June Internationals 2018

Agent_Smith said:
Was this televised?! Didn't even know it was happening.
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I don't know, but the media in the North is lambasting the poor English.

I wonder how many Saracens and Exeter players are in the England training squad? This may not have been a scheduled test, but it is rather humiliating and may endanger the team culture.

I read this morning that they added 10 Saracens to their touring squad, how involved they were with the June preparations is unknown.

EDIT:

They also added 5 Exeter players.

Big names grouping up with the squad are the Vunipola brothers, Maro Itoje and captain, Owen Farrell. They lost Jack Willis and Cameron Redpath against the Barbarians.
 
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The other thing for them to consider is the much hyped and anticipated clash with the AB's at the end of the year. Do they sacrifice their SA tour to get their top players ready for that match or do they throw everything they have into this tour and risk being without several front line players for that match later this year.
 
Russia is receiving June Internationals exposure, but Romania and Spain have their appeal on Friday and both countries are willing to take World Rugby to court should they have no success. Sad state what is going on in Rugby Europe.
 
7 debutants in Bok starting XV to face Wales
Teams:

South Africa

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Warrick Gelant

*The three non-playing reserves are Frans Malherbe, Nizaam Carr and Cameron Wright

Wales

TBA

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/7-debutants-in-bok-starting-xv-to-face-wales-20180530
 
Interesting to see Kriel and Jantjies there. I thought they were the incumbents for the England tour and would've had a rest. Does it mean they could potentially not get picked or at least not start? To me this says that Pollard will be starting against England but what about Kriel?
 
Agent_Smith said:
Interesting to see Kriel and Jantjies there. I thought they were the incumbents for the England tour and would've had a rest. Does it mean they could potentially not get picked or at least not start? To me this says that Pollard will be starting against England but what about Kriel?
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Am will start @ 13 vs England, Kriel and PSDT brings experience to the team this Saturday. They might start the 2nd test.
 
DanDango said:
Am will start @ 13 vs England, Kriel and PSDT brings experience to the team this Saturday. They might start the 2nd test.
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I would not be surprised to see Robert and Pollard alternate 10/12 with Am at 13. I know at one point there were rumours of Pollard at 12. Personally, I would not have a problem with this, but I will have an issue if he is then used to crash ball everything.

Jantjies might be on the bench initially, but Pollard is definitely going to start. Only reason why Jantjies played last year was due to Pollard's injuries.

I am interested to see the way the Boks will play. Team on paper looks decent enough, but can Rassie get them to gel is the big thing.

Will we be able to beat NZ, doubt it, but let's be honest if the Boks should win one it is an upset.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Interesting to see Kriel and Jantjies there. I thought they were the incumbents for the England tour and would've had a rest. Does it mean they could potentially not get picked or at least not start? To me this says that Pollard will be starting against England but what about Kriel?
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As I see it, we're going to get FARKED by Wales in the US, and then get FARKED again by England at home :cry:
 
I don't deny we're probably going to lose this match but a loss HAS to be taken with a pinch of salt. A young and woefully inexperienced side, several new combinations and a new coach. A loss won't be the end of the world (for me anyway). As long as they acquit themselves well and give it their all, I can live with that.

England on the other hand has to be beaten. Experienced squad and players familiar with each other, combined with home ground advantage and an opposition bereft of several top players means we must surely start as favourites.
 
Maybe I am still living in the past, but based on the expected Wales team and the team selected by Rassie, I feel we should beat the Welsh.....
 
Badprop_za said:
Maybe I am still living in the past, but based on the expected Wales team and the team selected by Rassie, I feel we should beat the Welsh.....
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The biggest problem is that there's no real combinations in the team and that it's a very short time to prepare. Otherwise player wise I'd say we'd probably beat the Welsh. I don't know how long Wales had to prepare and whether they went for existing combinations.
 
Oh and with the centers, it'll probably be Frans Steyn at 12, Am at 13 and de Allende on the bench.
 
johnnyenglish said:
Why are they even playing Wales in the USA? No venues available in Wales?
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In detail,

https://www.usarugby.org/2018/02/wa...r-rugby-match-between-wales-and-south-africa/

RIM ANNOUNCES MATCH BETWEEN WALES AND SOUTH AFRICA IN WASHINGTON D.C.

