TEST RUGBY RESULTS FOR 23-24 NOVEMBER

24.11.2012
New Zealand 33, Wales 10 in Cardiff
South Africa 16, England 15 at Twickenham
France 22, Samoa 14 in Paris
Australia 22, Italy 19 in Bologna
Ireland 46, Argentina 24 in Dublin
Tonga 21, Scotland 15 in Aberdeen
Fiji 24, Georgia 19 in Tblisi
United States 34, Romania 3 in Bucharest
Botswana v Swaziland in Manzini-result TBA

23.11.2012
New Zealand Maori 32, Canada 19 in Oxford (non-test)

Briefly
New Zealand too good for Wales. Wales ‘drew’ the second half.
South Africa just past England. It wasn’t pretty but it was a win.
Samoa gave France all sorts of bother before the French finally won.
Italy could have drawn this game but missed a last-minute penalty. More inconsistency from the Aussies.
Ireland! Wow. Argentina put to the sword.
Tonga! OMG! Major upset no.2! France at RWC now Scotland. Another coach’s job on the line again?
Fiji outpointed Georgia but the impression I get is the Georgia chose wrong tactics against the Islanders and were blitzed in first 20 minutes.
USA too good for Romania. November has not been a happy time for Eastern European Tier 2 rugby nations.

All work commitments should ease as from this week coming. I’m looking forwards to covering 1 December games in full and updating the stats web site www.rugbyinternational.net

TEST RUGBY RESULTS; Saturday 17 November Updated

17.11.2012
New Zealand 42, Italy 10 in Rome
Australia 20, England 14 at Twickenham
France 39, Argentina 22 in Lille
South Africa 21, Scotland 10 at Murrayfield
Japan 25, Georgia 22 in Tblisi
Ireland XV 53, Fiji 0 in Limerick
Tonga 22, United States 13 in Colwyn Bay (IRB Rugby Championship)
Canada v Russia in Colwyn Bay (IRB Rugby Championship) in progress
Portugal 28, Chile 22 in Santiago
Spain 38, Namibia 37 in Windhoek (IRB Tri-Nations Series)
Germany 32, Moldova 14 in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
Ukraine 42, Czech Republic 14 in Dneproetrovsk (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
Netherlands 24, Switzerland 7 in Amsterdam (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
Cyprus 54, Austria 20 in Vienna (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2C)
Greece 22, Bosnia Herzegovina 17 in Thessalonika (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
Turkey 53, Azerbaijan 3 in Antalya (ENC 3) Match stopped 65m-violence

TEST RUGBY MATCHES THIS WEEKEND 23 June

23.06.2012
Wales v Australia in Sydney (3^rd test)
Ireland v New Zealand in Hamilton (3^rd test)
England v South Africa in Port Elizabeth (3^rd test)
France v Argentina in Tucuman (2^nd test)
Scotland v Samoa in Apia
Fiji v Tonga in Suva (Pacific Nations Cup)
Georgia v Canada in Vancouver
Italy v United States in Houston
Hungary v Bulgaria in Pernik (ENC 2C Playoff)
Bermuda v Guyana in Hamilton (WCQ Americas; NACRA Final)

Briefly
Wales, Ireland and England will end their summer tours down south. For Wales and Ireland, both whom came very closing to winning the second tests, this is their last chance to change the history books and record that elusive win. Wales last defeated Australia in Australia in 1969, and Ireland have never defeated New Zealand.

France has this last opportunity to win against Argentina on tour in America. They lost the first test 20-23. Also touring America, Italy face the USA whilst Georgia will need to improve considerably if they are to defeat Canada. Note, the Georgian touring side is without a large number of their top players.

Bulgaria has a final chance to win its way out of ENC Division 2D when they face Hungary at home.

Last but not least, there is a World Cup 2015 qualifying game to be played in Bermuda. Guyana, NACRA South winner challenges Bermuda, the north winner, in the NACRA final. Bermuda will be defending it’s title as well trying to qualify to play the eventual CONSUR B winner in what will be a World Cup qualifying process rugby test.

INTERNATIONAL TEST RUGBY RESULTS; Saturday-Sunday 16-17 June-Updated

17.06.2012
Samoa 27, Japan 26 in Tokyo) Pacific Nations Cup)
Argentina ‘A’ 33, Russia 9  in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
Uruguay 35, Portugal 7  in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
Romania 17, Emerging Italy 13 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

16.06.2010
Australia 25,Wales 23 in Melbourne (2^nd test)
New Zealand 22, Ireland 19 in Christchurch (2ns test)
South Africa 36, England 27 in Johannesburg (2^nd test)
Argentina 23, France 20 in Cordoba (1^st test)
Scotland 37, Fiji 25 in Suva
Italy 25, Canada 16 in Toronto
United States 36, Georgia 20 in Denver
England Counties 34, East Africa XV 14 in Nairobi (non-test)

TEST RUGBY: Test Matches This Weekend 15-16-17 June

15.06.2012
Italy v Canada in Toronto

16.06.2010
Wales v Australia in Melbourne (2^nd test)
Ireland v New Zealand in Christchurch (2ns test)
England v South Africa in Johannesburg (2^nd test)
France v Argentina in Cordoba (1^st test)
Scotland v Fiji in Suva
Georgia v United States in Denver
England Counties v East Africa XV in Nairobi (Non-test)

17.06.2012
Samoa v Japan in Tokyo) Pacific Nations Cup)
Russia v Argentina ‘A’ in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
Portugal v Uruguay in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
Romania v Emerging Italy  in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

I regret that due to work and other commitments I am unable to preview the above rugby test matches.

But here are my predictions
Wales by 3 v Australia
New Zealand by 25 v Ireland
South Africa by 10 v England
France by 3 v Argentina
Scotland by 10 v Fiji
USA by 5 v Georgia
England Counties by 30 v East Africa
Samoa by 5 v Japan
Argentina ‘A’ by 30 v Russia
Portugal by 10 v Uruguay
Romania by 5 v Emerging Italy