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England face New Zealand in first of two Tests, followed by Australia vs Wales; Ireland are up against South Africa later today along with Argentina vs France; watch the summer rugby union internationals in the southern hemisphere live on Sky Sports
Josh Hathaway will make his Test debut, Aaron Wainwright earns his 50th international cap and Ben Thomas has been handed the fly-half role for when Wales face Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
Aberystwyth-born Gloucester back Hathaway, who has represented Wales and England at under-20 level, starts on the wing.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland moved quickly to secure the 20-year-old’s services, which was brought into sharp focus after Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was in a similar position last season and chose England.
“We want to make sure we qualify him for Wales,” Gatland said, after naming his training squad in June.
“He is a young player with a lot of potential and we think there is a lot of improvement in his game, whether it is wing or full-back.”
A reshuffled back-three from the team beaten by world champions South Africa at Twickenham sees Liam Williams move from wing to full-back, with Cameron Winnett dropping out after starting Wales’ last six Tests.
Thomas, meanwhile, makes his first international appearance since 2021 after being preferred to Sam Costelow in the number 10 shirt.
He will have some familiar faces alongside him, though, with Cardiff colleagues Ellis Bevan and Mason Grady starting at scrum-half and inside centre, respectively.
Elsewhere, there is a first Test start for Sydney-born Bath prop Archie Griffin, while Exeter forwards Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins join forces in the second row and number eight Wainwright brings up his half-century of international appearances.
Williams, Wainwright and prop Gareth Thomas are the only starting line-up survivors from Wales’ record 40-6 victory over Australia at the 2023 World Cup.
Wales face a tough task against the Wallabies, having not beaten them Down Under since 1969, losing 11 successive games.
Gatland said: “We have had a good week of preparations here in Sydney, and are excited to get out on the field on Saturday.
“This first Test is going to be a great challenge for us.
“Test matches are all about fine margins and we know we need to be accurate, keep our discipline and stay in the fight for the full 80 minutes.
“There is a lot of talent within the Australia squad and we know they will want to come out firing and put in a performance against us.”
Wales: L Williams (Kubota Spears); J Hathaway (Gloucester), O Watkin (Ospreys), M Grady (Cardiff), R Dyer (Dragons); B Thomas (Cardiff), E Bevan (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), A Griffin (Bath), C Tshiunza (Exeter), D Jenkins (Exeter), T Plumtree (Scarlets), T Reffell (Leicester), A Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements: E Lloyd (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), H O’Connor (Scarlets), C Hill (Secom Rugguts), J Botham (Cardiff), K Hardy (Ospreys), S Costelow (Scarlets), N Tompkins (Saracens).
Former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt takes charge of Australia for the first time after succeeding Eddie Jones as head coach and has named a new-look team for the opening Test against Wales.
Flanker Liam Wright has been named captain, with uncapped centre Josh Flook and lock Jeremy Williams also selected.
Williams will partner in the second row with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who is returning from a stint in England with Northampton for his first Test since 2021.
Tom Wright, who missed selection for the World Cup squad last year, returns at full-back and Andrew Kellaway will move to the wing. Filipo Daugunu was recalled to start on the other wing.
There are also five newcomers among the replacements, including Tom Lynagh, who is the son of Wallabies World Cup winner Michael Lynagh and brother of Italy international Louis Lynagh.
Australia: 15) Tom Wright, 14) Andrew Kellaway, 13) Josh Flook, 12) Hunter Paisami, 11) Filipo Daugunu, 10) Noah Lolesio, 9) Jake Gordon; 1) James Slipper, 2) Matt Faessler, 3) Taniela Tupou, 4) Jeremy Williams, 5) Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6) Liam Wright (c), 7) Fraser McReight, 8) Rob Valetini
Watch Wales against Australia live on Saturday from 10.30am on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event (10.45am kick-off). Stream rugby’s summer internationals in 2024 and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
Afghanistan reached a first ever World Cup semi-final courtesy of a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh which in turn knocked Australia out of the T20 tournament.
Bangladesh came into the game with a chance to progress or send Australia through with a victory but – chasing a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern revised target of 114 in 19 overs as rain affected their innings – were bowled out for 105.
