Wales "reserves" were more of a reserve team than Ireland's "reserves" though.

True enough but today for Wales was about most of that 22 not making it to the final World Cup squad based on the game.

2015-08-08
International Rugby. Rugby Championship.
AMI Stadium. Sydney. Australia.

Australia. Wallabies. 27

New Zealand. All Blacks. 19

Australia win the Rugby Championship.


2015-08-08
International Rugby. Rugby Championship.
Kings Park Stadium. Durban. South Africa.

Argentina. Pumas. 37

South Africa. Springboks 25

Broadcast details for next weekend's international friendlies on Sat 15 Aug:

New Zealand v Australia
Eden Park, Auckland
08:00 (K.O. 08:35), Sky Sports 3

Ireland v Scotland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
16:30 (K.O. 17:00), Sky Sports 1

England v France
Twickenham Stadium, London
19:15 (K.O. 20:00), Sky Sports 1

Argentina v South Africa
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
20:30 (K.O. 20:40), Sky Sports 2
Full match replay on Sky Sports 1 at 23:30

Interesting England team as ever

Goode
Watson
Slade
Burgess
May
Farrell
Wigglesworth

Vunipola
Webber
Brookes
Kruis
Parling
Wood
Clark
Morgan

Firstly great to see Morgan back and I think he's a huge addition to England's cause.

Does this mean Care and Cipriani are currently third choice and as things stand not going to be selected (obviously they can play themselves into form, but as things stand)? Wigglesworth is very solid but Care is a match winner on his day.

Is Watson being touted as a "second string" player as things stand? What on earth is Burgess doing near a top Rugby Union international side this early in his transition? And why not give Corbs better international game time rather than a cameo off the bench?

It will be very interesting to see who puts their hand up. Right now in my own view I'd only have Brown, Ford, B. Youngs, Cole, Lawes, Robshaw and B Vunipola as the certain starters come RWC time. So much to play for

Unlike Wales and Ireland, England and France have far more guys playing for starting positions so this is much more anticipated than last week's match- with respect

Speaking of Ireland Tommy O'Donnell is out of the World Cup. He never would have started but big blow for himself, his only chance to travel to a RWC tbh

Looks like Foden, Croft and Simpson are still to be called in

No idea why they're bothering with Foden, he'd be well down the pecking order now and hasn't played for England in yonks

He's a better FB option than Goode imo, but that's not the majority view.

Still can't believe Lancaster dumped Daly and more recently Eastmond, both players would have great game changers if we need attacking options off the bench.

Twelvetrees is hardly inspiring.

Foden is more exciting and has more flair than Goode, but Alex is way more solid and reliable and has more big game experience in recent times. Trustier boot too and he's a great organiser from the back. His cameo v Ireland this year was very solid

Foden is pretty overrated in recent years, hasn't been nearly the same player since around 2011 (when he was in serious form in fairness). If he wasn't going out with a popstar and a bit of a pretty boy himself he'd barely be mentioned anymore!

Eastmond baffled me, I can't believe Burrell and Burgess are still in there. 36 is a great club player, but I don't rate him as an international player

Cowan Dickie is a bit of a wild card, there's plenty that think he can even launch himself into first choice for RWC

Of course there's still plenty to be play for but you'd think this is possibly the 'as it stands' starting 15

Brown, Nowell, JJ, Barritt, ??, Ford, B. Youngs, Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Lawes, Launchbury, Haskell, Robshaw, Vunipola.

I don't know who they'll pick 11 honestly. Faz might be a centre option yet. Croft could very easily force his way straight in though

Gatland drops Hibbard, Hook and Phlilps

Big call by Gats to dump such experienced players.

Bit harsh on Phillipps?

If nothing else he'd be an experienced guy to bring off the bench

Big day of Rugby today with loads of games

All Blacks v the Wallabies just about to start on SS3. Should be a cracker

A caning for the Wallabies after dominating the first half hour !

41-13 to the All Blacks

2015-08-15.
International Rugby. Bledisloe Cup
Eden Park Auckland. New Zealand.

Australia. Wallabies. 13.

New Zealand. All Blacks. 41.

New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Wallabies firmly brought back down to earth! As can be seen they are really struggling for squad depth

I think they'll seriously have their work cut out to make it out of the group. Probably a straight shoot out in their match vs Wales for second place

Good try by England after France had dominated the first 10 minutes

England are being made to work hard by a French team that has dominated possession, territory and the set piece in the first half.

England's scrummaging has been very ordinary and line out is scruffy to say the least. Morgan Parratt is proving too canny for England and succeeded in suckering the Burgess into getting himself yellow carded.

Having said all that, England look better with the ball in hand. When we're not kicking the ball aimlessly away that is. Good to see Ben Morgan back. We need to sort our discipline out and get to grips with an efficient and powerful French pack.

Second half starts... .Wrigglesworth kicks the ball away. We never learn, do we...?

In fairness, the match was much like Wales v Ireland in approach last weekend.One to give those on the fringes a chance to shine before the final World Cup squads are named.

2015-08-15.
International Rugby. Rugby Championship.
Velez Sarsfield Stadium. Buenos Aires Argentina.

Argentina. Los Pumas. 12.

South Africa. Springboks. 26.


2015-08-15.
International Rugby.
Twickenham Stadium. London. UK.

England. 19.

France. 14.


2015-08-15.
International Rugby.
Aviva Stadium. Dublin. Ireland.

Ireland. 28.

Scotland. 22.

You can't con a rugby league international into not retreating 10m!
I only saw the highlights, so I would be interested to know if the Burgess experiment worked.
I was clear from the highlights that the front row was not good enough though.

Burgess was playing very well until he was binned. Did his chances zero harm though

Watson was deserved MOTM and looks a real class act. Probably the front runner for the 11 shirt now, although I thought May was brilliant too and has had a great few months since being dropped in the 6n. Goode did his chances no harm

Vunipola was outstanding in open play I thought out of the front row. Cowan dickie pretty much played himself off the "plane" I'd say (it's metaphorical!!)

Wrigglesworth isn't really international standard though, and Care is the much better option imo. Cipriani came straight into full back which would seem to confirm he'll be in the 31 I'd say as a versatile cover option

Henry Slade was very solid too. Ben Morgan had a stellar 50 or so minutes until he tired, great to see him back. Haskell was immense from the bench I thought. Tom Wood looked ordinary and Clark was poor, no chance he'll be in the 31 and got a nice sin bin to boot

Felt a bit sorry for Cips, when he came on England were starting to lose their shape. He hardly got any ball, so couldn't do anything to influence the course of the match.

I'd have him in the RWC squad, but if Lancaster is looking for an excuse to drop him he'll use Saturday as evidence.

I don't think so, he didn't get on much ball but did little wrong either. If he can work hard enough in training I think he'll get the nod. You probably need 3 out half options in the squad overall anyhow.

England v France

Brown
Nowell
Joseph
Burrell
May
Ford
B Youngs
Marler
T Youngs
Cole
Launchbury
Lawes
Haskell
Robshaw
Vunipola

George, Vunipola, Wilson, Attwood, Easter, Care, Cipriani, Twelvetrees

As close to the team we'll see starting at RWc as you'll get. Though I can't see Burrell being first choice 12. Huge game for Jonny May, Lancaster said he's been the form player in the training camps and was super again last Saturday