International
Summer Rugby: Japan and USA at Aviva Stadium
Irish rugby fans were disappointed at the Rugby Union’s cancellation of the three-test series planned for Fiji. The good news is that Ireland will be hosting both Japan and the USA at Aviva stadium in July. At first glance, it may seem that Ireland is set to slaughter these teams, but let’s look more closely at these matches before leaping to conclusions.
Betting on Rugby matches isn’t as easy as taking a flutter on football, with many external factors to consider. Still, you’ve got plentiful betting markets to choose from, and if you follow a few simple Rugby Union betting tips, you can win some extra cash. A few of the factors that can affect the outcome of a match include the availability of players, injuries and prior fixtures.
Ireland Vs. Japan July 3
The Irish team is ranked fourth worldwide, and Japan comes tenth, with Ireland winning seven of the last eight matches played between these two teams. No Irish fan can forget the last time these teams met at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Brave Blossoms defeated Ireland 19-12 in their group match, forcing Ireland into a quarter-final with New Zealand.
Japan’s coach, Jamie Joseph, called up 19 of the former World Cup players for the 36-man squad that will face the British and Irish Lions on June 26 before the July 3 match in Dublin. The manager plans to keep everything simple, relying on players that have international experience and proven form.
In the backline, Matsushima Kotaro joins the team in Europe from his French club, and we’ll also see former Munster winger Gerhard van den Heever playing in Edinburgh and Dublin. Kazuki Himeno is also joining the team in Europe, returning from a season with the Otago Highlanders.
Although hampered by limited preparation time, Japan’s management sees the tour as an opportunity to further develop Rugby Union in their nation. They hope to repeat or improve their performance at the World Cup and prove that they deserved their place in the quarter-finals.
Andy Farrel also takes these games seriously. The Irish tour to the USA and Japan four years ago proved worthwhile. With eight of his key players called up for the Lions, Farrel may decide to try some up-and-coming players against what should be weaker teams.
We should see some of the players snubbed from the Lion’s selection back to prove a point. We expect Joey Carbery and Garry Ringrose to make the cut, although 35-year-old Johnny Sexton may have to watch from the sidelines. James Ryan in the number five jersey is slated to captain the team.
We also expect to see new caps awarded, and there’s no shortage of talent to choose from in that regard. Munster’s Gavin Coombes would be a top choice for the back row, with Leinster’s number eight Caelan Doris returning to fitness for the matches.
The Irish team seems set to develop into a force that can proceed past the 2023 world cup quarter-finals with all its available talent. The lads will also want revenge for their 2019 defeat at the hands of The Blossoms, which forced them into a quarter-final match with the All-Blacks.
Ireland Vs the USA July 10
The Dublin match will be the Eagles’ second test since the 2019 World Cup, with punters able to judge their form in the July 3 match against England at Twickenham. Although the team hasn’t assembled in almost two years, coach Gary Gould has spent the last year tracking players and identifying new talent.
Although only ranked at number 16, the American team will be eager to prove their mettle and prepare for 2023 world cup qualifiers against up-and-coming teams in the Americas. With rugby gaining momentum on these continents, they’ll have to be on top form to secure a place in France.
The USA and Ireland have played 10 tests against each other, with Ireland emerging victorious each time. The last test between these two nations was at Aviva Stadium, with Ireland winning 57-14. The most significant Irish win was in 2000, with a final score of 83-3.
Conclusion
Although history shows that Ireland is the stronger team in both tests, the players and teams haven’t had much preparation, levelling the playing field slightly. The Brave Blossoms have also proved that they’re capable of delivering a surprise. All three teams will be using these games as essential preparation for Rugby World Cup qualifying matches.
Betting on these matches won’t be as straightforward as we’re used to. Sometimes the best players don’t meld well together as a team. With no recent games to prove these team’s form, choosing how to bet won’t be easy. Still, we’d bet on handicap markets, winning margin or take a punt on the first try–scorer.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
