‘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.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 23, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 23, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Brough is so Hungary to build on early adventure
BIRMINGHAM Moseley winger Daniel Brough says his love for rugby was solidified when he spent two years playing for Portuguese team Lousa alongside Chile international Pablo Casas in what he describes as a \"boy to a man experience\".
There's more to come from this England pack
ENGLAND'S win over France last weekend was a huge confidence booster ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland because of the way the team gave themselves an opportunity to win - and the players seized the moment.
Ellis was a rock that we'll never forget, vows Old Reds' Dan
NATIONAL League rugby was rocked last week when Old Redcliffians prop Ellis Joseph passed away aged 27, and captain Dan Fry says the club's focus is to honour his legacy.
Coach hails his King for the day
REDRUTH had to dig deep to see off a physical Cinderford side who deservedly took a losing bonus point back home.
Flying Falcons hoping to make it six out of six
SON of a pig farmer, Freddie Lockwood has been a headline-hogging act for Newcastle this season.
England need to be more consistent
THOSE who believe England have turned a big corner following their last-minute fireworks against France are optimists, simply because their record so far under head coach Steve Borthwick suggests there will be more boom-and-bust.
Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby
Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game
Bears on top but Bath go through
BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.
Great that we found a way to win, says Sleightholme
OLLIE Sleightholme insists England have finally broken their glass ceiling but urged them to take a leaf out his club Northampton's book.
Diamond's war chest for relegation play-off
STEVE Diamond has built up a war chest as insurance should Newcastle find themselves in an end-ofseason relegation play-off with key players injured, but he does not anticipate dipping into it.
