The 'other' June tests
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<p>Hopeless 2nd half from Samoa. Couldn't catch a thing out there.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="589140" data-time="1466226432">
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<p>Hopeless 2nd half from Samoa. Couldn't catch a thing out there.</p>
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<p>Agree! Fiji wasn't going to give up and Samoa totally wasted their opportunities. They could have won with a bit more focus. Fiji wasn't playing that well and conceding a lot of turn-overs, but Samoa didn't do anything with it.</p>
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<p>Next week's game, Samoa v Tonga is still going to be important for RWC qualification. The numbers 1 and 2 of the 2016 and 2017 PNC combined will qualify directly for the 2019 RWC; the number 3 can still qualify via <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">home and away play-off matches against </span><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> the second best Rugby Europe Championship team.</span></p> -
<p>Ten minutes into the second half and Italy leads 14-13 against the USA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Magpies flanker Tony Lamborn, who was named on the bench for his USA debut, came on early in the 27th minute.</p>
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<p>Only just found a stream, so can't say much about the game.</p> -
<p>USA with a man in the bin, giving Italy the opportunity to add some points. Watching this game, it's clear these countries are in the "transition zone" between two tiers of rugby. Tier 1 country Italy is better than tier 2 country USA, but the difference isn't very big.</p>
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<p>Italy leads 21-13 after 67 minutes.</p>
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<p>... and then the livestream goes offline. </p> -
<p>Half time: Argentina 17 - 10 France</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Most of the game was played in the Argentinian half, with France having majority of possession, but Argentina's attack more effective, with two good tries scored (Montero, Tuculet).</p>
<p>France is clearly under-strength, with its best players still involved in the Top14 semi-finals. Their goal kicker (Plisson) missed several kicks, but Bonfils scored a very necessary try.</p>
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<p>Reasonably entertaining game, but it's a pity that France can't play with its best players.</p> -
<p>Full time: Argentina 30 - 19 France.</p>
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<p>Scrappy second half. Could have been a nice match to watch if ill-discipline - especially from the Argentinians - hadn't spoilt it. Try of the match came from Argie lock Petti, who must have thought he was a back for a minute.</p>
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<p>Two yellow cards, one for each team, but what the officials missed was - what looked like - Creevy kicking a French player who was lying on the ground. Camera picked it up, so now wondering whether World Rugby is going to have a look at it. They should. We'll know if he gets cited.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="589842" data-time="1466377757">
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<p>It was actually a decent game given the two teams playing. The French team looked very weak - not many household names in there.</p>
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<p>Yeah, it wasn't bad. I assume - now with the Top 14 semis played - the French will be able to call in some reinforcements for their second game next Sunday.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="589906" data-time="1466389842">
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<p>Three pages in and not one mention of Scotlands glorious victory away from home over an powerful Japanese team. Not ONE !?!?!?!?!?!</p>
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<p>Do any of you fluffybunnys actually watch Rugby ?</p>
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<p>I'm still hoping to see a replay of that game. It didn't help that that game was more or less at the same time as Aus v Eng. I only saw a few minutes after the game in Melbourne had finished.</p>
<p>Must say that, despite Japan's shock win during the RWC, I still expected Scotland to win ... If the next Scotland game is again at the same time as Aus v Eng, I'll watch Scotland!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589909" data-time="1466390221">
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<p>I'm still hoping to see a replay of that game. It didn't help that that game was more or less at the same time as Aus v Eng. I only saw a few minutes after the game in Melbourne had finished.</p>
<p>Must say that, despite Japan's shock win during the RWC, I still expected Scotland to win ... If the next Scotland game is again at the same time as Aus v Eng, I'll watch Scotland!</p>
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<p>That's the spirit, by christ the game was shit ( a penalty try and a try from a tighthead prop ) and was made even duller by commentators who genuinely made me long for Nisbo and Marshall ( I know right ? ) but it was like watching a Japanese team of old with a lock who was 6 foot 3 and an openside who was 93kg.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="589936" data-time="1466394759">
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<p>Looked like a bloody decent crowd in Japan for that game.</p>
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<p>24,000 I think the commentators said which is a very good turnout.</p> -
<p>This weekend's games below. It looks like we need dodgy streams again for watching the USA v Russia and Canada v Italy games.</p>
<p>I have added the NZU20s game, because it looks like there is a clash with the South Africa v Ireland game if you want to watch these games live.</p>
<p>Based on the kick-off times on the World Rugby website, Sky Guide is wrong about the k/o time of the NZU20 game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Fri 24 June, 3.00pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Fiji v Georgia</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Suva</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Try this link:</span></span><span style="color:#0066ff;"> <span style="color:#0066ff;"><span style="font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://1tv.ge/ge/live.html' title="External link">http://1tv.ge/ge/live.html</a> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">(goes to official Georgian TV website)</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sat 25 June, 2:00pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Samoa v Tonga</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Apia</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 1</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sat 25 June, 7:35pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">All Blacks v Wales</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Dunedin</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 1</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Prime delayed 8.30pm</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sat 25 June, 10:00pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Australia v England</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sydney</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 3</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sat 25 June, 10:20pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Japan v Scotland</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Tokyo</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 4</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sun 26 June, 3:00am</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">South Africa v Ireland</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Port Elizabeth</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 2</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color:#0066ff;"><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sun 26 June, 3.45am</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0066ff;"><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">NZU20 v AusU20</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0066ff;"><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Manchester</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0066ff;"><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 1</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sun 26 June, 6:10am</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Argentina v France</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Tucumán</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sky Sport 2</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sun 26 June, 2:00pm</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">USA v Russia</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Sacramento</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Mon 27 June, 4:00am</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Canada v Italy</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt;">Toronto</span></span></p> -
<p>SG i have questions. It seems like you watched nearly everything last weekend. How many games of rugby do you watch in a weekend? Where do you find the time? How can you watch that many games? I watch 2 in a row and i am rugby-ed out. I couldn't think of anything less interesting than watching USA v Russia. How do you do it?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="590675" data-time="1466639992">
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<p>SG i have questions. It seems like you watched nearly everything last weekend. How many games of rugby do you watch in a weekend? Where do you find the time? How can you watch that many games? I watch 2 in a row and i am rugby-ed out. I couldn't think of anything less interesting than watching USA v Russia. How do you do it?</p>
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<p>I'm going out on a limb here to suggest he probably doesn't have a partner and two or more young kids. Crazy, I know, but that's how I roll.</p>
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<p>Two games in a weekend is an achievement for me these days.</p>
