Preview – Japan vs NZ Maori
The Brave Blossoms were embarrassingly bad in Kobe a week ago but have freshened up the side and moved to their spiritual home in Tokyo for round 2.
Preview – Canada vs Namibia
Canada will be forced to rebound from their disappointing loss to the RFU Championship XV on short notice as they face Namibia with only four days rest.
Team Of The Week
Only one of the games from the weekend was an official test match, but let’s throw together a team of the week anyway, just for fun.
Japan Drop The Ball
Japan started their November series in Kobe with a terribly disappointing performance against a rampant NZ Maori side that were good, but not that good.
Preview – RFU XV vs Canada
Hubert Buydens returns from an award-winning season with Manawatu to lead Canada on their four match November tour that starts at Sixways in Worcester.
Preview – USA vs New Zealand
A bit of history will be made on Saturday as the All Blacks arrive at Soldier Field to play the Eagles on American soil for the first time in a century.
Preview – Barbarians vs Australia
Michael Cheika’s first match in charge of the Wallabies will be against the Barbarians at Twickenham in a friendly that features plenty of household names.
Preview – Japan vs NZ Maori
Kobe’s Noevir Stadium hosts the first of a two match series between the Brave Blossoms and the Maori on Saturday, as Japan prepare for their November tour.
Tonga Bring In Heavyweights
Like their Fijian cousins, the Ikale Tahi have rolled out most of their big guns for their end of year tour, with one name bigger than all the rest.
Ratini Ready To Fly
Head coach John McKee has called up three new faces to the Flying Fijians ahead of their European tour, including the Top 14’s leading try scorer Alipate Ratini.