We preview the best matches to catch on Rugby Pass this weekend.
Top 14: Toulon vs Racing 92 (Saturday June 25, 2:40am HKT)
Ten months and 186 games later, the Top 14 season ends with a rematch of the glamour tie that started the season: Toulon vs Racing 92. Racing got there by toppling Clermont in a frankly ridiculous extra time thriller, while Toulon withheld a second half comeback from Montpellier. The teams have met three times this season – Racing drew first blood with a 27-22 win back in August, but in March Toulon overturned that result with a 21-20. Their most recent encounter was the European Cup quarter final, another arm wrestle which wasn’t decided until Maxime Machenaud landed a 78th minute penalty. The average margin in games between these sides this season is 3 points, so expect things to go down to the wire once again at the Camp Nou.
International: Australia vs England (Saturday June 25, 6:00pm HKT)
This has been quite a series, and game 2 really did have everything – England prop Dan Coles got his jersey torn clean off his back, the unbelievably bad playing surface at AAMI Stadium got torn to shreds at every scrum, and the threat of an all-in brawl lingered at every ruck and maul. Test rugby at its best. With England having wrapped up the series already there’s a risk that Game 3 could lack for intensity, but with the prospect of a series clean-sweep for England and the chance for revenge for the Wallabies, there’s still plenty to play for.
International: All Blacks vs Wales (Saturday June 25, 3:35pm HKT)
The second test played out more-or-less the same as the first – Wales pushed the All Blacks in the first half and went to the sheds with the scores tied at halftime, but a 15-minute burst from the home side after the half quickly opened up an unassailable lead. Despite a couple of late tries (they won the final 20 minutes 12-7) Wales were never a chance, and it ended up another 13-and-over All Blacks win. There’s little to suggest things will go any different under the roof in Dunedin this weekend – a tough, competitive first half and plenty of tries in the second. It could be worse.
International: South Africa vs Ireland (Saturday June 25, 11:00pm HKT)
Who’d have picked that this would be the only series left up for grabs going into Game 3? Ireland will still be kicking themselves that they let South Africa back into the game at Ellis Park after the Springboks overcame a 16-point deficit in the final 20 minutes to eventually win 32-26 and prevent the Irish from recording a historic series win. The series decider in Port Elizabeth is the clear pick of the weekend’s test matches – if it’s anything like the first two tests Ireland are still every chance to make history.
NRL: Titans vs Raiders (Sunday June 26, 12:05pm HKT)
The Gold Coast Titans, widely tipped to be NRL wooden spoon contenders before the season started, continue to defy the odds and cling to a spot in the top 8. Their 30-10 win over the Sea Eagles on Monday night was their seventh win of the season and puts them 8th on the table, but after 15 rounds the middle of the table is looking pretty congested. Three other teams also sit on 16 points, and the Raiders have 17, making every game against a fellow mid-table side doubly important. The Raiders are fresh off the bye, but the Titans probably deserve to be narrow favourites – as long as Ashley Taylor doesn’t have to take the train to the ground again.