Captain Rashid Khan (4-23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26) each took four wickets in the victory that secures Afghanistan a historic first World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad on Wednesday evening.
Afghanistan’s hopes were earlier dented when restricted to a modest 115-5 batting first, Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scoring, but using up 55 deliveries to reach 43.
Rishad Hossain (3-26) ultimately dismissed the opener Afghanistan suffered a dramatic collapse from 84-1 to 93-5 in the space of 11 balls, before Rashid later blasted three sixes in his 10-ball 19.
In the final over, the Afghanistan skipper was so desperate for late runs that he hurled his bat at his batting partner Karim Janat in fury when refused a second run.
Needing to chased down their target inside 12.1 overs in order to seal a semi-final spot themselves, Bangladesh came up well short in their rain-affected reply.
Litton Das struck an unbeaten 54 from 49, but wickets regularly tumbled at the other end, including two in two balls for Rashid in the 11th over that reduced the Tigers to 80-7.
Naveen then wrapped up the innings and the semi-final-clinching victory with his own double-strike with back-to-back deliveries in the penultimate over, prompting tearful celebrations from the Afghanistan players.
India, who beat Australia by 24 runs earlier on Monday in St Lucia to leave the qualification hopes of the 2021 champions hanging by a thread, will take on holders England in the second semi-final.
Afghanistan face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad (Thursday, 1.30am UK and Ireland), with the Proteas having topped Group 2 of the Super 8s ahead of England.
India took top spot in Group 1 and in doing so set up a Thursday date with England in Guyana (3.30pm).
There is no reserve day available for the second semi-final between England and India – although an extra 250 minutes is available on the scheduled day – so if the game cannot be completed due to weather India will advance by virtue of topping their Super 8s pool.
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Former rugby league star Regan Grace has been named in Wales’ 34-strong squad to tour Australia, live on Sky Sports.
Grace, who has only played two senior games of union for his club Bath, recently linked up with Wales’ training group after Ospreys wing Keelan Giles suffered a groin injury and was ruled out of the three-match trip.
The 27-year-old, who scored 89 tries for St Helens during a league career that saw him feature in three Grand Final-winning teams, is under contract with Bath until the end of next season.
He switched codes in 2022 but ruptured his Achilles tendon ahead of joining French Top 14 club Racing 92 and he did not feature for them at all after suffering an injury relapse six months later.
Grace then linked up with Bath to continue his rehabilitation and he played in friendlies earlier this year against Leinster and Gloucester as he returned to full fitness.
Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys has described Grace as an “X-factor” player and he will now travel Down Under, with Wales facing Tests against Australia in Sydney on July 6 and Melbourne seven days later, followed by an appointment with Queensland Reds.
Grace is among three uncapped players in the tour party, being joined by Gloucester back Josh Hathaway and Cardiff hooker Efan Daniel.
Injuries have hit Wales boss Warren Gatland’s plans, with Giles, hooker Elliot Dee and flanker Jac Morgan having been ruled out before Saturday’s Twickenham clash against South Africa that the Springboks won 41-13.
And Gatland has now lost tighthead props Keiron Assiratti and Henry Thomas, with Assiratti suffering a back problem during the Springboks encounter and Thomas missing that game because of a foot injury after originally being selected to start.
Bath’s Archie Griffin, Dillon Lewis and Harri O’Connor will fill the tour berths in that position, while hooker Dewi Lake, who led Wales against South Africa, will be tour captain.
Lake has been chosen for the role ahead of Six Nations skipper Dafydd Jenkins, who was among a sizeable contingent of England-based players unavailable to face the Springboks as that fixture fell outside World Rugby’s summer Test window.
Gatland said: “I am excited about this Wales squad. We know Australia is a tough place to go and play rugby, but we are relishing the challenge. We are expecting two fiercely contested Test matches and we are also pleased to be able to play a third fixture against the Queensland Reds.
“We are focusing on getting better as a group. This is a young squad that is still learning at this level.
“There are lots of positives and good things that we can build on from the weekend and there are also areas that we will be working hard to address over the next few weeks.”
It will be Wales’ first tour to Australia for 12 years and they have not beaten the Wallabies Down Under since 1969, losing 11 successive Tests.
