Summer internationals.

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Italy 13-34 Scotland: Gregor Townsend off to winning start

By Tom English

BBC Scotland in Singapore


Scotland 'not perfect' but Gregor Townsend happy at win over Italy
On the stroke of the break, Visser stretched the lead after fine work in the air by Hoyland and a delicious dink over the top by Russell.

The Harlequins wing ran on to get Scotland's second try and in Russell's brief absence with a blood injury, the versatile Duncan Taylor banged over the conversion.

Scotland's lead at the break was 12 points and a couple of minutes into the new half it was 19 when Ford mauled his way over from close range.

Russell converted and then Italy were made to pay for further wretched discipline when debutant Budd, the second row, was binned.

In a relative blink, Ford scored again, with Russell's ambition at the heart of it. The fly-half linked nicely with the hooker and Ford had no trouble eluding a jaded Italian defence.

Having started his evening with two tries in 108 caps across 13 years, he had now doubled his total in six minutes.

Ford is one short of Chris Paterson's record of 109 Scotland caps
With the game now won at 27-3, Townsend emptied his bench bit by bit, saving some of his key men for Sydney.

Italy got a consolation score when one of those Scottish replacements, Magnus Bradbury, spilled the ball into the hands of the Italy back-row Maxime Mbanda, who offloaded to Campagnaro to score the try.

Their respite was brief. They lost another man to the bin in 71 minutes, replacement Steyn walking for dumping Henry Pyrgos illegally, and that made them increasingly vulnerable.

Within two minutes, Taylor sent Hoyland clear up the right wing and he went over for a first Test try, which Peter Horne converted.

The last act belonged to Italy and a try from their right-wing Esposito - a disappointing end to the game for Townsend and his team on an otherwise decent start to his reign.

Italy: E Padovani, A Esposito, M Campagnaro, T Boni, L Sarto, T Allan, E Gori (capt); A Lovotti, L Bigi, S Ferrari, M Fuser, D Budd, F Minto, M Mbanda, R Barbieri.

Replacements: O Gega, F Zani, P Ceccarelli, A Van Schalkwyk, A Steyn, M Violi, C Canna, T Benvenuti.

Scotland: D Taylor, D Hoyland, M Scott, A Dunbar, T Visser, F Russell, A Price; A Dell, R Ford, WP Nel, T Swinson, B Toolis, J Barclay (capt), R Wilson, J Strauss.

Replacements: F Brown, G Reid, Z Fagerson, R Harley, M Bradbury, H Pyrgos, P Horne.

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Ireland score nine tries in 55-19 win over USA Eagles

• 7 hours ago
• From the section Irish Rugby

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Ireland winger Jacob Stockdale scored a try on his international debut
USA Eagles v Ireland
USA (7) 19
Tries: Civetta, Quill, Matyas Cons: McGinty 2
Ireland (29)
Tries: Earls 2, Stockdale, N Scannell, Marmion, Conan, Ryan, McGrath, Zebo Cons: Carbery 3, R Scannell 2
Ireland scored nine tries as they kicked off their summer tour with an emphatic win over the USA Eagles.

Jacob Stockdale and James Ryan scored on their debuts in New Jersey.

Ireland, with 11 players on Lions duty, also scored through Keith Earls (2), Niall Scannell, Kieran Marmion, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath and Simon Zebo.


Nick Civetta scored the US try as they trailed 29-7 at the break and the hosts added second-half tries by John Quill and Ryan Matyas.

Ireland now head to Japan for two Tests which are likely to be tougher assignments than they faced at the Red Bull Arena.

The Irish went into the game having won all eight of their meetings with the US and that 100% record was never threatened.

Earls grabbed an early try for a 5-0 lead and the 29-year-old Munster man then turned provider for young Ulster prospect Stockdale to score on his debut.

Replacement lock James Ryan scored with his first touch
Winger Earls got his second try after an exchange of passes with Tiernan O'Halloran to put the Irish into a commanding 17-0 lead.

But the Eagles hit back with second row Civetta scoring after charging down fly-half Joey Carbery's kick.

Ireland, fielding a youthful side and with four debutants on the bench, added two tries before the interval.

After turning down a shot at the posts, Quinn Roux claimed from the line-out and the Irish forced their way over with Niall Scannell getting the score.

Scrum-half Marmion touched down after being fed by Earls who had been stopped just short of the line.

