International previews

June 23, 2006

Are you ready for some football...? This weekend's biggies...

Australia vs. Ireland at Perth, Australia. Ireland come off two hard-fought losses against the All Blacks, whilst the Wallabies come off back-to-back thrashings over England. Should be a good contest. Totalbet odds have Wallabies winning by 10 points. Rugby Planet goes on a limb and picks Ireland by 4 points.

South Africa vs. France at Cape Town, SA. This is a real heavyweight contest between the Six Nations champion and the IRB #2 ranked team in the world. If France wins, they will accumulate points and move up the table into that #2 slot. Totalbet has Springboks by 7 points; RP picks the Boks by 10.

Both those tests will be available LIVE and for download at Mediazone's Rugby Channel.

And New Zealand take on the tough Argentine Pumas in Buenos Aires. The All Blacks come with an altered first XV from the side(s) that squeezed past Ireland the past fortnight, and Argentina have their tails in the air following two nice wins against Wales.

There appears to be confusion over just what sort of crowd the All Blacks will attract in Buenos Aires on Sunday. Former test-prop John Drake analyzes what the All Blacks expect and hope to see.