England to play against the Force and Oz A on 2010 tour

[Lee Grant]

In the nearest thing to a tour I can remember since 2001 England are going to play 2 non-tests in Australia in our winter which will be in addition to the two test matches. Another is to be announced v. the NZ Maori.

This is according to Alex Spink of the Mirror group:

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By Alex Spink 30/12/2009


England play back-to-back Test matches against Australia in Perth and Sydney next June but Johnson has added three midweek games to the trip.

He sees the tour Down Under, a year before the 2011 World Cup, as perfect preparation for the New Zealand showpiece.

On the Tuesday before the June 12 Test in Perth, Johnson has arranged for England to take on Super 14 outfit Western Force.

A week later they will warm up for their June 19 Test against the Wallabies in Sydney with a clash against Australia A. And instead of returning home at the end of the Test series, England will fly to Auckland to take on the New Zealand Maori.

Johnson's plans have been broadly supported by Premier Rugby, the body representing England's top clubs, though the detail has to be agreed.

But Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler said: "It seems the sensible thing to do in terms of preparation for the World Cup.

"You want as many people as possible to have experience of playing in southern hemisphere conditions ahead of the competition."

England last embarked on a Lions-style tour in 2000 when Clive Woodward's squad played two Tests and three midweek matches in South Africa.


2010 DATES

June 8: Western Force (Perth)

June 12: Australia (Perth)

June 15: Australia A (Sydney)

June 19: Australia (Sydney)

Tba: NZ Maoris (Auckland)

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Well done the Poms. What a pity they couldn't do this in 1998 when they sent a 3rd string team and we thrashed them 76-0. It was also a year before the RWC and it did neither side any good. Mind you, we beat the All Blacks 3-0 that year; so maybe it wasn't that bad for us.

They are doing this in their own interests but it coincides with ours - and maybe after the RWC it will become a trend for Euro teams to play extra games here - just as there seems to be a trend for SH teams to play extra games over there.

 

[TheRiddler]

Australia A?? Didnt JON scrap that team to save $$$?

 

[Spook]

Great tour. Well done Poms. Reminds me of the Lions...

 

[barbarian]

:yay :yay Now here's hoping the ARU make the midweek games affordable and easy for families- something suburban maybe (twilight game at North Sydney oval or TG Millner etc). The chances of that happening though...

 

[Lee Grant]

I'm thinking SFS, though they may take it to Gosford as they did Oz A games against the Lions and France. It's almost Sydney.

Australia A?? Didnt JON scrap that team to save $$$?

The Oz A game will pay for itself - or near enough. The Wallaby set up will already be in Sydney for the test match; so expenses will be minimised. Presumably there will be about 8 Wobs in the Wallaby squad not playing in the test match; so they will be in town anyway.

It will be a pretty short preparation period for the Oz A team unless they take them all to Perth a week before the test match and involve them in opposed training with the Wobs - but that will be expensive.

 

[chief]

JON scrapped the Aus A program, say like the Pacific Nations. Presumably Robbie Deans, will pick a shadow team, and get someone to coach them. I reckon it will be a real hit, great move by the ARU and RFU. Just a shame they won't include a Reds game in the fixtures, to be played at Ballymore.

I'm hoping Fiji and Ireland follow suit, with these mid week games. Because I actually reckon a profit could be made from this. And probably wouldn't take too much organization.

 

[Spook]

All Oz sides to win.

 

[chief]

I think one Australia A match against England, maybe one against Ireland. And maybe QLD reds to play Ireland or Fiji, and the Brumbies to play Fiji also. I know I would make a show to Ballymore if there was a game like that going on.