Backs: E Bevan (Cardiff), G Davies (Scarlets), K Hardy (Scarlets), S Costelow (Scarlets), M Grady (Cardiff), E James (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), N Tompkins (Saracens), O Watkin (Ospreys), R Dyer (Dragons), R Grace (Bath), J Hathaway (Gloucester), L Williams (Kubota Spears), J Beetham (Cardiff), C Winnett (Cardiff).
Forwards: C Domachowski (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), G Thomas (Ospreys), E Daniel (Cardiff), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), E Lloyd (Cardiff), A Griffin (Bath), D Lewis (Harlequins), H O’Connor (Scarlets), B Carter (Dragons), C Hill (Secom Rugguts), D Jenkins (Exeter), M Screech (Dragons), C Tshiunza (Exeter), J Botham (Cardiff), M Martin (Cardiff), T Plumtree (Scarlets), T Reffell (Leicester), A Wainwright (Dragons).
Watch Wales’ two-Test series in Australia live on Sky Sports, starting in Sydney on July 6. Stream rugby’s summer internationals in 2024 and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
Rohit Sharma struck a stunning 92 from 41 balls as India beat Australia by 24 runs to clinch a T20 World Cup semi-final against England and leave their opponents in danger of elimination.
Rohit – who hit eight sixes, including his 200th in T20 internationals – raced to fifty off just 19 balls and looked on course for a sixth ton before being bowled by Mitchell Starc, the player he had crunched for four sixes and one four in a 29-run third over in St Lucia.
The skipper’s innings underpinned India’s total of 205-5, a score the 2007 champions would perhaps have hoped to better after being 127-2 in the 11th over with Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16) at the crease, but they went on to score only 43 runs from the final five.
Travis Head (76 off 43) fired for Australia in the reply, helping his side to 125-2 after 12 overs, but they slumped once Glenn Maxwell (20 off 12) was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav (2-24) at the start of the 14th, with the 2021 champions only mustering 181-7 as India clinched top spot in Group 1 and a Thursday date with England in Guyana (3.30pm).
Australia remain second in the pool but will be dumped out if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the final Super 8s fixture in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday (1.30am) while they could also miss out on net run-rate to Bangladesh if the Tigers record a handsome victory and join Australia and Afghanistan on two points.
South Africa await whichever of the three teams progress in the first semi-final in Trinidad (1.30am Thursday), with the Proteas finishing top of Group 2, ahead of England.
Reigning champions England decimated a timid India by eight wickets in the 2022 semi-finals in Adelaide but they will come up against a more aggressive side now – and one unbeaten in this tournament – with captain Rohit leading that shift in mindset.
After seeing opening partner Virat Kohli (0) caught on the pull off Josh Hazlewood (2-14) in the second over – Kohli is now averaging 11 across six knocks in the tournament with two ducks and a top-score of 37 – Rohit exploded in the third, hitting Starc for sixes over cover, point, midwicket and deep third as well as a four over mid-on.
He then mowed Pat Cummins over midwicket for a 100m six moments before a rain delay and clinched his half-century – the fastest in this World Cup, ahead of the 22-ball efforts from USA’s Aaron Jones and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock – upon the restart.
Rohit tucked into Marcus Stoinis (2-56) as well, with three boundaries in a row in the eighth over including sixes over deep backward square and cover, but his knock was ended when he deflected a Starc yorker onto his stumps in the 12th.
Shivam Dube (28 off 2) hit Starc’s next ball to the fence but India could only manage eight further sixes or fours from that point – Hardik Pandya (27no off 17) nailing two maximums on the trot off Stoinis in the 19th over – with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins (0-48) and Adam Zampa (0-41) largely restricting their opponents.
Australia lost David Warner – in what is potentially his last game for his country – in the first over of the chase as the veteran opener snicked Arshdeep Singh to Suryakumar at slip for six, only for skipper Mitchell Marsh (37 off 28) and Head to crunch a second-wicket partnership of 81 from 48 balls.
That stand was snapped in stunning style in the ninth over as Axar caught Marsh one-handed on the rope at deep square leg but Australia continued to charge for a while as Head clinched a 24-ball half-century with a four off Hardik and powered three boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja in the 11th.