A sixth try followed soon after the restart, Ireland's strong scrum leading to Conan's touchdown.

But the US responded with a couple of tries, the first similar to Civetta's first-half score.

This time Carbery's kick was blocked by number eight John Quill and former Connacht fly-half AJ McGinty again converted.

Centre Ryan Matyas scored the hosts' third on the right after a decent spell of home pressure.

Twenty-year-old lock James Ryan got Ireland's seventh try, just a minute after coming on for his international debut.

Again Earls set it up, breaking through to pass inside for a grateful Ryan to finish things off.

Replacement Rory Scannell hit the upright with the conversion attempt but was successful in adding the extras when substitute scrum-half McGrath evaded a tired-looking US defence for a try on his third appearance for Joe Schmidt's men.

Zebo, another replacement rounded off the scoring in the left corner after Stockdale had played back Rory Scannell's high kick.

Ireland: Tiernan O'Halloran; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale; Joey Carbery, Kieran Marmion; Cian Healy, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Devin Toner, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo.

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England beat Argentina thanks to Denny Solomona's late try
By James Standley

BBC Sport

• 9 hours ago
• From the section Rugby Union
• 106

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the controversial cross-code winger who has only played 15 games for Sale and had missed a couple of important tackles in his 15 minutes on the pitch until that point, there looked to be little danger.

But he bounced the first man, evaded several more defenders as he cut inside and handed off Matias Moroni before racing over under the posts to win a belter of a game.


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[who beat the Crusaders earlier on Saturday] will be watching this game very closely and there were some big performances today from these young England players."

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Test match: Tonga 6-24 Wales

• 
  
  

Centre Jamie Roberts led Wales from the front against Tonga
Tonga v Wales
Tonga (3) 6
Pens: Takulua 2
Wales (8) 24
Tries: Cuthbert, Penalty try Pens: S Davies 4
Wales won for the first time at Eden Park as they eased past Tonga in the first Test of their summer tour.

Wing Alex Cuthbert went over early, gathering his own kick to score after Gareth Anscombe's initial break, while the Wales pack earned a penalty try.

Sam Davies added four penalties but the fly-half had a mixed day with the boot, missing three other kicks.


Tonga rarely probed the Wales line and their points at the New Zealand ground came from Sonatane Takulua's boot.

Wales had never previously won at Eden Park, losing all three of their Tests against New Zealand at the Auckland venue as well as being defeated there 9-8 in the 2011 World Cup semi-final by France.

With 12 Wales players away on British and Irish Lions duty, Wales' starting XV had a youthful look and tour coach Robin McBryde fielded three uncapped players in Cardiff Blues lock Seb Davies, Scarlets wing Steff Evans and Wasps flanker Thomas Young.

All three - with Young especially effective at the breakdown - enjoyed decent debuts, but Wales still had an experienced core.

That was typified by the centre partnership of captain Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams, who provided the physical fulcrum to put Wales on the front foot.

Cuthbert nearly went over within two minutes but the wing was forced into touch as he dived low for the line.

Wales had to settle for the consolation of a penalty, which Davies stroked over.

After a Williams break had driven Wales into the Tonga 22, Cuthbert again went close as he chased Anscombe's cross-kick into the in-goal area but could not apply downward pressure.

Robert's high tackle gave Tonga their first chance at points but Takulua's kick fell just short.

Davies had two more kicks to extend Wales' lead but the Ospreys fly-half hit the post with both his efforts.

Wales fly-half Sam Davies had a mixed game with the boot
Wales claimed the first try of the game when Anscombe shimmied through to feed Cuthbert on the right, who made it third time lucky when he chipped ahead and gathered to score an unconverted try.

Takulua had another chance at the posts when Wales conceded a penalty immediately after the restart and the Newcastle Falcons player this time got Tonga on the scoreboard to cut Wales' lead to 8-3 at half-time.

Tonga had come into the game with just four days' training together, while Wales were blooding fresh talent.

The unfamiliarity between the players on both sides was evident, with good breaks and field position too often being ruined by handling errors.

Wales were forced into a change at half-time with Cory Allen replacing Cuthbert, who had injured his shoulder diving for Anscombe's kick early in the first half.

Powerful pack seals victory

With the rain pouring down on Eden Park in the second half, handling became even more tricky and both sides - even the normally direct-running Tongans - relied on kicks to put pressure on the opposition.

