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August marks the final stage of preparation for Rugby World Cup 2015 and is a time in which all 20 competitors are finalizing their squads. All are involved in warm-up matches, some of whom have been doing so in previous months.
Uruguay’s rivals are to be Wales, Australia, Fiji and England in that order. How then are the four preparing for the sport’s biggest event?
Wales
Welsh preparation has seen the Western British union training at altitude in Switzerland. The sub-host nation of this year’s World Cup has had an impressive four years of international competition between Rugby World Cups and the supporters believe their team to be equal if not better than the Wallabies. The warm-up matches for Wales will begin this Saturday at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium but Head Coach Warren Gatland has named a reserve line-up with centre Scott Williams to captain the team for the first time. wales will play away to Ireland and host Italy in remaining warm-up fixtures.
Australia
The Wallabies international season got started immediately following the conclusion of the Super Rugby season. The Australians have played themsleves into fine form, completing wins over South Africa and Argentina to rise in the World Rankings. The challenge as to how good the 2015 Wallabies are will be clearer after this weekend’s match against the All Blacks in Sydney. Australia will also play a warm-up match against New Zealand in Auckland on August 15 and will face the USA Eagles at Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 05. For the first time players based outside of Australia are in the team. Those capped over 60 times and with a current or previous ARU contract of seven or more years are now eligible regardless of where they play. Toulon’s Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell are instances.
Fiji
Fiji was handed a tough draw but the Fijians have a history of rising to the occasion as Wales knows very well. The South-Sea Islanders have had a complete international campaign involving both fully-capped internationals and non-capped matches for the ‘A’ team, the Fiji Warriors. The senior side won the Pacific Nations Cup final this past Monday in British Columbia and also completed an impressive tour of South America, defeating both Uruguay and the Argentina XV. Fiji’s final warm-up fixture will be against Canada in London on September 05.
England
The English have been preparing in the USA, or more precisely in Colorado. The high altitude camp is to be followed by upcoming warm-up matches beginning on Saturday August 15 against France in London. England will then face Les Bleus away, in Paris on August 22 and will also play host to Ireland on September 05. In order to mentally prepare the players the country’s governing body, the RFU, has handed done strict guidelines to the players in regards to the use of social-media.