However, Maxwell was then bowled dancing down the pitch at Kuldeep before Stoinis reverse-swept Axar to point and the innings hit the skids, with the only bright spot for Australia that they kept their net run-rate above Afghanistan’s and held on to second spot – for now.
Afghanistan play Bangladesh in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday (1.30am UK and Ireland), before the semi-finals take place on Thursday. The first game is in Trinidad from 1.30am, with the second in Guyana from 3.30pm.
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Afghanistan’s shock win over Australia at the T20 World Cup means all four sides in Super 8s Group 1 can still qualify for the semi-finals.
India are in pole position after winning their first two second-round matches by a handsome margin, with Bangladesh bang up against it after two heavy defeats.
Here are the permutations ahead of the final round of games, with India taking on Australia on Monday (3.30pm UK) before Afghanistan meet Bangladesh on Tuesday (1.30am UK).
As ever, net run-rate could prove crucial…
Rohit Sharma’s side, who beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh by 47 and 50 runs respectively, will definitely advance to the semi-finals if they beat Australia or the game is rained off.
They will also go through if they lose and then Bangladesh beat Afghanistan or if that match is abandoned.
Should they lose to Australia and Afghanistan then beat Bangladesh – results that would leave India, Australia and Afghanistan on four points apiece – India’s strong net run-rate, which currently stands at +2.425, would still leave them in good stead.
For them to be eliminated on net run-rate, India would have to lose to Australia by 41 runs and for Afghanistan to beat Bangladesh by at least 83 runs.
Australia’s net-run rate (+0.223) is better than Afghanistan’s (-0.65) at the moment, which could give the 2021 champions the edge in the event that those sides both win or both lose.
To chuck a scenario out there, if Australia beat India by one run, Afghanistan would need to defeat Bangladesh by 36 runs to leapfrog Australia on net run-rate.
If Afghanistan lose by just one run, Australia would need to have lost by 31 runs for their net run-rate to slip below Afghanistan’s.
If Australia win and Afghanistan lose, Australia are through. If Afghanistan win and Australia lose, Afghanistan are through. No results in both games and Australia advance on NRR.
With their net run-rate a poor -2.489, Bangladesh are struggling to make the semi-finals. To do so, they would need a heavy win over Afghanistan and a massive defeat for Australia vs India.
To go ahead of Afghanistan on NRR, they would need to beat their opponents by 31 runs, but that would only be good enough for second place if Australia lost to India by 55 runs.
Watch India vs Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Monday (3.30pm first ball) and then Afghanistan vs Bangladesh from 1am on Tuesday (1.30am first ball) on the same channel.
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Afghanistan kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive by stunning previously unbeaten Australia by 21 runs in a thrilling encounter on Saturday.
Despite Pat Cummins becoming the third bowler in history to claim a hat-trick in successive innings, Afghanistan posted 148-6 after being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground.
Afghanistan pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on 118 for the highest opening partnership against Australia in a T20 match before Australia’s bowlers rallied late, including Cummins’ second career hat-trick – just two days after his first.
Australia then stumbled with the bat and were all out for 127, with only Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41 balls) coming to grips with the superb Afghanistan bowling attack and the turning wicket.
Man of the match Guldabin Naib took four wickets in an inspired spell in the middle overs to stall Australia’s chase before Azmatullah Omarzai had final wicket Adam Zampa caught in the deep in the final over to complete a stunning win amid jubilant celebrations among the Afghan players and team management.
The victory moves Afghanistan to two points in Group 1 and level with Australia, but behind on net run rate. India lead the group on four points. Bangladesh are bottom after two losses but still have a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.
“It’s a massive win for us as a team and as a nation in the World Cup beating (the) champions,” captain Rashid Khan said.
“It’s so important for us back home and for everyone all around the world. Where Afghanistan people, the Afghans are there, they are badly missing this win and I’m sure they would have been so proud of and they would have enjoyed the game and I think it’s just the beginning now for us.”
Earlier, Gurbaz scored 60 off 49 balls, while Zadran made a steady 51 off 48 balls as they laid a solid platform – helped by some uncharacteristically poor fielding by Australia.
Marcus Stoinis eventually made the breakthrough in the 16th over, dismissing Gurbaz which led to a flurry of wickets as the momentum shifted.