But from a turnover the excellent Takulua went with ball in hand, brushing off Davies to race deep into the Wales 22.

Wales got back in numbers but Aaron Shingler was penalised for hands in the ruck and Takulua kicked Tonga to within two points.

Tonga conceded a penalty from in front of the posts after Cory Hill's charge upfield, allowing Davies a simple chance to mend his confidence as he stroked the penalty over.



All Blacks winning 78-0 as they warmed up before playing the Lions in the first Test on Saturday, 24 June - also at Eden Park.

Coach's reaction
Wales coach Robin McBryde: "All in all I thought it was a performance we can be proud of.

"It wasn't a complete performance but it was played in difficult conditions in heavy showers.

"Tonga didn't disappoint with the physical nature they came at us. They posed threats, but I felt we looked really comfortable.

"The aim was to get the result whilst developing individuals in the process."

Tonga: Dave Halaifonua; Nafi Tuitavake, Siale Piutau (capt), Vili Tahitua, Cooper Vuna; Latiume Fosita, Sonatane Takulua; Latu Talakai, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna, Leva Fifita, Steve Mafi, Dan Faleafa, Nili Latu, Valentino Mapapalangi.

Replacements: Suliasi Taufalele, Sila Puafisi, Phil Kite, Sione Tau, Mike Faleafa, Leon Fukofuka, Kali Hala, Kiti Taimani.

Wales: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins, capt), Steffan Evans (Scarlets); Sam Davies (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Thomas Young (Wasps), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Owen Williams (Gloucester), Cory Allen (Ospreys).

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand).

Assistants: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Cam Stone (New Zealand).

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand).

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Ireland score seven tries in thumping 50-22 win over Japan
By Richard Petrie

BBC Sport NI

• 
  

Dan Leavy goes over for Ireland's second try of the game in Shizuoka
Japan v Ireland
Japan (3) 22
Try: Noguchi, Fukuoka, Nagare Cons: Matsuda 2 Pen: Tamura
Ireland (31) 50
Tries: Earls 2, Leavy 2, Conan 2, Ringrose Cons: Jackson 5, R Scannell Pens: Jackson
Ireland ran in seven tries as they secured a convincing win in the first of two Test matches against Japan.

Keith Earls, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan all touched down twice, with Garry Ringrose scoring the other Irish try.

Paddy Jackson kicked five conversions and a penalty for a 100% record, with Rory Scannell adding a late conversion.


Japan trailed 31-3 at the break but second-half tries by Ryuji Noguchi, Kenki Fukuoka and Yutaka Nagore gave the final scoreline a flattering look.

Rikiya Matsuda added the extras to two of the hosts' three scores, but his side were outclassed for most of the match, Earls and Conan both impressive and Leavy, Quinn Roux and Cian Healy among those taking advantage of their opportunity to impress in the absence of 11 Ireland players away on Lions duty.

Nations will meet in 2019 World Cup
The two teams were meeting for the first time in 12 years, Ireland having won their five previous encounters.

The match was played at the Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium, one of the venues for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for which Ireland and Japan have been drawn together in Pool A, along with Scotland and two other teams yet to be confirmed.

Japan, ranked 11th in the IRB rankings and seven places below their opponents, have earned a growing reputation on the international stage, precipitated by their famous win over South Africa in the World Cup in September 2015.

The Cherry Blossoms beat Romania 33-21 last weekend, but knew they would face a stiffer test at the hands of Joe Schmidt's charges, who comfortably saw off USA Eagles 55-19 seven days ago.

For Ireland, centre Scannell, winger Andrew Conway and scrum-half Luke McGrath were handed their first international starts, while Jackson replaced Joey Carbery, whose tour was ended by an ankle injury sustained in the victory in New Jersey.

Garry Ringrose scored the sixth of Ireland's seven tries in a dominant display by Joe Schmidt's team
Ireland dominate one-sided first half
Ireland belied the 27C temperatures to produce an energetic first-half performance, Ulster fly-half Jackson controlling proceedings and giving them an early lead with a penalty.

In-form winger Earls scored the first try of the game in the 11th minute, cantering down the left to touch down after Ireland won possession from a Japanese scrum and Conan made the break, before off-loading to his Munster team-mate.

Yu Tamura landed a penalty to reduce the home side's deficit but the visitors took full advantage of Heiichiro Ito's sin-binning by adding three more tries before the interval.

