Italy vs Scotland
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin
Sat 22 Aug, 20:00 local, 19:00 BST
Italy kick-off their World Cup warm-up campaign against Scotland, hoping for a repeat of the result between the two sides in the Six Nations which saw them sneak a three point win at Murrayfield.
The Azzurri have named a team with plenty of experienced heads in it, but that nonetheless has the ‘fringe’ feel to it that has come to define this warm-up series so far. Tommaso Benvenuti is a surprise call-up in the centres having not featured in the national side for two years, while young hooker Davide Giazzon is given a chance to impress.
Tommaso Allan takes the reigns at fly-half against his country of birth, while there is power and experience in the back three of Masi, Sarto and Venditti. In the absence of stalwart captain Sergio Parisse, veteran lock Quintin Geldenhuys takes the armband, while the sizeable form of Samuela Vunisa fills the number eight shirt.
Scotland coach Vern Cotter will take much heart from his side’s performance against Ireland in Dublin, but has clearly viewed this game as another opportunity to test fringe members of his squad, with 11 changes from the team that performed so admirably last weekend.
Tonks, Lamont, Vernon and Gilchrist remain but there are three debutants in the starting line-up, with winger Rory Hughes, Kiwi-born flanker John Hardie and hooker Stuart McInally all winning first caps. WP Nel and Damien Hoyland are also set for first caps from the bench. Gilchrist is named as captain alongside the shaggy locks of Richie Gray while other familiar faces include Matt Scott, Duncan Weir, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Alasdair Strokosch.
The last three games between these two sides have been decided by a margin of less than three, but there’s not much point in reading too much into that. With two experimental line-ups named, this game will be a test of strength in depth – of which Scotland look to have more. Scotland by 5.
France vs England
Stade de France, Paris
Sat 22 Aug, 21:00 local, 20:00 BST
Last weekend saw two very unfamiliar-looking France and England teams do battle at Twickenham as both Stuart Lancaster and Philippe Saint-André took the opportunity to look at previously untested combinations. This Saturday is very different.
France are looking to avenge the five point loss from last weekend and reunite several first choice partnerships. Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud – reportedly in the best shape of his life – combine power and guile in the centres, while the back three of Scott Spedding, pantomime villain Yoann Huget and Noa Nakaitaci is likely their first choice unit.
Much focus will be on Freddie Michalak, who is a Saint-André favourite but is yet to convince most onlookers that he has the mental strength to consistently control a game from fly-half. In the pack the excellent Louis Picamoles is flanked by le Roux and Chouly, while Pascal Papé captains behind youthful prop duo Eddy Ben Arous and Rabah Slimani.
England name what is very close to a full strength team and anything other than an improvement on last weekend’s performance – and another win – will be deemed a disappointment, despite the game being away from home. Jonny May is the sole survivor from the Twickenham game, joined this week by Jack Nowell and the returning Mike Brown, who must hope to come through the game unscathed.
Much focus will be on Luther Burrell after the successes of Henry Slade and Sam Burgess last weekend; the Northampton man previously looked assured of his World Cup place but now needs a good performance if that is to be true. He is partnered with the electric Jonathan Joseph while George Ford and Ben Youngs reprise their roles at half-back.
In the pack the abrasive James Haskell will be looking to put pressure on Tom Wood for the starting blindside jersey, while Chris Robshaw returns as captain. The first choice front row trio of Marler, Youngs and Cole plays ahead of one of England’s best locking units in recent years, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury.
Finally there is much intrigue around the bench, where Danny Cipriani and Billy Twelvetrees have the unenviable and frankly wildly unlikely ask of playing their way into the World Cup squad via cameos in the second half. There is also a chance for Nick Easter to stake his claim for a place as hybrid back-row/lock cover, while Jamie George needs a better performance from the bench than Luke Cowan-Dickie’s last week, when England’s line-out all but fell apart.
This game will tell us much more about where these two sides are in their World Cup preparations than last weekend. Given these are close to the sides that competed during the Six Nations, it is difficult to look past a win for England, although there were some nice touches from France a week ago. The visitors have the edge in the front row and half-backs – two areas that usually define the result of a game. For that reason, I think they’ll win. England by 9.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Is the Italy v Scotland game on TV anywhere?!
BT Sport have it
Cheers Liono!
“Freddie Michalak……….yet to convince……..mental strength…….consistently control…….. fly-half”
You might precede “Freddie”, with “The veteran…”
He certainly has his moments, but I am amazed that he is still consistently picked in the French squad.
Players like Cooper, Cipriani, Hook, Henson, Burns and even Ryan Lamb must wonder whether they would be International superstars had they been born French.
I should add – for clarity – that I do like watching him play, I just wouldn’t want him at 10 in my team.
Mike Catt: “Luther had a very good Six Nations and played exceptionally well alongside Joseph.’
My memory is hazy at best but did he, really? If anything I’d say he was better alongside Twelvetrees the previous year. In any case, if he does well tomorrow and makes the squad fair enough, as much as I’d rather take both Burgess and Slade.
Meanwhile, Christian Wade and Elliot Daly are having fun all over the 7s.