Adam Zampa (2-28) took two wickets in the next over, including Zadran’s, before Pat Cummins again came to the fore. The seam bowler had Rashid Khan (two) caught by Tim David in the deep with the final ball off the 18th over.
Cummins (3-28) returned to bowl the final over of the innings and with his first ball had Karim Janat (13) again caught by David.
For the hat-trick ball, Cummins cleverly disguised a slower delivery which Guldabin Naib could only loft to Glenn Maxwell running in from the boundary to claim the catch.
Australia stumbled early in the chase as it lost Travis Head bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq for no score with the third ball of the innings.
Captain Mitchell Marsh (12) played two big shots before he was Naveen’s second wicket and when David Warner (three) was out to spinner Mohammad Nabi’s first ball the Aussies were in trouble at 32-3 in the sixth over.
Stoinis and Maxwell steadied the Australian innings as they reached 70-3 at the halfway stage.
Gulbadin (4-20) was the eighth bowler used by Afghanistan inside the first 11 overs and it paid a near instant dividend as Stoinis could only sky a pull shot which was caught by Gurbaz.
Gulbadin then removed David (two) and when the allrounder had Maxwell spectacularly caught by Noor Ahmad an upset victory appeared likely.
Australia’s lower-order batters couldn’t find the big hits that the moment demanded either and when veteran Nabi took a catch on the boundary to dismiss Zampa (nine), Afghanistan’s deserved victory was confirmed.
Australia face India in St Lucia on Monday (live from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket, first ball 3.30pm), while Afghanistan round off their Super 8s campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday (live from 1.30am on Sky Sports Cricket. The two semi-finals take place on Thursday June 27, ahead of the final on June 29.
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Wales have been dealt a major injury blow with flanker Jac Morgan ruled out of Saturday’s Test match against South Africa and the summer tour to Australia.
Morgan, who was Wales’ World Cup co-captain with Dewi Lake last year, missed this season’s Six Nations because of a knee injury.
But he now has a hamstring problem that he suffered during Ospreys’ United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat against Munster.
The Welsh Rugby Union announced that Morgan has been released from the squad, meaning he misses the Springboks encounter and Tests in Australia on July 6 and 13 – which will all be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Hooker Lake, who also sat out the Six Nations due to injury, will be captain against South Africa at Twickenham, with James Botham wearing the number seven shirt and lining up in a back-row that also includes Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright.
Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan is handed a Test debut, while Liam Williams makes a first Wales appearance since the 2023 World Cup.
Williams, who missed this season’s Six Nations due to club commitments in Japan, returns alongside back-three colleagues Cameron Winnett and Rio Dyer.
Wales are without their England-based players – the likes of Nick Tompkins, Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell – because the game falls outside World Rugby’s summer Test window and means they cannot be considered for selection.
Wales have been badly hit in the second-row department, with Six Nations skipper Jenkins and his Exeter colleague Christ Tshiunza both unavailable, Will Rowlands being rested and Adam Beard injured.
Matthew Screech and Ben Carter are the locks selected to start against the world champions. Screech, 31, made his only previous Wales appearance as a replacement against Argentina in 2021, while Carter was last involved during the World Cup warm-up Tests almost a year ago.
There are three uncapped players on the bench, meanwhile, in Ospreys forward James Ratti, Scarlets centre Eddie James and Cardiff back Jacob Beetham.
South Africa are the ‘home’ team on Saturday, with Twickenham their choice of venue, and Wales go into the game following six successive Test defeats.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: “We have our backs to the wall a little bit this week, but we are really excited about the challenge on Saturday.
“Facing the world champions at Twickenham Stadium will be a great occasion, and we are relishing the opportunity to get out there and put in a performance.
“We have a big week ahead of us with this young squad, but the coaches and I have been very happy with the effort that is going in.
“There’s a huge amount of potential in this group, and the next five weeks will be extremely important for us in terms of wanting to develop this team.”
Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Mason Grady, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Ellis Bevan, 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Ben Carter, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 James Botham, 8 Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 James Ratti, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Eddie James, 23 Jacob Beetham.
