2012 end of year rugby tests / Autumn internationals

[Nielsch]

The first matches have been announced:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_end_of_year_rugby_union_tests

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ah, the ever reliable source that is wikipedia. Why do I get the feeling that South Africa won't be playing the Ukraine? Maybe it's the complete lack of sources or any mention of it anywhere else on the net.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's El Salvador now in the national stadium of Ukraine, can't wait.

 

[Nielsch]

Ah, the ever reliable source that is wikipedia. Why do I get the feeling that South Africa won't be playing the Ukraine? Maybe it's the complete lack of sources or any mention of it anywhere else on the net.

True. Probably won't be happening. The English, Welsh, Argentinian, Italian and Irish matches have been confirmed by the respective unions though.

 

[osullie6]

Anyone have any idea why Ireland only have two Test matches scheduled? Everyone else seems to have gone for three minimum. It's hardly an IRFU strategy to maintain a top 8 seeding is it?

 

[Nielsch]

It's El Salvador now in the national stadium of Ukraine, can't wait.

I'm booking a flight right now.

 

[smartcooky]

Anyone have any idea why Ireland only have two Test matches scheduled? Everyone else seems to have gone for three minimum. It's hardly an IRFU strategy to maintain a top 8 seeding is it?

Probably because there are some matches yet to be confirmed, and a third Irish international could be one of those

Here is the confirmed list as I understand it

[TEXTAREA]Saturday 10 November 2012
France v Australia, Stade de France
Italy v Tonga, Turin
England v Fiji, Twickenham
Ireland v South Africa, Dublin
Scotland v New Zealand, Murrayfield
Wales v Argentina, Millennium Stadium


Friday 16 November 2012
Wales v Samoa, Millennium Stadium


Saturday 17 November 2012
England v Australia, Twickenham
Scotland v South Africa, Murrayfield
France v Argentina, Stade de France


Saturday 24 November
England v South Africa, Twickenham
Wales v New Zealand, Millennium Stadium
Scotland v Tonga, Murrayfield
France v Samoa, Stade de France
Ireland v Argentina, Lansdowne Road


Saturday 1 December
England v New Zealand, Twickenham
Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium[/TEXTAREA]


The El Salvador v South Africa match is BS, someone's idea of a joke.

[strike]The Irish Wolfhounds v Fiji listed in Wiki is an interesting one. I can find no information on this anywhere else so I assume this is BS too.[/strike]

OOPS. Just found tickets on-line to this one, so it must be a goer.

But that rises the question, why Ireland "A" instead of the full Ireland squad. Are the IRFU just using this match to capture the eligibility of some players? If so, why not just select those players anyway and just call it Ireland.

 

[osullie6]

But that rises the question, why Ireland "A" instead of the full Ireland squad. Are the IRFU just using this match to capture the eligibility of some players? If so, why not just select those players anyway and just call it Ireland.

To be honest it was when I saw that the Irish Wolfhounds were playing that I thought the IRB rankings might have something to do with it. I'd imagine if the Wolfhounds lose that the position of the actual Ireland team wouldn't be affected; they could be trying to blood new players at an international level without risking their top eight standing.

I know it sounds fairly conspiracy theoryesque, but if there are no more fixtures confirmed that means Ireland will go through the Autumn Internationals without playing the two strongest international sides in the world which would strike me as a bit unusual, especially if Ireland are playing less games than everyone else. The Irish management were talking earlier in the year as well about the importance of maintaining a top eight ranking for the draw for the 2015 world cup as well.

I'm not basing this on anything really other than the fixture list so its entirely possible (even certain) that I'm talking through my arse. It just strikes me as unusual is all.

 

[Melhor Time]

To be honest it was when I saw that the Irish Wolfhounds were playing that I thought the IRB rankings might have something to do with it. I'd imagine if the Wolfhounds lose that the position of the actual Ireland team wouldn't be affected; they could be trying to blood new players at an international level without risking their top eight standing.

I know it sounds fairly conspiracy theoryesque, but if there are no more fixtures confirmed that means Ireland will go through the Autumn Internationals without playing the two strongest international sides in the world which would strike me as a bit unusual, especially if Ireland are playing less games than everyone else. The Irish management were talking earlier in the year as well about the importance of maintaining a top eight ranking for the draw for the 2015 world cup as well.

I'm not basing this on anything really other than the fixture list so its entirely possible (even certain) that I'm talking through my arse. It just strikes me as unusual is all.

No question about it. Its all about the rankings

 

[Melhor Time]

heard that there are rumours that Georgia could be facing Fiji on the 24th and Japan the week before that

Tonga too right

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