The Rugby World Cup is now just three weeks away and teams are starting to put the finishing touches to their preparations, while also trying to keep their star men safe from harm after a recent spate of injuries.
Wales will play their final warm-up match before the tournament starts against reigning world champions South Africa on Saturday as the Springboks welcome back inspirational captain Siya Kolisi.
That’s followed by Ireland playing host to England as Steve Borthwick’s men go in search of a morale-boosting performance following a far-from-stellar build-up.
France and Italy also have run-outs on Saturday and we have picked out three bets to follow for the latest round of Rugby World Cup warm-up matches.
- Jasper Wiese anytime tryscorer v Wales
- England +7 first-half handicap v Ireland
- Fiji +17 v France
Wales vs South Africa
Wales coach Warren Gatland will name his final 33-man squad for the World Cup on Monday and has given several of those on the fringes a chance to impress against South Africa in Cardiff.
Gatland has made 13 changes to the side that came so close to victory at Twickenham against England last weekend with Johnny Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Kieran Hardy and Mason Grady all handed opportunities.
Grady and Williams will be the 22nd centre combination tried by Wales recently as Gatland weighs up his midfield options, while Cuthbert and Hardy get their first starts of the summer.
Gatland is keen to build depth, particularly in light of a growing injury list that includes Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Taine Plumtree, Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe, and has named uncapped duo Cai Evans and Teddy Williams on the bench.
Trying to impress against this South Africa side will not be easy for Wales though, despite the Dragons’ decent record of four wins in the last five meetings between the teams in Cardiff.
Kolisi makes his return from a knee injury to skipper a Springboks team showing 13 changes from their last game, an impressive win over Argentina in Buenos Aires which marked their fifth win in the last six Tests.
The three-time world champions have had their own injury issues with Lood de Jager, Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am failing to make the World Cup squad, but Jacques Nienaber still has plenty of high-quality options.
There’s competition for places all over the park, including Jasper Wiese and Duane Vermeulen battling for the number eight shirt.
Wiese gets the start against Wales and is fancied to add to his modest international try tally of one for the Boks.
Wiese is a semi-regular tryscorer for club side Leicester, notching six tries in 16 games last season, and should get opportunities to make his mark in this clash.
The Wales pack struggled to cope with England’s power last week and face an even stiffer test here, so Wiese should get opportunities in a game the South Africa forwards will expect to dominate.
Wales vs Springboks Teams
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Corey Domachowski
Bench: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Cai Evans
Springboks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse
Bok skipper Kolisi returns from injury
Ireland vs England
England survived Owen Farrell’s red card to defeat Wales 19-17 last week but there wasn’t much to shout about following another dour display, particularly in attack.
England managed one try in their two meetings with Wales over the last fortnight and their structured kicking game has given fans little to cheer about so far.
They are 15-point underdogs for the trip to Ireland, where Farrell could feature after having his red card controversially overturned, and it looks likely to be a tough test against the world’s top-ranked team.
Ireland’s World Cup build-up has been reasonably trouble-free and the availability of captain Johnny Sexton is the only major concern for head coach Andy Farrell.
They enjoyed a straightforward 33-17 win over Italy in their first warm-up game, rarely getting out of second gear.
Ireland, desperate to finally make their mark at a Rugby World Cup, are clearly holding something back for their French adventure and are unlikely to be going full tilt at the weekend, even against fierce rivals England.
England made life uncomfortable for Ireland during this year’s Six Nations clash, up until Freddie Steward’s red card, and were only 10-6 behind at the break.
They trailed by six at half-time in the game before that when England again had a man sent off and Steve Borthwick’s side, who led at the break in both games with Wales this month, can make life tricky for Ireland early on.
ENGLAND +7 FIRST-HALF HANDICAP
Ireland vs England Teams
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan (c), 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Bench: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Keith Earls
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 David Ribbans, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge
Bench: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ollie Lawrence
Ntamack a huge loss for the French
France vs Fiji
France are reeling from the news that fly-half Romain Ntamack will miss the Rugby World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury in last week’s warm-up win over Scotland.
Experienced prop Cyril Baille will also miss the tournament with a calf issue and Les Bleus have now slipped behind New Zealand in the outright betting for the World Cup.
With two more warm-up matches to play, starting with Saturday’s clash against Fiji, head coach Fabien Galthie may decide to wrap his remaining star men in cotton wool and keep them fresh for the World Cup.
Whoever France send out to face Fiji, they are in for a tricky night as the Pacific nation look in good shape ahead of the tournament.
The Flying Fijians recently swept their Pacific Nations Cup opponents, demonstrating a great leap in their ability to contest set-pieces.
Fiji’s scrum and rolling maul worked to great effect in those games and coupled with their star-studded backline and the continuity given to them via having the majority of their squad playing for Super Rugby’s Fijian Drua, they aren’t to be underestimated.
Fiji upset France the last time the teams squared off five years ago and while the French have significantly improved since then, the Fijians have also taken it up a gear and look a solid bet with a sizeable 17-point start in Nantes.
France vs Fiji Teams
France: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Dylan Cretin, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Reda Wardi
Bench: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Thomas Laclayat, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Thibaud Flament, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Matthieu Jalibert
Fiji: 15 Sireli Maqala, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Semi Radradra (c), 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi
Bench: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Luke Tagi, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 23 Ilaisa Droasese