World champions South Africa have named uncapped Jordan Hendrikse at fly half and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing in a much-changed squad for the Twickenham clash, with Pieter-Steph du Toit to lead the side.
Flanker Ben-Jason Dixon and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are also likely to make their debuts off the bench as coach Rassie Erasmus opts for a rare, for him, 5-3 split between forwards and backs among the replacements.
The fixture in London falls outside of the international window, leaving the Springboks without several of their first-choice players in England and France, as well as those from the Bulls, who host Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship final on the same day.
“Edwill, Jordan, Ben-Jason, and Sacha have really impressed us at training, and we believe they have what it takes to make their presence felt against a quality team such as Wales,” Erasmus said.
“They will be surrounded by several experienced campaigners, some of whom are Rugby World Cup winners, so they will have enough guidance on the field to fulfil their roles even when the pressure is on.”
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Damian de Allende.
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International rugby returns to Sky Sports this summer as England, Ireland and Wales travel to face the might of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in two-Test tours…
Not since 2003 and the summer prior to England’s greatest day in rugby union have the nation picked up a Test victory against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Back then, Clive Woodward’s outstanding squad of players travelled to the southern hemisphere and beat New Zealand 15-13 in Wellington, and then Australia in Melbourne as crucial preparation ahead of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia – a tournament they would go on to win, of course.
There have been 18 Tests between the sides in the two decades since, set in New Zealand, Twickenham and neutral venues, with England having only won two (November 2012, 2019 World Cup semi-final).
Seven of those 18 match-ups have taken place in New Zealand for seven All Black victories (2-0 series win in 2004, 2-0 series win in 2008, 3-0 series win in 2014), but perhaps now is England’s best chance to travel south and pick up a marquee win again.
A poor start under Steve Borthwick which saw England finish fourth in the 2023 Six Nations after three defeats, and lose 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up Tests to Wales and Fiji, has given way to a far more positive outlook following the 2024 Six Nations.
Denying Andy Farrell’s Ireland the chance of successive Grand Slams felt like a turning point for Borthwick’s team, dominating the game against a first-class opponent, and looking to play rugby on the front foot as opposed to employing negative tactics.
England may have finished their 2024 championship with defeat to France in Lyon, but they gave Les Bleus an almighty scare in another impressive display.
Add to that the fact the New Zealand side England will be facing will be vastly different from the one which lined out in the 2023 World Cup final, and there is undoubted potential for success.
Legends of All Blacks rugby in Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles and Aaron Smith have retired, while others in Richie Mo’unga, Shannon Frizzell, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Nepo Laulala have left for playing opportunities overseas. New All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson may have his work cut out.
Saturday June 22 – vs Japan (6.50am)
Saturday July 6 – vs New Zealand (8.05am), live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 13 – vs New Zealand (8.05am), live on Sky Sports
For many, Ireland were the most impressive team at the 2023 World Cup until New Zealand caught them in the quarter-finals to win an epic contest on one of the lowest days in Irish rugby history.
Within Ireland’s World Cup pool they even defeated eventual tournament winners South Africa in a titanic Paris tussle, all of which nicely sets up July’s two-Test series between the sides.
For all South Africa’s success of recent times, their bogey team has been Ireland. Indeed the last three meetings have seen the northern hemisphere side clinch victory (September 2023, November 2022, November 2017).
That World Cup Pool B defeat for the Springboks put them on a collision course with hosts France and could so easily have seen South Africa limp out at the quarter-final stage. Instead, three improbable one-point victories over Les Bleus, England and New Zealand saw them to another title win.
Lifting the Webb Ellis trophy saw South Africa regain the world’s No 1 ranking, overtaking Ireland who remain at No 2.
Since the World Cup, Ireland dusted themselves down to win another Six Nations in 2024, but missed out on a Grand Slam with last-gasp defeat at Twickenham, while their performance to secure the title was far from their best at home to Scotland.
Question marks for Andy Farrell then, as his side embark on what is sure to be two extremely tough assignments in Pretoria and Durban, and that off the back of Ireland’s provinces ending their seasons trophyless.
