Other matches at the end of August
There are several forms of warm-up matches for the teams closing in on France for the World Cup. Apart from the matches in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Tonga are in action – and in Santiago Chile play Uruguay.
Argentina vs Belgium XV at Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels
Richard Clintock, Belgium’s national coach, has inspanned some mature French players to reinforce the Belgium troops as they take on the Pumas in Brussels. He had hoped to have the services of Thomas Castaignede, Cristian Labit and Christian Califano as well but will be happy with the competitive presence of 36-year-old centre Cedric Desbrosse, 32-year-old centre Raphael Chanal, 34-year-old flyhalf Yann Delaigue, Aubin Hueber, who at 40 is beyond the veteran stage and now involved in coaching and 35-year-old flank Francis Ntamack. Younger and more interesting is prop Vincent Debaty. He was born in Belgium but made his debut for France against Romania last year after playing for France A and France Under-21. Last season he moved from Perpignan to Agen.
There are several who play in France – hooker Norman Wende (Sarlat), prop Jerome Whey (Sarlat), lock Damien Geoffrey (Lille), wing Dirk Haghedoorn (Sarlat), fullback and goal-kicker Alan Williams (Gaillac) and prop Alain Marseillaise (Aurillac).
The Pumas are much changed from the team beaten by Wales and by and large have a 2nd XV look. But they have Juan Martin Hernandez at flyhalf, the position he would like to settle in. And the twins are in the centre. Gonzalo Longo captains the team.
Teams
Belgium XV: 15 Alan Williams, 14 David Nemsadze, 13 Andre Tribaut, 12 Cedric Desbrosse, 11 Dirk Haghedooren, 10 Yann Delaigue, 9 Aubin Hueber, 8 Denis Eppe, 7 Pierre Plasma (captain), 6 Francis Ntamack, 5 Damien Geoffrey, 4 Mathieu Versfeld, 3 Vincent Debaty, 2 Norman Wende, 1 Alain Marseillaise
Replacements: Bert rand Bill, Thomas Digest, Jerome Whey, Aaron Dementia, Sebastian Guns, Simon Ma rote, Cyril Nana, Francis Hocken, Raphael Chanal
Argentina: 15 Federico Serra, 14 Jose Maria Nu?ez Piossek, 13 Manuel Contepomi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, 8 Gonzalo Longo (captain), 7 Lucas Ostiglia, 6 Martin Durand, 5 Rimas Alvarez, 4 Esteban Lozada, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: tbc
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Touch judges: Claudio Passacantando (Italy), Salvi Giampiero (Italy)
Portugal vs Japan in Treviso
The teams are both playing away from home, which is unusual outside of the World Cup.
Japan did well against Italy in Val d’Aosta last weekend as their confidence grew in the match. Portugal took two hidings in Canada. One would expect the Brave Blossoms to win this one.
The names of the teams are anybody’s guess. The best we can do is give their squads for the World Cup.
In fact it’s not a “proper” match. John Kirwan, Japan’s coach, intends to start with the team which will play the opening match and then change all 15 players at half-time.
Portugal: 15 Pedro Leal, 14 David Mateus, 13 Miguel Portela, 12 Frederico Sousa, 11 Pedro Carvalho, 10 Goncalo Malheiro, 9 Luis Pissarra, 8 Juan Severino,7 Joao Uva, 6 Diogo Coutinho, 5 David Penalva, 4 Goncalo Uva, 3 Joaquim Ferreira, 2 Joao Correia, 1 Rui Cordeiro
Replacements: 16 Duarte Figueiredo, 17 Juan Murre, 18 Cristian Spachuk, 19 Andre Silva, 20 Marcelo D’Orey, 21 Tiago Girao, 22 Jose Pinto.
Japanese squad: Ryo Yamamura, Masahito Yamamoto, Tomokazu Soma, Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Taku Inokuchi, Hitoshi Ono, Takanori Kumagae, Luatangi Samurai Vatuvei, Luke Thompson, Takuro Miuchi (Captain), Yasunori Watanabe, Hajime Kiso, Hare Makiri, Philip O’Reilly, Takamichi Sasaki, Yuki Yatomi, Tomoki Yoshida, Eiji Ando, Kousei Ono, Shotaro Onishi, Nataniela Oto, Yuta Imamura, Koji Taira, Bryce Robins, Daisuke Ohata, Hirotoki Onozawa, Kosuke Endo, Christian Loamanu, Go Aruga.
Referee: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Touch judges: Massimo Brescacin (Italy), Claudio Bressano (Italy)
Match commissioner: Giorgio Voltan (Italy)
Tonga vs Edinburgh at Myrseside
This will be Tonga’s first warm-up match.
Edinburgh, under new management after the scrap between its previous owners and the Scottish Rugby union, which the SRU won, plays its first match, a warm-up for the men from the Friendly Islands.
Roland Reid, the rugby nomad from Johannesburg, who has wandered from team to team and position to position, is at No.8 for Edinburgh.
Teams
Edinburgh: 15 Nick De Luca, 14 Andrew Turnbull, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Matt Dey, 11 Andrew Maxwell, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Roland Reid, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Simon Cross (captain), 5 Ben Gissing, 4 Allan Kelly, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Steven Lawrie, 1 Augusto Allori.
Replacements: 16 Sean Crombie, 17 Craig Smith, 18 Bruce McNeil, 19 Kyle Traynor, 20 Alistair Warnock, 21 Scott Newlands, 22 Alan MacDonald, 23 Fergus Pringle, 24 David Blair, 25 Ben Meyer, 26 John Houston, 27 James Thompson.
