The only "northern" nation to have won (42-23) last weekend, France will be opposed for the second time to Japan, in Tokyo, to try to end their summer tour with a tenth victory in a row, a record.
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Serene Blacks against Ireland
Serene after their clear victory (42-19) at Eden Park in Auckland last Saturday, the New Zealanders have logically renewed their team, in which the only change is the tenure in third row Dalton Papalii (24 years old, 13 sel.).
Johnny Sexton, captain of the XV of Ireland, warms up before the 1st test match against New Zealand on July 2, 2022 in Auckland MICHAEL BRADLEY AFP / Archives
The Clover XV, which has never won in New Zealand, did the same, right winger Mack Hansen, recovered from Covid-19, replaces Keith Earls, author of the first of three Irish tries at Eden Park.
Victim of yet another concussion during the first test match, Irish fly-half Johnny Sexton, 36, was reappointed and will also hold the captain's armband.
"Johnny is fine, he's fit. He's fit to play on Saturday," Irish assistant coach Mike Catt said on Tuesday.
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Australia suspicious, England rejuvenated
The Wallabies, reduced to 14 in Perth and victorious (30-28) on the wire of the XV of the Rose, must absolutely show another face on Saturday in Brisbane because the English, remarkably helped by their "finishers", very nearly win, with two tries scored in the 80th minute and the 80th+3.
The second line of the XV of England Maro Itoje (in the air) against Australia on July 2, 2022 in Perth Trevor Collens AFP / Archives
To do this, coach Dave Rennie, deprived of second line Darcy Swain, suspended for the next two matches after the red card received during the first test, has reshuffled his workforce by a third.
Eddie Jones, on the grill after a fourth successive defeat, meanwhile took a gamble on making four changes, bringing youngsters Jack van Poortvliet (21) into the fray, three-quarters Tommy Freeman (21) and Guy Porter (25), and third line Sam Underhill (25).
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Wales believes in it against the Springboks
Leek's XV did more than shake up the world champions last Saturday in Pretoria: they made them doubt until the very end, since only a stupid fault from their opener and captain Dan Biggar allowed the Springboks to win. , on a penalty from Damian Willemse (29-26).
On the strength of this observation, the Welsh coach Wayne Pivac therefore only made a change in his training for the second test in Bloemfontein, while his South African counterpart Jacques Nienaber did the opposite: only four of the twenty- three players who played on the lawn of Pretoria remain in the team lined up on Saturday.
Australian scrum-half Nic White behind his scrum against England on July 2, 2022 in Perth Trevor Collens AFP/Archives
Some of the executives of the world title in 2019 have thus been dismissed, the third line and usual captain of the Springboks Siya Kolisi and the scrum half Faf de Klerk in particular.
In their place: young people, six of whom have never yet been selected in the green and gold jersey.
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The Pumas for the pass of two against Scotland
Argentina, for their first outing under their new coach Michael Cheika and for their first home game in almost three years, did things well by dominating Scotland (26-18).
In Salta on Saturday, they will have to repeat this performance, despite the absence of their starting hinge, scrum half Tomas Cubelli and fly-half Nicolas Sanchez having withdrawn for the rest of the tour due to injuries suffered during of the first test.
The program for the second test matches on Saturday:
(07:50) Japan - France, in Tokyo
(09:05) New Zealand - Ireland, in Dunedin
(11:55 a.m.) Australia - England, in Brisbane
(5:05 p.m.) South Africa - Wales, in Bloemfontein
(9:10 p.m.) Argentina - Scotland, in Salta
© 2022 AFP