New Zealand vs Wales Sat 8:35am ; Australia vs England Sat 11am; Both Sky Sports 1

thomond2006

I may as well save space and put two matches in one thread.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/8745241.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8741307.stm

NEW ZEALAND v WALES
Venue: Carisbrook, Dunedin Date: Saturday, 19 June Kick-off: 0835 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales MW & online, score updates online, live on Sky Sports 1

New Zealand:
Israel Dagg (Highlanders); Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Benson Stanley (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders); Ben Franks (Crusaders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Anthony Boric (Blues), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Richie McCaw (Crusaders, capt), Kieran Read (Crusaders).

Replacements:
Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs), Tony Woodcock (Blues), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Adam Thomson (Highlanders), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), Richard Kahui (Chiefs).

Wales:
Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Tom Prydie (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Paul James (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Gavin Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ryan Jones (capt).

Replacements:
Huw Bennett (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)

It should be an emotional night at Carisbrook ("The House of Pain") as this will be the last test match played before its closure. A new stadium is being developed for RWC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth_Barr_Stadium_at_University_Plaza

The All Blacks' XV shows just one change to the side that trounced Ireland at New Plymouth. Victor Vito plays at 6, replacing Jerome Kaino.

Gavin Thomas and Andrew Bishop start for Wales with Rob McCusker and Tavis Knoyle set to win their first caps from the bench.

I can't see past the ABs for this one. I don't think Wales can match the intensity and pace that all the Southern Hemisphere sides are able to play at. New Zealand by 15-20.

Head to Head:

Gavin Thomas gets an opportunity with Sam Warburton and Martyn Williams unavailable. He has been the form openside in the ML this season and is a menace at the breakdown and an excellent link-up player. However he comes up against probably the best number 7 ever in Richie McCaw. He always has his homework done on the referee and will make a nuisance of himself at the breakdown. Thomas has a lot of work to negate McCaw's influence on the game, so many have tried and failed.

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Australia v England
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney Date: Saturday, 19 June Kick-off: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; live coverage on Sky Sports 1.

Australia:
James O'Connor; Digby Ioane, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa, Salesi Ma'afu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (captain), David Pocock, Richard Brown.

Replacements:
Huia Edmonds, James Slipper, Mark Chisholm, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper.

England:
Ben Foden (Northampton); Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Shontayne Hape (Bath), Chris Ashton (Northampton); Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Tim Payne (Wasps), Steve Thompson (Brive), Dan Cole (Leicester), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Tom Croft (Leicester), Lewis Moody (Leicester, capt), Nick Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements:
George Chuter (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Simon Shaw (Wasps), James Haskell (Stade Francais), Danny Care (Harlequins), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Delon Armitage (London Irish).

Matt Giteau and Will Genia return to the Wallaby side, who retain the same front row that was mangled last week after Tatafu Polota-Nau was ruled out.

Martin Johnson has finally seen sense and replaced Danny Care with Leicester's Ben Youngs. Courtney Lawes also starts in place of Simon Shaw.

I expect a similar result to last week. England to dominate the scrum and after that be dominated. A fit Matt Giteau brings a whole new dimension to the Australia backline. I'd go Australia by 10-15.

Head to Head:

This is intriguing to say the least. Both Genia and Youngs are the form scrum halves in their respective countries. Genia needs to have a big game as Luke Burgess was impressive last week. Youngs needs to play his own game and be a constant threat around the fringes. He will have to watch Genia carefully as he is quick and very strong. Whoever comes out on top here and lives up to their billing will go a long way to giving their side the win.