TORONRO, CA – This weekend features both Team USA v Canada re–match and Bledisloe 2. However there will be a lot more action than that globally so … so let’s “Crouch! Bind! Set!” into the Weekend Rugby Preview.
USA v Canada: Toronto, Canada will host the second leg of the Rugby World Cup Qualifier series. Canada has not lost to the USA since 2009 – and that was a narrow 12-6 loss. Now the USA must win by 19 points on the road, in order to get the Americas 1 seed for the Rugby World Cup. It just doesn’t seem possible, especially based on the anemic Eagles’ attack over their last 6 games. USA rugby fans must be hoping last week was rock-bottom and their boys will bounce back this week. The RWU STAFF predicts a victory for ‘Murikka! However, it will be at most a 3-point victory and not enough to win the series.
USA vs Canada Broadcast: We wanted to take this time to remind USA Rugby fans that the match will be broadcast on the Universal Sports Network in the US. Coverage will start at 3:30pm EST. USN is channel 625 on Direct TV and channel 402 on Dish Network. If you have cable, click here to find out if you have it. Last week, there were calls and emails from friends and read on other websites, complaints about the broadcasting of the game and availability. Let me put on my USA Rugby cap and say this, we as rugby fans have to prove there is a market for rugby in the US. Not all think like us diehards, so accept that a small network with big aspirations is working with USA Rugby. If you do as they say and call your provider and email your provider and subscribe to the channel, then it will become a basic cable channel, allowing for more frequent airing of rugby. It may even be able pay the Tier 1 big wigs for broadcasting rights of their games. Do it now and you may be able to watch the November series at home. As for tomorrow, find a bar or someone with satellite and pay for the subscription for month. That’s the best we got.
The Rugby Championship: Australia’s Wallabies put up a decent fight but couldn’t keep up with the New Zealand All Blacks in round 1 of the fight for Lord Bledisloe’s Cup. With NZ’s FH for this second leg being uncapped, maybe this is the perfect time to surprise the Blackness. In Mendoza, Argentina, Los Pumas will try and avoid the same kind of embarrassment they suffered last week against the Springboks. Here is the schedule:
New Zealand – Australia
Argentina – South Africa
France Top 14: Earlier this week, we released our Top 14 season preview. The season kicked off with a few surprises last weekend, as early favorites look like they have yet to hit their stride. Time will tell; Here is this weekend’s schedule:
Toulon – Racing Métro
Oyonnax – Clermont
Toulouse – Bayonne
Perpignan – Stade Francias
Castres – Grenoble
Biarritz – Montpellier
Brive – Bordeaux-Begles
The Currie Cup: The first two rounds of the Currie Cup have not disappointed with each contest a high quality close match. Look for more of the same this weekend. Here is this weekend’s schedule:
FRI – 23RD AUG 13
Free State Cheetahs – Sharks
SAT – 24TH AUG 13
Griquas – Western Province
Blue Bulls – Golden Lions
The ITM Cup: Expect the unexpected with this season’s ITM Cup. A team that got manhandled the previous week like Counties Manukau can out the following week and be the manhandlers, as they did to North Harbour. Here are the midweek results and this weekend’s schedule:
THU – 22ND AUG 13
North Harbour 14 – 44 Counties Manukau
FRI – 23RD AUG 13
Taranaki vs Wellington
Waikato vs Otago
SAT – 24TH AUG 13
Northland vs Southland
Tasman vs Canterbury
SUN – 25TH AUG 13
Bay Of Plenty vs Hawkes Bay
Manawatu vs Auckland
Womens NAS7C: Courtesy of Your Scrumhalf Connection, The 8 regional sides have been confirmed for this years Womens National All-Star 7s Championship. Here is all the important info:
Location: Chula Vista, California
Pool A
Stars & Stripes
Pacific Coast
Midwest
West
Pool B
NRU
MARFU
SoCal
South
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, @ckuxmann and @Ebstide52, respectively. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
