, both for position and points, will be key to maintaining the pressure on the Wallabies if that is the gameplan and he was named at centre outside the more mercurial talents of flyhalf Marcus Smith.
Jack Nowell is another veteran of England’s 3-0 series sweep Down Under in 2016 and he starts on the right wing after recovering from a broken arm sustained during the Six Nations.
“We have had very strong preparation for this game,” Jones said. “We feel we have a well-balanced team which is ready for this improving Australia team. We’ll take it to them from the start.”
The England team also said on Thursday that Charlie Ewels had been ruled out of the tour by a knee injury and would be replaced in the squad by Sam Jeffries, who will arrive in Australia before Saturday.
-Reuters-
South Africa vs. Wales, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 5:05pm [1:05am Sun AEST, 4:05pm GMT]
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk; Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Salmaan Moerat, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies, Willie le Roux
Wales: Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar (captain), Kieran Hardy, Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dillon Lewis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Dewi Lake, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Owen Watkin.
Odds: [tab.com.au, Aus only] South Africa $1.07, -18.5 $1.85; Wales 7.50, +18.5 $1.90
Preview:
Elton Jantjies will start at flyhalf and the electric Damian Willemse at fullback when South Africa take on Wales in the first match of a three test home series at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Jantjies has been preferred to regular starter Handre Pollard, who played in the French Top 14 final win for Montpellier on Friday, while Willemse is chosen ahead of the vastly more experienced Willie le Roux.
It suggests the Boks might look to run with ball in hand and move slightly away from their reliance on a kicking game, looking instead to tire the Welsh at altitude before unleashing their powerful forwards off the bench.
The rest of the backline has a familiar look to it with wings Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe, centres Lukhanyo Am and Damian de Allende, and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, who does provide a kicking option from the base of the ruck.
The front row consists of props Frans Malherbe and Ox Nche, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, the lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, and a back three of captain Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert and Jasper Wiese.
“We have the advantage of having several players that are quite versatile, so a guy like Damian Willemse can cover flyhalf and centre in addition to fullback, while Kwagga [Smith] covers each of the loose forward positions and can even slot in at wing with his Blitzbok [Sevens] experience,” head coach Jacques Nienaber said in a media release from South African Rugby.
Uncapped lock Salmaan Moerat and loose-forward Elrigh Louw have been named among the replacements and will almost certainly get a run as the Boks use their 6-2 split on the bench in the second half to add fresh muscle in the pack.
“We have a fantastic crop of young players who have really been working hard at training and putting up their hands, and it is pleasing for us as coaches to give Salmaan and Elrigh this opportunity,” Nienaber says.
“We have a plan for the season in terms of giving some of the young players a chance to show what they can do at international level, while at the same time taking stock of the seasoned campaigners and where they are in terms of their rugby.”
The second and third tests will be played in Bloemfontein and Cape Town respectively over the following two Saturdays. Wales lost all 10 of their previous matches in South Africa.
-Reuters-
Argentina vs. Scotland, Estadio 23 de Agosto, San Salvador, 4:10pm [5:10am Sun AEST, 8:10pm GMT]
Argentina: TBC
Scotland: Rory Hutchinson, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Sam Johnson, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Ali Price, Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist (captain), Jonny Gray, Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Matt Fagerson. Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner, Rory Darge, Ben White, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu.
Odds: [tab.com.au Aus only] Argentina $1.46, -5.5 $1.90; Scotland $2.60, +5.5 $1.85
Preview:
Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland for the first time in four years while Luke Crosbie will make his first start for the country in the first test against Argentina at San Salvador de Jujuy on Saturday.
Centre Mark Bennett will make his first start since 2016 having forced his way back into the Scotland setup after last month being named as Edinburgh’s Player of the Season.
British & Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe returns on the wing after being suspended for the last two games of the Six Nations, where Scotland beat Italy away but then lost in Ireland.
Scotland did not take Stuart Hogg or Finn Russell on tour — electing to rest their two key backs — and Adam Hastings withdrew because of injury before their departure for South America, so Blair Kinghorn will be employed at stand off, partnering with Ali Price.
Rory Hutchinson starts at fullback, with his last appearance coming in 2020 when he came off the bench against Italy.
After missing the majority of the Six Nations, having picked up an injury against England, Lions prop Rory Sutherland is named on the bench.
-Reuters-