Leavy rumbled over for his first international try on his fourth appearance after Quinn Roux won lineout possession and Devin Toner fed his fellow Leinster forward.

The flanker crossed again three minutes later after another successful lineout created the platform for Earls to engineer a clever line break, running into empty space and sidestepping two defenders before off-loading to Leavy.

As Ireland continued to dominate the breakdown, Conan grabbed his first try by dotting down in the corner after the ball went quickly through the Irish hands and the ubiquitous Earls provided the final pass.

Japan scores fail to prevent emphatic win
Conan again provided the finish soon after the restart, picking up the loose ball after a cheap turnover, kicking through and dotting down for a comfortable try to extend the tourists' lead.

Conway missed 10 minutes of action when receiving a yellow card for a high tackle and Japan scored their first try from their best passage of play on the hour, Noguchi shrugging off a couple of attempted tackles to surge over.

Ringrose completed a fine Irish move by dancing round a tired looking Michael Leitch to dive over in the corner, then Earls ensured a try double for the second successive game by darting over after prop Dave Kilcoyne had shown pace to surge almost 40 metres to within a couple of the line.

Japan showed some belated creative spark, aided by a porous Irish defence, to notch late tries through Fukuoka and Nagare, but Jamie Joseph's side will look for improvement when the sides clash again next week.

Japan: R Noguchi; K Matsushima, W Tupou, D Carpenater, K Fukuoka; Y Tamura, F Tanaka; K Inagaki, S Horie (capt), H Ito; K Inagaki, S Horie (capt), H Ito; K Yatabe, U Helu; M Leitch, Y Tokunaga, A Lelei.

Replacements: Y Niwai, S Ishihara, T Asahara, H Tui, S Matsuhashi, Y Nagare, R Yamanaka, R Matsuda

Ireland: S Zebo; A Conway, G Ringrose, R Scannell, K Earls; P Jackson, L McGrath; C Healy, N Scannell, J Ryan; Q Roux, D Toner; R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Conan.

Replacements: J Tracy, D Kilcoyne, F Bealham, K Treadwell, J O'Donoghue, K Marmion, R O'Loughlin, T O'Halloran.

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Australia 19-24 Scotland: Second tour win for Gregor Townsend's side

By Tom English

BBC Scotland in Sydney

• 1 hour ago
• From the section Scottish Rugby
• 43

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Hamish Watson scored a wonderful second-half try for Scotland
Australia v Scotland
Australia (12) 19
Tries: Folau 2 Genia, Cons: Foley 2
Scotland (17) 24
Tries: Taylor, Russell, Watson Cons: Russell 3, Pens: Tonks
Scotland moved up to fourth in the world rankings with a fabulous victory over Australia in Sydney.

Duncan Taylor and Finn Russell scored first-half tries for the visitors, with Israel Folau replying twice.

The hosts nudged ahead when Will Genia found a gap in the stout Scottish defence.


But Scotland responded with a wonderful try finished off by Hamish Watson to make it two wins from two for new head coach Gregor Townsend.

It was a second successive Scottish win on Australian soil following their 2012 success in Newcastle and revenge for one-point defeats at Murrayfield last year and at the 2015 World Cup.

Scotland's fantasy start began with a long-range Greig Tonks penalty after the Wallabies were done on the floor. Their mood went up another notch when Bernard Foley, the goal-kicking machine who has haunted them in recent times, missed an easy chance to level it.

Spirits soared ever higher when a three-point lead became 10 after quarter of an hour. The score was a catastrophe for the Australians and a delicious piece of poaching for the Scots.

Under pressure, Will Genia lobbed an awful pass to Tatafu Polota-Nau who, under even more pressure, attempted a decidedly unwise pop pass which was gobbled up by Taylor.

The centre ran away to score a gift of a try and when Russell converted Scotland, improbably, led 10-0.

Taylor touched down the game's first try
Australia hit back when Scotland got their defensive alignment all wrong, Foley flinging a long pass to Folau who motored through a giant gap to touch down at the posts. Foley's extras narrowed the gap further.

We had an intriguing game on our hands already and it got even more interesting when Russell galloped downfield on his lonesome only to taken out by Foley who got binned as a consequence. While he was away, Scotland once again fed off another colossal Wallaby blunder.

Trying to clean his ground from a scrum, Genia failed to spot Russell tearing up on him. Russell blocked the kick, gathered and then ran around to score behind the posts. His conversion was a formality.

