NEW YORK, NY: It’s a BIG weekend in international rugby. The big match of the weekend will early Saturday morning (Eastern Standard Time) as the British and Irish Lions take on the Wallabies of Australia. Then Team USA vs Japan will be the big match early Sunday morning (again, Eastern Standard Time). And there will be plenty of other action of note, so let’s begin the Weekend Rugby Preview.
Pacific Nations Cup: The final match day of the PNC is here. For Team USA it has been a disappointing tourney as the Eagles have yet to click, evidenced by their one try in the 3 games they have played – all loses… Canada is in the pole position to win it all despite their midweek lost to Japan. Here are the midweek results:
Japan 16 – 13 Canada
Fiji 35 – 10 USA
A Fiji win would mean Fiji lifts the trophy. Although considering the long rivalry with Tonga it will be anything but easy. Canada has a bye and will await the outcome. The USA have no chance of winning the PNC but can take the Raeburn Shield if beat they Japan. But the Brave Blossoms are playing solid team rugby, so this is no easy task. Winning the Shield would take the edge off a brutal summer for USA fans. Here is the weekend schedule:
Fiji – Tonga
Japan – USA
Lions v Wallabies: In the midweek match, against the ACT Brumbies, the B & I Lions were shown up by the Brumbies, who were missing 7 of their Wallabies. The Lions patchwork backline couldn’t get much going as their pack were dominated at the breakdown. Here is the midweek result:
ACT Brumbies 14 – 12 B & I Lions
The frustrations of Lions fans will be put aside as all U.K. and Irish Rugby fans get behind the Lions in a truly epic 1st test. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype. Weekend match-up: Australia – B & I Lions
Summer Tours: The Summer Tours are coming to an end. There 4-team mini-tournament in South Africa which will see the hosts taking on a red hot Samoa side for the tourney title . Scotland will look to build on their positive game play from last week as they face Italy for the wooden spoon decider. After losing the first two matches and the final game of the 3 match series a dead rubber, will France play to their potential against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Argentina will host Georgia Weekend Schedule:
Scotland – Italy
South Africa – Samoa
New Zealand – France
Argentina – Georgia
Junior World Cup: The JWC is the yearly World Cup held for U-20 teams of the top-tier rugby playing nations. The USA is in it this year after winning the Junior World Trophy, the second tier competition. Here are the midweek results for the playoff round:
New Zealand 21 – 33 England
South Africa 17 – 18 Wales
Ireland 8 – 9 France
Argentina 22 – 15 Australia
Scotland 39 – 3 USA
Samoa 19 – 18 Fiji
There were upsets everywhere in the playoff round of the JWC. In two big shocks the Northern Hemisphere upset the Southern Hemisphere, when England and Wales won their semifinal matches against South Africa (defending champs) and New Zealand (2012 finalists), respectively. Hosts France defied odds and slipped by Ireland while Argentina refused to follow script and beat Australia. Only the 9-12 playoffs went as expected meaning the US must defeat Fiji in order to avoid relegation to the Junior World Trophy. Here is the playoff schedule for Sunday:
1st Place Final: Wales – England
3rd Place Final: South Africa – New Zealand
5th Place Final: Argentina – France
7th Place Final: Australia – Ireland
9th Place Final: Samoa – Scotland
11th Place Final: Fiji – USA
CAR: In the yearly Elgon Cup match between neighbors Kenya and Uganda, Kenya won host their home match in the home and home series. Now it is Uganda’s turn to host. The womens Elgon Cup match will precede the men’s match. The womens match will double as a womens Rugby World Cup qualifier match.
WELC/WRWCQ: Uganda – Kenya
ELC: Uganda – Kenya
That is it for now, feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @RugbyWrapUp, @JunoirBlaber, @Declan Yeats, @Mathew Drew Turner and @Ebstide52, respectively. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
