Rugby Planet international test preview

November 25, 2005

As usual, Rugby Planet previews the weekend international test scene . . . click through the links to read full preview info, including starting lineups & replacements, and recent head-to-head records:

Scotland vs. New Zealand at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland.
RP prediction: New Zealand by more than 25.

France vs. South Africa at Stade de France, Paris, France.
RP prediction: France by less than 10 points.
Totalbet.com prediction: France by four points.

Wales vs. Australia at Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.
RP prediction: Australia by seven points.
Totalbet.com prediction: Australia by 10 points.

England vs. Samoa at Twickenham, London, England.
RP prediction: England by 18 points.
Totalbet.com prediction: England by 35 points

Italy vs. Fiji at Monza, Italy.
RP prediction: Italy by 10 points.

Ireland vs. Romania at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland.
RP prediction: Ireland by 25 points.

Canada's French language channel TV5 will be showing the France-South Africa test free-to-air -- coverage begins at 2:50 pm ET (11:50 am PT). Most Canadians don't even realize that channel is available, but if they look hard enough, they'll find it's usually high on their cable box. That same test is also available on a 24-hour delay tape at mediazone. The Australia-Wales and New Zealand-Scotland tests are available live at mediazone. As far as live audio goes, the BBC usually has live radio streams. If you don't mind viewing test matches on tape delay -- and free! -- a great source is aussietorrents. Last but not least, Viewers Choice in Canada shows test matches -- sometimes live / sometimes on tape -- but the cost is a painful $24.99-per-test, and the host cable provider usually knows nothing about these tests, they do not promote them and sometimes they schedule their start-times incorrectly (or even classify them as "Soccer Internationals") so caveat emptor -- check your PPV channels for more info.

The IRB Awards will be named this weekend...