Australia managed to get hands on the ball and dominate for a spell after Russell's sucker punch. They piled on the pressure and in the midst of the heat, Ryan Wilson sacrificed himself at a breakdown, saving a potential try but getting binned for his troubles. Scotland's penalty count was rising alarmingly as was the threat to their line.

Eventually, they broke when Foley picked out Folau with a cross-field kick, the full-back springing a mile in the air above Tonks to score. Foley, again, missed a straightforward kick.

Scotland battled tremendously to survive the rest of Wilson's binning without scoring. The bench then appeared and on came Ross Ford for his record-equalling 109th cap. There was a siege on the visitors' line going on when Ford entered the match and it continued awhile.

Scotland fended off some fierce Australian pressure
Camped inside the Scottish 22, Foley had a blast but was repelled, Michael Hooper had a go but was halted, Tevita Kuridrani went for it but he was stopped, too.

It couldn't last. Genia finally went over, Foley converted and Australia led for the first time.

You wouldn't have given Scotland much of a chance at that point. All the momentum belonged to the Wallabies, all the match was being played in Scotland's half. They were hanging on, hanging on, hanging on, then they were breaking free, heroically.

Watson's try was a thing of wonder, a breakaway of skill, composure and lethal finishing. Tonks, Lee Jones and Taylor cut their way through and it was Taylor who drew Australia's last man and popped it to Watson. With the conversion, banged over brilliantly by Russell, their cushion was five points.

Scotland celebrate what was a great victory at Sydney's Allianz Stadium
An epic. Who would have thought it. Scotland were pushed onto the back foot again. Some of the defence was last-ditch and magnificent. It wasn't about systems now, it was about heart.

Matt Scott pulled off a try-saver, so did Russell. Scotland escaped, cleared their lines and within seconds the traffic started heading one way again.

Australia had a 5m line-out with five minutes left. They coughed it up. They got it back and attacked right and left and right and left, Scotland staying with them all the way. The scale of the Scottish defence was vast, a monumental effort.

The Wallabies had one last chance. Scotland were done at the breakdown as the Allianz Stadium erupted. They went for touch and rumbled. Foley went, then Kuridrani, then Hooper. No way through, not this time. No sweep of Foley's boot, no late heartbreaker. This was Scotland's day. And what a day.

Australia: Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Karmichael Hunt, Eto Nabuli; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Tom Robertson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Allan Alaalatoa; Sam Carter, Adam Coleman; Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Higginbotham.

Replacements: Stephen Moore, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Richard Hardwick, Joe Powell, Quade Cooper, Reece Hodge.

Scotland: Greig Tonks; Lee Jones, Alex Dunbar, Duncan Taylor, Rory Hughes; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson; Ben Toolis, Jonny Gray; John Barclay (capt), Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: Ross Ford, Allan Dell, WP Nel, Tim Swinson, Josh Strauss, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Matt Scott.

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[Swami]

England wrap up series 2-0 with 35-25 win over Argentina
By James Standley

BBC Sport

• 17 Jun
• From the section Rugby Union
• 105

Ewel's try after six minutes set the tone for another see-saw encounter, but despite the errors and questionable discipline at times from his side, with 30 players unavailable for the tour either because of Lions duty or injury, England head coach Eddie Jones will surely be delighted to return from Argentina with the series win in the bag.

New faces take chance to shine
Three of England's tries came from players with just a handful of caps between them.

Ewels, the 21-year-old Bath lock, is improving with every game in an England shirt and he combined sweetly with 'older statesman' Joe Launchbury - all of 26 - to power over for the first try.








England's late problems in the line-out were one example of the errors they must cut out, but in general Ewels and the pack performed well in a highly pressurised environment.

Their scrum stood up well to a ferocious Argentina eight determined to impose themselves up front, and prop Collier, winning his second cap, came off the bench to add a try to his exertions in the scrummage.

A third try came from Northampton-bound Francis, the 26-year-old who has played much of his career so far in New Zealand and was making his first start, as he supported a wondrous break and pass from Mike Brown.

Francis was not error free, and his poor kick allowed Matera to get the Pumas back into the game - but his emergence and the game time given to Alex Lozowski and Henry Slade adds further to England's midfield options as they look to build for the 2019 World Cup.

Old faces steady the ship
But it was not just the new boys who impressed.

In addition to his spectacular intervention for Ewel's try, Brown also set up Care's sensational counter-attacking score, and the scrum-half was a lively presence throughout the two Tests.

