100 Days until Rugby World Cup

The countdown has begun. There is now a mere 100 days between now and the opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Here’s a brief rundown of where the four Americas representatives stand, and what’s in store between now and then.

 

ARGENTINA

Los Pumas have already completed the CONSUR Cup, where they defeated Uruguay and Paraguay, and bested a USA XV in two matches at the beginning of May. They sent a development side to the Pacific Challenge in Fiji, which they won, and will also take part in the World Rugby Nations Cup, which takes place from June 12-21 in Romania.

The senior side returns to action on June 20 in the first of two matches against the touring French Barbarians. From there, the action really turns up with the Rugby Championship kicking off on July 17, and extra tests against Uruguay on August 1 and the Springboks on August 15. Their final warm-up will be against Leicester, the home of Marcos Ayerza, on September 5, before their first World Cup match against the All Blacks on September 20.

Last year was difficult for Los Pumas, winning only five out of 14 test matches, losing eight in a row at one point. They did post their first ever Rugby Championship victory and defeated France in Paris to end the season. Including their CONSUR Cup matches, they are now on a four game win streak.

Argentina are in Pool C at the World Cup, along with Georgia, Namibia, New Zealand, and Tonga.

FIXTURES
June 20 – v French Barbarians, Club Old Resian (15:30 Rosario)
June 26 – v French Barbarians, La Plata Rugby Club (18:30 La Plata)
July 17 – v New Zealand, AMI Stadium (19:35 Christchurch)
July 25 – v Australia, Estadio Malvinas (19:40 Mendoza)
August 1 – v Uruguay, Estadio Charrua (tba Montevideo)
August 8 – v South Africa, Kings Park (17:05 Durban)
August 15 – v South Africa, Estadio Jose Amalfitani (tba Buenos Aires)
September 5 – v Leicester Tigers, Welford Road (15:00 Leicester)

 

CANADA

The Maple Leafs had a disappointing year in 2014, winning only one test against Namibia in November. They lost five times, and also fell to an RFU Championship XV in a non-cap international on November 2. Their ‘A’ side struggled in the Americas Rugby Championship and even their 7s side, comprised largely of senior XVs players, had a rough start to the new season.

This year has been better, with a solid showing from the ‘A’ team at the Pacific Challenge, and a return to more admirable fortunes for the 7s side. The domestic Canadian Rugby Championship takes place at the end of June, after which coach Kieran Crowley will name his squad to take part in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Closing out their approach to the World Cup is a series of four matches, starting with their arch-rivals the US Eagles on August 22. In lieu of a second match between the two counties, Canada will instead venture to Halifax for the first time to take on the Pro 12 champions Glasgow Warriors. After that it’s off to England, with two tests against Georgia and Fiji before their World Cup tournament starts on September 19 against Ireland.

Canada are in Pool D at the World Cup, along with France, Ireland, Italy, and Romania.

FIXTURES
July 18 – v Japan, Avaya Stadium (tba San Jose)
July 24 – v Tonga, Swangard Stadium (tba Burnaby)
July 29 – v Samoa, BMO Field (20:30 Toronto)
August 3 – v tba, Swangard Stadium (tba Burnaby)
August 22 – v USA, Twin Elm Park (18:00 Ottawa)
August 29 – v Glasgow Warriors, Wanderers Ground (tba Halifax)
September 2 – v Georgia, Molesey Road (19:30 Esher)
September 6 – v Fiji, tba (tba)

 

URUGUAY

The last team to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup have had to kick their preparations into high gear. Los Teros already have seven matches under their belt this year, hosting both a USA XV and the Fiji Warriors as well as the CONSUR Cup. Of those they have emerged victors only twice, against Paraguay and Brazil to start the year in April.

Next stop is the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup, held in Georgia, where they play development sides from Ireland and Italy, as well as a full strength Lelos side. A one-off match against Argentina on August 1st is followed by a two-match trip to Japan, and finally a match against a Basque Selection, which could in fact be a side comprised of the proposed merger between storied French clubs Biarritz and Bayonne.

Los Teros played 12 matches in 2014, winning six and drawing one. Their best win was undoubtedly the victory over Russia in Montevideo that clinched the World Cup qualification. They also sent an ‘A’ side to Canada to contest the Americas Rugby Championship, but came away winless in three attempts.

Uruguay are in Pool A at the World Cup, along with Australia, England, Fiji, and Wales.

FIXTURES
June 13 – v Georgia, Avchala Stadium (19:00 Tbilisi)
June 17 – v Emerging Ireland, Avchala Stadium (17:00 Tbilisi)
June 21 – v Emerging Italy, Avchala Stadium (17:00 Tbilisi)
August 1 – v Argentina, Estadio Charrua (tbd Montevideo)
August 22 – v Japan, Level-5 Stadium (14:00 Fukuoka)
August 29 – v Japan, Chichibunomiya Stadium (14:00 Tokyo)
September 6 – v Basque Selection, tba (tba)

 

USA

The Eagles had a mixed year in 2014, starting strongly by beating Uruguay to qualify for the World Cup, but then winning only two of their remaining seven matches. An impressive win against Canada in Sacramento was a highlight, and despite a heavy loss to the All Blacks in Chicago, the spectacle was almost unanimously viewed as a positive for World Rugby.

Their 2015 season started with a development tour to South America, where they beat Uruguay and lost twice to Argentina. Their focus now shifts to the Pacific Nations Cup, taking place both at home and in Canada, before returning north to face the Canucks in Ottawa on August 22. A proposed second match between the two will not happen, with the Eagles instead to face Avivai Premiership side Harlequins in Pennsylvania on August 30.

The success of the New Zealand match at Soldier Field has inspired a second match, this time against the Wallabies on September 5. The game will serve as the Eagles’ final warm-up match for the World Cup, which starts for them on September 20 against Samoa.

USA are in Pool B at the World Cup, along with Japan, Samoa, Scotland, and South Africa.

FIXTURES
July 18 – v Samoa, Avaya Stadium (tba San Jose)
July 24 – v Japan, Bonney Field (tba Sacramento)
July 29 – v Tonga, BMO Field (15:30 Toronto)
August 3 – v tba, Swangard Stadium (tba Burnaby)
August 22 – v Canada, Twin Elm Park (18:00 Ottawa)
August 30 – v Harlequins, PPL Park (tba Chester)
September 5 – v Australia, Soldier Field (tba Chicago)