Thursday, April 18, 2024
In BriefScotland's Rugby World Cup opponents all in action

Scotland’s Rugby World Cup opponents all in action

BY IAIN COLLIN – Capital City Press

Two of Scotland’s Rugby World Cup opponents come face to face today (Friday) during a 24-hour spell in which all of their Pool B rivals continue their build-up to this autumn’s eagerly-awaited tournament.

The matches will allow Scotland head coach Vern Cotter to do his homework on the nations that will stand in the way of his team’s progress at the competition, which will be held by England in September and October.

The USA host Japan in their 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup encounter at Bonney Field in California, with Samoa – Scotland’s likely rivals for qualification to the quarter-finals – facing Fiji at the same venue three hours earlier.

The competition kicked off last weekend, when Samoa defeated the United States 21-16 and Japan triumphed over Canada 20-6.

Meanwhile, South Africa, fresh from their 24-20 defeat to Australia in Brisbane, continue their Rugby Championship campaign with a home meeting with reigning world champions New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday.

“This will be a massive Test – every match against the All Blacks is,” said Springboks head coach Heyneke Meyer.

@CCP_sport @IainCollin

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