Up front, the old warhorse Chris Robshaw returned from injury to put in a typically wholehearted performance, scrapping for the ball on the floor one minute, tackling an Argentina runner the next.

And second row Launchbury - controversially overlooked for a Lions call-up on the basis of geography, apparently - demonstrated why he is so beloved of England fans with a relentless performance that should be beyond a man of his 6ft 6in, near 20-stone size.

• In Short: Launchbury absence a 'disgrace' - Davies

Man of the match - Mike Brown

The Harlequins full-back looked back to his best and it was his counter-attacking prowess that arguably proved the difference.

Not always renowned for the quality of his passing, he produced two perfectly timed efforts to send first Francis and then Care striding over.

Is Eddie Jones happy?
England head coach Eddie Jones told BBC Two: "I think in each game we found a way to score points. This wasn't a great performance from us but we were able to maximise any errors Argentina made and turned them into points.

"[We had] a couple of new guys making their Test debut. They will be better for that - they were playing against very experienced players. Some of the players struggled a little bit but they will be OK in the future."

What about the pundits?
Ex-Lions and England centre Jeremy Guscott: "With all the big players missing - there were only five really experienced guys in these two Tests - Eddie Jones and his coaching staff have brought these guys in and they have done really well. In terms of strength in depth, England are in a great place."

Ex-Lions and England hooker Brian Moore: "The experienced players stepped up. Mike Brown and George Ford - with the way they played you see what they achieved.

"The problem Argentina have is when their players produce flicks in Super Rugby you don't get punished. But in Test rugby you do."

Teams
England: Mike Brown; Marland Yarde, Henry Slade, Piers Francis, Jonny May; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Dylan Hartley, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Joe Launchbury, Robshaw, Underhill, Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: Jack Singleton, Matt Mullan Will Collier, Nick Isiekwe, Mark Wilson, Jack Maunder, Alex Lozowski, Denny Solomona

Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet; Ramiro Moyano, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli; Nicolas Sanchez, Martín Landajo; Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Javier Ortega Desio, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Enrique Pieretto, Agustín Creevy (capt), Lucas Noguera Paz.

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Santiago García Botta, Ramiro Herrera, Guido Petti, Tomas Lezana, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Hernandez, Matias Moroni.

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Samoa 17-19 Wales: Steff Evans gets two tries in narrow win

Samoa made six changes and a positional switch after a 78-0 defeat by New Zealand in Auckland.

The hosts made the perfect start when following a period of pressure Bath scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i floated a pass to Leiua, who crossed in the corner with Tusi Pisi adding the conversion.

Samoa made life hard for Wales in difficult and wet conditions and a Pisi penalty extended their lead.

Steff Evans scores Wales' winning try in Apia
Two penalties from fly-half Davies calmed the tourists' nerves as they clawed their way back into the game.

Despite trailing, Wales had a measure of control and Davies' third penalty brought them within a point of the hosts at the break as Pisi failed with a drop goal attempt.

Wales went ahead for the first time within a minute of the second half with a try created by back row forwards Aaron Shingler and Ellis Jenkins.

Shingler charged down Pisi's low kick and from Jenkins' kick and chase the ball was played out to the left wing, where Scarlets' Evans was on hand to cross.

Samoa restored their lead with hooker Leiataua capitalising on sloppy Welsh defensive play to slide over for his side's second try before Pisi added the extras.

Ex-Ospreys scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i had a hand in both Samoan tries
But Wales secured victory in the last quarter of the game with Evans, last season's top try scorer in the Pro12, crossing in the corner for a second time.

Wales had lost four times to Samoa before this meeting, and they had to withstand a late onslaught before claiming a sixth win over the Pacific Islanders.

Squad hit by sickness bug
Wales coach Robin McBryde revealed a sickness bug swept the Wales camp, with ten players taken ill before the match.

"We've had a little bit of an illness in the camp and the players could have used that but they dug in so deep," McBryde revealed to BBC Wales Sport.




McBryde proud of Wales win in Samoa
"I'm just so pleased for the players. It's been such a difficult tour in such a short space of time.

"We put ourselves in a very difficult position. We were 10-0 down early on and Samoa didn't disappoint," he continued.

"We knew they would be physical and get stronger and they did that.

"We didn't help ourselves and hurt ourselves on a couple of occasions but the way the boys dug in and got through the arm wrestle was fantastic really."

