Can any of the Northern Hemisphere teams win their tour games this weekend?

Question

Ireland vs. NZ

Scotland vs. Argentina

Wales vs. SA

can any of them even get close to their opposision?

Answer 1

I think that Ireland have a good chance of turning over New Zealand as most of our players have come off a good season with a lot of success.

That said so have the All Blacks but due to the rule changes might hinder them. Only thing is Luke Fitzgerald is injured now and I was looking forward to seeing him play, Paddy Wallace is coming in though and plays most of the time for Ulster at inside centre and played with BOD when we won the under-19 world cup in 1998. So we have a reasonable chance, All Blacks are still obvious favourites though.

I think the story with Wales is kind of similar except that they have been hit with injuries in key positions like scrum-half. If they play their own game and stop that big SA pack they'll have a big chance.

I'm unsure about Scotland because let's face it, they're not that great, but most, if not all, of Argentina's players playing in France will miss the match though I still think Argentina will beat them handily enough.

My predictions:

Ireland 17-23 New Zealand

Wales 20- 27 South Africa

Scotland 10 - 29 Argentina

Answer 2

South Africa to thrash Wales

New Zealand to pip Ireland

Scotland to draw with Argentina

Also this weekend:

Austria to beat Hungary

Norway to thrash Lithuania

Fiji to beat Samoa

NZ Maori to beat Tonga

Scotland A to beat Canada

England Saxons to thrash USA

Australia A to beat Japan

PLUS the start of the Junior World Championships in Wales!

Thats alot of rugby.....

Answer 3

ireland id say will scrape through the match with a win

very close though

Answer 4

Yes, they all CAN, but that doesn't mean they will.

Both NZ and Sth Africa, for one reason or another are fielding less experienced teams than usual and both (NZ in particular) have had their key players in camp for a very short time.

Also NZ and South Africa have been playing their seasons under a number of ELVs (experimental laws) but will have to change back to the laws in use in Britain for these games. It's a bit of guess to see how that will affect the play.

Answer 5

Wales..can't really see it, nice hard fast pitch..nah wish they would though.

Ireland possibly, if it's wet, so wet that it's a war of attrition.

Scotland..really don't think so, sorry, (and I'm half Scots).

Answer 6

Wales should get close...even with their scratch 3rd string shadow team they have sent out...simply because of the gatland and edwards factor.

Answer 7

possibly Wales...6 nations champs...good form..cud upset S.Africa.

scotland will ge close as they have alot to prove. wales close but the irish will prob lose by 10-20