It was another round of upsets and points strongly made as sides continue to fight for position heading into the World Cup at season's end.
A fast finishing Cook Islands has stormed home to stun Tonga in today's clash of island nations, with the Islanders finishing 22-12 winners after looking like losers in the first half. It was the first time the Islands have managed to secure consecutive wins in over a decade.
Cook Islands: Tyrone Pau, Regan King, Robbie Paul, and Tiri Toa. Paul 3/6
Tonga: John Hopoate and Jim Dymock. Hansen 2/2
PoM Points: Tyrone Pau 3, Solomon Haumona 2, and Leroy Joe 1.
England have continued their ominous form heading into the World Cup, today easily accounting for France in a 34-6 thrasing in Paris. After last week's demoralising loss to an Australian development side, the Chanticleers were still showing the wounds as they offered no resistance to the slick English attack.
France: Christophe Lamaisson. Michalak 1/2
England: Richie Mathers, Mark Gerrard, Stuart Fielden, Andy Farrell 2, and Keith Senior. Wilkinson 5/6
PoM Points: Andy Farrell 3, Jonny Wilkinson 2, and Ryan Bailey 1.
New Zealand have opened their account in their tour of the British Isles, scoring a convincing 30-14 win over the form starved Irish Wolfhounds. New coach Josh Hussey hasn't been able to continue the winning trend started by former Wellington mentor, Nathan Hoy- with the second placed Irish losing to the world #4 and #3 nation in consecutive weeks.
Ireland: David Humphrys, Michael Withers, and Chris McKenna. O'Gara 1/3
New Zealand: Mils Muliana, Nigel Vagana, Carlos Spencer, and Stacey Jones 2. Carter 5/6
PoM Points: Stacey Jones 3, Carlos Spencer 2, and Daniel Carter 1.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' team continues to struggle for form heading into the World Cup, today capitulating to an enthusiastic Japanese side in Tokyo. The AATSI side never looked comfortable in the game, and a bench made up predominantly of backs couldn't prevent a Japanese comeback.
Japan: Daisaku Ohata and Adam Parker. Miller 3/3
AA/TSI: Matt Sing. Fields 3/3
PoM Points: Dan Hills 3, Lee Hookey 2, and Yoshihiro Noda 1.
Russia have scored their nation's biggest ever win in today's clash against Lebanon, scoring five tries and holding their opposition tryless on the way to a powerful 26-0 victory over the Cedars.
Lebanon: None.
Russia: Robert Iliassov, Igor Gavrilin, Mark Hettmanczyk, Dayne Neirinckx, and Mikhail Mitrofanov. Ramonov 3/6
PoM Points: Andrei Doumalkine 3, Igor Gavrilin 2, and Dayne Neirinckx 1.
In the most entertaining match of the round, Malta have recorded their second consecutive victory with an impressive 34-26 victory over fellow world minnows, Greece. The Knights lead comfortably at one point, but Greek spirit saw the nation storm home for a respectable loss.
Malta: Sid Domic, Matthew Gafa, Paul Mellor, Jonny Maquina, and Ben Jacobs. Magro 7/7
Greece: Cletus O'Loftus, Manuel Manolis, Jason Stevens, Michael Goirgas, and Trais Touma. O'Loftus 3/5
PoM Points: Cletus O'Loftus 3, Manuel Manlois 2, and Paul Mellor 1.
In a dour affair in Capetown, the Scottish have scored a valuable 12-6 victory over fellow 2003 World Cup finalists, South Africa. Both sides came off impressive first round wins, but the Scottish defended grimly in the low scoring clash to record a morale boosting win.
South Africa: Claus Courtney. Van Der Westhuyzen 1/2
Scotland: Lee Penny and Lee Gilmour. Ross 2/2
PoM Points: Simon Taylor 3, Simon Bezuidenhout 2, and Daniel Heckenberg 1.
A late flurry of tries has seen Wales down Germany 20-8 in today's clash in Cardiff, but the Dragons will be far from happy with the result- only managing to claim the lead in the 67th minute.
Wales: Hefin O'Hare, Marc Calderwood, and Iestyn Harris. Harris 4/5
Germany: Verity Gunnarsson. Ahmed 2/4
PoM Points: Stephen Jones 3, Girvan Dempsey 2, and Keiron Cunningham 1.
| QUOTE |
| what happened to usa? |
Good question, that....
....for a possible factor that might help explain, go to the current Glebe Dirty Reds' VII's match site -
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/viewtopic.php?t=55241 ...
lmao. They're still around Chris, just having a break from internationals.