Wales: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); Cory Allen (Ospreys), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins, capt), Steffan Evans (Scarlets); Sam Davies (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Blues), Seb Davies (Blues), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Blues), Josh Navidi (Blues).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Thomas Young (Wasps), Tomos Williams (Blues), Owen Williams (Gloucester), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Samoa: D'Angelo Leuila; Alapati Leiua, Kieron Fonotia, Reynold Lee-Lo, David Lemi (capt); Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i; Viliamu Afatia, Maatulimanu Leiataua, Paul Alo-Emile, Chris Vui, Faatiga Lemalu, Piula Faasalele, Galu Taufale, Fata Alafoti Faosiliva.

Replacements: Seilala Lam, Nephi Leatigaga, Bronson Fotualii-Tauakipulu, Faifili Levave, Vavae Tuilagi, Dwayne Polataivao, Henry Taefu, Tila Mealoi.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa).

Assistants: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia).

Swami

 

[Swami]

Japan 13-35 Ireland

• 
  

Ireland completed their summer tour with a second victory over Japan
Japan v Ireland
Japan (8) 13
Tries: Matsushima, Yamada Pen: Ogura
Ireland (28)35
Tries: Ringrose, van der Flier, Marmion, Ruddock, Reidy Cons: Jackson 5
Ireland were made to battle for a third win out of three on their summer tour with a second victory over Japan.

Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Marmion, Rhys Ruddock and Sean Reidy scored Ireland's tries in Tokyo.

Centre Kotaro Matsushima and winger Akihito Yamada touched down for Japan.


Joe Schmidt's side scored four tries inside the opening 31 minutes in a match that was closer than their seven-try win a week earlier.

Ireland have won all seven of their meetings with Japan, who they will play in the 2019 World Cup.

They were three tries to the good inside 18 minutes.

Hosts Japan will play Ireland in Pool A of the World Cup in 2019
Ringrose raced through for a third-minute opener after a loose Japanese pass bounced nicely for the young Leinster centre to nab his fourth international try.

Flanker Van der Flier powered over on the right from a Luke Marshall pass in the 11th minute and Paddy Jackson converted again for 14-0 before a Jumpei Ogura penalty got the hosts off the mark.

Connacht scrum-half Marmion snapped up the tourists' third try after an Irish charge had been halted just short of the line.

Japan then got their first try as the ball was worked right for centre Matsushima to beat the challenge of last man Marmion to dot down.

Skipper Ruddock was pushed over for the fourth Irish try under the posts and Jackson continued his 100% record with the conversion.

Japan thought they had scored a second try shortly after the interval but a video review revealed scrum-half Yutaka Nagare had knocked on.

However things went in their favour as they cut Ireland's lead in the 63rd minute; an attempted kick through deflecting favourably for winger Yamada to score in the right corner.

Japan put more pressure on a tiring Irish side but failed to add to their tally and it was replacement Reidy who extended the visitors' lead a minute from the end.

Schmidt's youthful squad, with 11 regulars away on British and Irish Lions duty in New Zealand, had previously encountered little resistance on their tour of the United States and Japan, storming past the Eagles 55-19 in New Jersey before thrashing the Brave Blossoms 50-22 in Shizuoka.

Japan: Noguchi, Yamada, Matsushima, Tamura, Fukuoka, Ogura, Nagare, Ishihara, Niwai, Asahara, Thompson, Helu, Leitch, Matsuhashi, Mafi.

Replacements: Horie, Inagaki, Watanabe, Yatabe, Tokunaga, Tanaka, Matsuda, Yamanaka.

Ireland: Conway, Earls, Ringrose, Marshall, Stockdale, Jackson, Marmion, Healy, Tracy, J. Ryan, Treadwell, Toner, Ruddock, van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: N. Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, J. Ryan, Reidy, Cooney, R. Scannell, O'Halloran.

Referee: J P Doyle (England)

Swami

 

[Swami]

Fiji 27-22 Scotland

By Tom English

BBC Scotland in Suva

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Ross Ford marked his record-breaking appearance with a try
Fiji v Scotland
Fiji (11) 27
Tries: Yato, Seniloli Con: Volavola Pens: Volavola 5
Scotland (7) 22
Tries: Ford, Jackson, Brown Cons: Jackson 2 Pen: Jackson
Scotland ended their summer tour with a disappointing defeat by Fiji in Suva.

