With the world cup drawing ever nearer, this summer's tours for both England and Wales were always going to be crucial in their preparations towards that ultimate goal. With both teams coming off the back of a dreadful winter/spring however, these two tours take on even more significance and come against sides famous for not taking prisoners when faced with a wounded opposition. At a time with very little other major sport, these games will take centre stage, with bookmakers such as Ladbrokes tailoring free offers on rugby that are geared to help with what could be some very hard-to-pick games.
England in Australia
It doesn't need much to stoke up the rivalry between these two great sporting foes. Throw Eddie Jones into the mix, the fact that England have been victorious the last eight times the two have faced off including the quarter-final in Japan, and of course the world cup final defeat in their own backyard in 2003 (something that still stings) and you have all the ingredients for a terrific test series, even if neither side are going in in great shape.
Starting on the 2nd of July, the first match is at the Optus Stadium Perth, followed a week later by the test at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium before the third and final test at the SGC on the 16th.
It is a hugely important tour for Jones as much as it is for his team. After a Six Nations tournament that only garnered 10 points, the Australian is under mounting pressure, and his job would not be as safe as it appears to be if it were not for that world cup in France. The RFU will be incredibly unlikely to make such fundamental changes at this stage of the cycle. That said, it isn't the first time he has endured criticism, and will see it as an opportunity to start the final stages of that journey to France in earnest.
Jones has made some big calls already, Vunipola being recalled, the biggest. Farrell is also back after missing the Six Nations and it will be intriguing to see how he pairs with Marcus Smith, perhaps the only highlight from the 2022 campaign. If England had been hoping for a morale-boosting victory against the Barbarians, it could not have gone much worse.
There will be some notable absentees from the touring party due to injuries, but Jones et al will be hoping that will not be a much-needed asterisk attached to the tour if it all goes wrong, against an Australian nation that at club level at least are starting to perform better than they have in a long time.
Wales In South Africa
If England suffered a demoralising Six Nations, Wales' was even worse. Their three-day series kicks off on the 2nd of July at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria. Test two on the 9th is at the Toyota Stadium Bloemfontein, while the series concludes on the 16th of July at Cape Town's DHL Stadium.
The Boks are looking incredibly strong, and the inclusion of their European-based players makes them an even greater threat. The “Bomb Squad” — the three front-row replacements they bring on midway through — would walk into any side in the world. On paper and from a technical aspect, South Africa are stronger all over the park than anything Wayne Pivac can turn to, and in the scrum especially — an area which will be key — it looks like a huge disparity. Add to this, the games are at altitude and will be the first played since the lifting of restrictions. It really is hard to build much of a case for Wales.
So are there any positives, or straws to cling to? A few. Francis at tighthead will be key to any chances Wales have, but he has been carrying an injury for much of the season and it is a big ask for a 22-year-old with just half a dozen caps under his belt. George North is back after a year out, and he will be able to add some much-needed muscle and height to the Welsh midfield against the huge Bok centres.
One final point, and one that should not be ignored is that Biggar retains his captaincy, despite the return of Alun Wyn Jones. The veteran still has a lot to contribute on and off the field but it is certainly looking like the curtain is starting to be drawn on his international career.