Led by the controversial and volatile Rassie Erasmus, a host of Springboks have also been talking about Ireland in a negative light leading up to this series. Eben Etzebeth said 12 Irish players wrote off New Zealand before playing them at the World Cup, Damian de Allende claimed “Irish people aren’t emotional” and Cheslin Kolbe dismissed Ireland’s credentials as potential World Cup winners.
Former Ireland wing Simon Zebo has also claimed recently Erasmus “hates Ireland”. There is sure to be no lack of spice in this series.
Saturday July 6 – South Africa vs Ireland (4pm), live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 13 – South Africa vs Ireland (4pm), live on Sky Sports
If there’s a side that needs a boost this summer, it’s Warren Gatland’s Wales.
A disastrous 2024 Six Nations championship saw them lose all five fixtures, including to Italy in Cardiff for the second time in three seasons.
The net result was Wales picking up the Wooden Spoon for the first time since 2003.
The 2023 Six Nations saw them lose four from five fixtures under Gatland, while their 2023 World Cup campaign also ended in failure, losing to an Argentina side in the quarter-finals who would be beaten 44-6 by New Zealand in the semis.
Wales lack experience, depth and form, but they are coming up against an Australia side who have also been in disarray, and who Wales actually crushed 40-6 in the pool stages at the World Cup.
Emerging out of a dreadful period under Eddie Jones, though, the Wallabies seek a new dawn under former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, and the Kiwi is tipped to have a big impact.
Saturday June 22 – vs South Africa (2pm), live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 6 – vs Australia (10.45am), live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 13 – vs Australia (10.45am), live on Sky Sports
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England beat the weather and Namibia at the T20 World Cup and went on to qualify for the Super 8s following Australia’s win over Scotland.
Defending champions England rose to second in Group B, ahead of Scotland on net run-rate, after a comfortable 41-run triumph on DLS in Antigua in a game reduced to 10-overs a side by rain, one in which Harry Brook (47no off 20 balls) top-scored.
Jos Buttler’s side then needed Australia to defeat Scotland in St Lucia hours later and that duly happened, with the 2021 winners overhauling Scotland’s 180-5 with two balls to spare in a competitive contest.
England have fought back excellently at the T20 World Cup since an opening rain-off against Scotland in Barbados was followed by a 36-run loss to Australia at the same venue four days later.
They rolled Oman for 47 in Antigua before sprinting to victory in 19 balls to take their net-run rate above Scotland’s and were ruthless against Namibia at North Sound once the wet weather that delayed the game by three hours and threatened an abandonment – a result that would have eliminated England – cleared.
Buttler (0) and Phil Salt (11) fell early as England slipped to 13-2 but Brook and Jonny Bairstow (31 off 18) clubbed 56 from 30 balls in partnership before Moeen Ali (16 off six) and Liam Livingstone (13no off four) chipped in with enterprising cameos.
Livingstone nailed his first two deliveries for six in Ruben Trumpelmann’s final over, including a one-handed effort over deep backward square.
Namibia, whose target was adjusted to 126 with the match originally 11-overs-a-side before a second short rain delay trimmed an over off, could make only 84-3 in reply, although David Wiese (27 off 12) had fun, cracking Adil Rashid (0-29) for back-to-back sixes, in what is set to be his final appearance for his country.
Wiese had earlier impressed with the ball, recording figures of 1-6 from two overs at the start of England’s knock and having Salt caught behind off a knuckleball, while Trumpelmann (2-31) bowled Buttler with a vicious in-swinger.
England’s middle order fired, though, and their bowlers then proved tough to get away, save for Rashid’s over Wiese tonked for 20, with Jofra Archer taking 1-15, Chris Jordan 1-19, Reece Topley 0-6 and Sam Curran 0-13.
England join co-hosts West Indies and USA plus South Africa in Group 2 of the Super 8s, with Australia to compete in Group 1 alongside India, Afghanistan and one of Bangladesh or Netherlands.
Speaking after his side’s win and before Australia beat Scotland, England skipper Buttler said: “It’s a big relief, a stressful day, but we put in a good performance. We’ve done all we can do.”
Team-mate Bairstow said: “There was a lot of chat about the net run-rate but we’ve overcome that and the other challenges put in front of us. As a group, we’ve stuck together really tightly.
“That Australia game was a tough game and they outplayed us in that, fair play to them. But we have responded.”
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
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