Following a famous win in Sydney over Australia last weekend, the Scots failed to reach such heights again.

The hosts were inspired, scoring memorable tries through Peceli Yato and Henry Seniloli, with Ben Volavola kicking 17 points.


Ross Ford, Ruaridh Jackson and Fraser Brown all crossed the whitewash for Scotland, but it was not enough to overcome the swashbuckling Fijians.

The result meant a first defeat for Gregor Townsend as Scotland head coach, having opened the tour with a solid win against Italy before the triumph over the Wallabies.

Captain John Barclay said after the match Scotland were second best against Fiji
Fiji were magnificent, inspired by the stratospheric brilliance of former Glasgow Warriors forward Leone Nakarawa and a back row that rarely dipped below the ferocious.

They had power and subtlety, they blasted Scotland at the breakdown and in the collisions and when something more dexterous was needed they had all manner of off-loaders. Principally, they had Nakarawa, an old friend come back to haunt the visitors.

It was a frenetic day, a madcap Test. When Josua Tuisova, the Toulon wing known as The Bus, obliterated Damien Hoyland in the tackle early on, there was already a sense that Fiji were on to something special.

In the mayhem of the opening minutes, Tevita Cavubati, the Fijian lock, was yellow-carded and followed sharply into the sin bin by Scotland's Josh Strauss and then, a third man walked - Peni Ravai, the Fiji loosehead getting done for pulling down a maul.

Fiji had a three-point lead at that stage, but it soon vanished when Ford crashed over from a line-out maul.

Hooker Ford had become Scotland's record cap-holder with his 110th international appearance and it was his third try of the series - having scored just two for his country prior to the tour.

Jackson converted, but this was short respite for Scotland. Volavola's boot made it 7-6 as the visitors struggled awfully to gain any semblance of control. They threw risky passes, got turned over, missed a huge number of tackles and sent up distress flares in much of what they did.

Nakarawa was signed by Townsend at Glasgow and was pivotal in their 2015 Pro12 win
The sense that they were in serious trouble increased significantly when Fiji cut loose before the break. Clermont's Yato - a colossal presence in their back row - started it all with a howitzer tackle, Hoyland being the victim again.

Then it was Nakarawa who got the locals to their feet when he sucked in Scottish defenders and pulled off an outrageous offload that had Scotland scrambling forlornly.

They swept left, Patrick Osborne barrelling through Jackson before linking with Yato, who ran on to score. Devastating.

At the break it was 11-7 to Fiji and they were good value for it. Scotland lost Duncan Taylor at half-time and Townsend reworked things. Greig Tonks came on at full-back, Jackson went to 10 and Peter Horne moved to 12. Gordon Reid also replaced Alex Allan.

None of it worked. Scotland continued to turn over ball and could not live with Fiji when they got on the front foot, which was often. More slackness in defence cost Scotland three more points from the boot of Volavola. Townsend went to the bench again. Brown, Zander Fagerson and Hamish Watson all appeared with half an hour to play.

Briefly, it looked like Scotland might get a grip on the Fijians when Jackson picked up at the side of a maul and strolled over. When he converted his first Scotland try, it was level at 14-14.

The maddening thing for Townsend was that they fell behind so quickly, Volavola landing another penalty.

Jackson levelled it again but that set the scene for Nakarawa to take on, and beat, three Scottish defenders before presenting a pass - it was forward, but there was no TMO to check it - to Seniloli, who sprinted away to score.

Volavola converted and added another penalty after Tuisova had once again turned on the power to drive his team forward.

Brown scored a first international try off another line-out maul with four minutes left to play, but Scotland toiled badly as they attempted to pull it back. They could not. In truth, they did not deserve to.

Fiji: Murimurivalu, Tuisova, Vulivuli, Vatubua, Osborne, Volavola, Vularika, Ravai, Koto Vuli, Tawake, Cavubati, Nakarawa, Waqaniburotu, Yato, Qera.

Replacements: Tuapati, Veitayaki, Ducivaki, Nabou, Dawai, Seniloli, Stewart, Masilevu.

Scotland: Jackson, Hoyland, Grigg, Taylor, Visser, Horne, Pyrgos, Allan, Ford, Nel, Swinson, J. Gray, Barclay, Hardie, Strauss.

Replacements: Brown, Reid, Fagerson, Toolis, Watson, Price, Tonks.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France).

Swami