Tonga : 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Tevita Tu’ifua, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 ‘Epeli Taione, 11 Joseph Vaka, 10 Pierre Jola, 9 Sione Mone Tu’upulota, 8 Hale T-Pole, 7 Otenili Latu, 6 Viliami Vaki, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Inoke Afeaki, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga’uiha
Replacements (from): Kisi Pulu, Toma Toke, Siosateki Mata’u, Lisiate Fa’aoso, ‘Emosi Kauhenga, Lotu Filipine, Soane Havea, ‘Enele Taufa, Kaiongo Tupou, Seti Kiole, Ualosi Kailea, Aisea Havili, Finau Maka, Hudson Tonga’ uiha
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch judges: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland), John Ferns (Scotland)
Assessor: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
Canada vs Newfoundland Rock in St. John’s
Having beaten British Columbia and Portugal by big scores, Canada move east to Newfoundland and field an almost entirely new team
There are only three still in the starting XV that beat Portugal – flank Adam Kleeberger, wing DTH van der Merwe and fullback Ed Fairhurst.
Captain Morgan Williams, who missed the Portuguese match because of his brother’s wedding, comes back at scrumhalf in place of the versatile Fairhurst who started there against the Lobos.
Teams
Canada: 15 Ed Fairhurst, 14 DTH Van der Merwe, 13 Nick Trenkel, 12 Derek Daypuck, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Morgan Williams (captain), 8 David Biddle, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Mike Webb, 5 Mike Burak, 4 Colin Yukes, 3 Scott Franklin, 2 Aaron Carpenter, 1 Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Mike James, 19 Sean-Michael Stephen, 20 Matt Weingart, 21 Ryan Smith, 22 Nathan Hirayama
Newfoundland Rock: tbc
Referee: Alan Gray
Touch judges: Bryan Arciero, John Saunders
USA vs Munster at Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
This is the send-off match for the Eagles. Chicago is bound to give them a grand send-off as those of Irish descent are likely to give the Munstermen a great welcome. It could be an especially happy event on Sunday
Teams
USA squad: Mike MacDonald, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Chris Osentowski, John Vitale, Blake Burdette, Owen Lentz, Luke Gross, Mike Mangan, Hayden Mexted, Alec Parker, Inaki Basauri, Mark Aylor, Tasi Mounga, Todd Clever, Dan Payne, Louis Stanfill, Henry Bloomfield, Chad Erskine, Mike Petri, Mike Hercus, Valenese Malifa, Phillip Eloff, Vaha Esikia, Thretton Palamo, Albert Tuipulotu, Paul Emerick, Takudzwa ‘Zee’ Ngwenya, Salesi Sika, Chris Wyles, Francois Viljoen.
Munster squad: Federico Pucciariello, Tony Buckley, Darragh Hurley, Anthony Foley, John O’Sullivan, Donnacha Ryan, Mick O’Driscoll, Eugene McGovern, Denis Fogarty, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Mark Melbourne, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Tomas O’Leary, Ciaran O’Boyle, Denis Hurley, Jeremy Manning, Mossie Lawler, Ian Dowling, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Lifeimi Mafi, Paul Warwick, Rua Tipoki, Gerry Hurley.
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges: Jem McDowall (USA), Davey Ardrey (USA)
Samoa vs Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park
It will be somewhat strange for centre Elvis Seveali’i. He plays his club rugby for Sale Sharks but will be playing against his club for Samoa. Also in the Samoan side is Gavin Williams, son of the All Black great Bryan Williams.
Teams:
Samoa squad: Justin Va’a, Census Johnston, Kasiano Lealamanua, Mahonri Schwalger, Donald Kerslake, Muliufi Salanoa, Silao Vaisola Sefo, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, Daniel Leo, Iosefa Tekori, Ulia Ulia, Henry Tuilagi, Siuleo Lafaialii, Justin Purdie, Semo Sititi (captain), Steve So’oialo, Junior Poluleuligaga, Loki Crichton, Lolo Lui, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Jerry Meafou, Anitelea Tuilagi, David Lemi, Seilala Maposua, Elvis Seveali’i, Brian Lima, Lome Fa’atau, Alesana Tuilagi, Gavin Williams.
Sale Sharks: tbc
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Alan Hughes (England)
Chile vs Uruguay at the Prince of Wales Country Cup in Santiago
Both teams lost to Spain recently, both by not much. This could be a close encounter for the Condors and the Teros.
Teams
Chile: tbc
Uruguayan squad: Alvaro Acqusitapace, Carlos Arboleya, Matias Arocena, Francisco Bulanti, Emiliano Caffera, Juan Campomar, Federico Capo, Santiago Carracedo, Ignacio Conti, Martin Espiga, Nicola Grilles, Nicolas Klappembach, Labat Juan, Pablo Lemoine, Martin Llovet, Manuel Martinez, Nicolas Morales, Joaquin Pastore, Gonzalo Peyrou, Carlos Protasi, Mario Sagario, Rodrigo Sanchez, Andres Vazquez
Referee: Leonardo Borghi (Argentina)
Touch judges: Salvador Encinas (Chile), Christian Rudloff (Chile)
Algeria vs Agen at Camares ( Aveyron )
In February Algeria played its first-ever Test – against Tunisia A and won 8-7. Now they are on a tour of France where virtually all their players play and start with Agen before heading for Stade Francais and then Toulon.