First Minister of Wales and South African Ambassador jointly announce event set for June 2nd, 2018

WASHINGTON D.C. - In a special ceremony at the South African Embassy, The Welsh Rugby Union and South African Rugby Union announced today a rugby match between their world-renowned teams at Washington's RFK Stadium on Saturday evening, June 2. Tickets for the match, which is being promoted by USA Rugby's commercial arm, Rugby International Marketing (RIM), will go on sale beginning Tuesday, March 13.

Announcing the match today were the First Minister of Wales, Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones AM, and the South African Ambassador to the United States, Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu. Both dignitaries spoke of their excitement regarding the match, the first contest between top-tier national teams to be held in the U.S. capital and participated in a jersey exchange to commemorate the landmark event. Representatives from RIM, the events local organizing committee, and RFK Stadium were also on hand for the announcement.

First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones noted, "It is fantastic to be here with the South African Ambassador to the US, Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, to announce this exciting fixture between our two great countries.

"Wales and the Springboks have a huge global fan base and I am confident this clash of titans at Washington's world famous RFK Stadium will help raise the profile of rugby in America. I, for one, can't wait until June 2."

"We look forward to welcoming the two rugby teams to Washington DC in June," added South African Ambassador, Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, "using the vehicle of Rugby to make a difference, bringing our three nations closer together and leaving a legacy which President Mandela would be proud of."

Welsh Rugby Union Group CEO, Martyn Phillips added: "This is an exciting fixture for the WRU and for the national squad. It enables us to add a third fixture into the squad's schedule as they continue with their preparations for the 2019 RWC and for the Union it is a great opportunity to showcase Wales and our game in the capital of the United States.

"The opportunity to expand the already great Welsh support base and Welsh brand is very exciting for us, especially in such a large demographic and audience as the U.S.

"We have long standing links with the U.S with our partner Under Armour and it is great we are able to stage a match just down the road from their main facility in Baltimore.

"We would like to thank RIM for staging and promoting the fixture and we are looking forward to kicking off the summer tour in Washington, D.C"

The Welsh and South African teams have had a long and storied rivalry. In the most recent installment last December, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Welsh narrowly edged the Springboks for a 24-22 victory. Each nation has hosted the other at least once per year in recent memory, trading victories on each occasion. The June event, however, marks the first time they have squared off in the United States.

Currently ranked No. 6 in the World Rugby rankings, Wales will make their first appearance on American soil since a contest with the United States in 2009, while No. 5 ranked South Africa will return after a 17-year absence, having defeated the Men's USA Eagles in 2001, in Houston. Washington will serve as an ideal venue for the game, as it is the second largest metropolitan region in the country in terms of membership in USA Rugby, a hotbed of high-school, college and club rugby.

"The match in Washington allows us to take Springbok rugby to America and to potentially expand the team's appeal to very large audience," said Jurie Roux, South African Rugby Union CEO. "Our research shows that the Springboks have a growing worldwide fan base and we see the match in Washington as ideal platform to tap into a market that offers huge possibilities for South African rugby, in the exciting American sporting area."

Roux continued, "We are also grateful to the Wales Rugby Union for their efforts in making this match a reality and it will get a very challenging international season off to a great start."

The event also marks the first stand-alone match promotion for RIM. Created in 2015, RIM is the for-profit commercial arm of USA Rugby tasked with creating new revenue streams to fund the growth of rugby in America. RIM's events portfolio includes all home test matches for the Men's and Women's USA national teams and the USA Rugby national championships for Men's and Women's collegiate rugby. The company is also responsible for organizing the quadrennial Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 tournament at San Francisco's AT&T Park on July 20-22, 2018, the first rugby world championship of any form to be held in the United States.

"We are very pleased to be hosting this signature event in the nation's capital in June," said David Sternberg, Rugby International Marketing CEO, "Not only are we bringing two established rugby nations together for an amazing match, we are also activating a large and passionate regional rugby community and accelerating the growth of the sport's popularity in America as we head into the Rugby World Cup Sevens in July."

Wales vs South Africa will take place June 2nd, 2018 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting March 13th. Information on the event and tickets can be found at www.walesvsouthafricarugby.com.
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What the article ignores to mention is that RIM is also owned by the RFU. Then there is this...

http://www.rugbytoday.com/elite/rim-disaster-confirmed-all-you-need-know

Money, money, money...
 
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