‘Phoney’ because the players will still be leggy from their training camps, the coaches will be trying things out and nobody will want to give away anything about how they are going to approach the tournament tactically.
That said, the games will still be very important for the players. It will be their final chance to shine to try to clinch a ticket to France. For the coaches, it is the chance to see if three months’ work has got them to where they wanted to be. As for the fans, it is a chance to get in the mood for the main event in September and October.
I’ve always felt that the southern hemisphere sides gain an advantage by playing their Rugby Championship matches ahead of the World Cup. It gets them battle hardened physically and mentally and it means there is a more natural progression to their season – Super Rugby, Rugby Championship, World Cup.
The Scots are the first in action with the opening game of their four-match block against Italy coming at Murrayfield this weekend. Then they go on to play France back-to-back before ending with Georgia.
Wales play England home and away and then take on the reigning world champions South Africa – perfect! Three games only, less chance to pick up needless injuries.
England face world No.1 ranked side Ireland in Dublin after their double header with Wales and then tackle Fiji. The Fijians, who kick-off their Pool C campaign against Wales in Bordeaux on Sunday, September 10, launched their hectic warm-up schedule with a home clash against Tonga yesterday. They now head to Samoa, before meeting Japan, France and England ahead of their huge clash with Wales.
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