2003 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches

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Throughout August 2003, various teams prepared for the Rugby World Cup in Australia with a short series of test matches, and involving the Six Nations sides. In addition, Fiji toured New Zealand and South America and Samoa played two matches with provincial teams of New Zealand. Argentina and South Africa played other, not international, Tests.

Contents

The tests replaced the Autumn international series in November, which does not take place in World Cup years. There were two tournaments involving teams that were preparing for the World Cup.

There were also a tour of Fiji in New Zealand and South America

Note: this article does not include international results not involving at least one side who had qualified for the 2003 World Cup

26 July

26 July 2003
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg27–65 Flag of New Zealand.svg NZ Māori
Try: Ross
Stanley
Tkachuk
Witkowski
Con: Ross (2)
Pen: Ross
Try: Austin (2)
Cribb
Flavell
Gear
Haami (2)
Jackson
Maddock (2)
Con: Jackson (2)
Walker (4)
Pen: Walker
Kingsland, Calgary
Attendance: 6,500

2 August

2 August 2003
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg9–30 Flag of New Zealand.svg NZ Maori
Pen: Pritchard (3)Try: Cullen
Flavell (2)
McFarland
Maddock
Con: Walker
Pen: Walker
York Stadium, Toronto
Referee: R. Maybank (England)

12 August

13 August 2003
North Auckland 17–27Flag of Samoa.svg  Western Samoa XV
Whangarei

15 August

15 August 2003
Narbonne 29–7Flag of Romania.svg  Romania XV
Parc des Sports, Narbonne

16 August

16 August 2003
Ireland  IRFU flag.svg35–12Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Try: O'Connell 2
O'Kelly
Quinlan
Wallace
Con: Humphreys 4
Murphy
Try: G. Evans
Thomas
Con: Harris
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Referee: Joel Dumè (France)

[1]

18 August

18 August 2003
Auckland 21–16Flag of Samoa.svg  Western Samoa XV
Auckland

22 August

22 August 2003
France  Flag of France.svg56–8Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Try: Betsen
Crenca
Harinordoquy
Jauzion
Liebenberg
Magne
Rougerie
Traille
Con: Merceron
Michalak (7)
Try: Brezoianu
Pen: Dumbravă
Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

France: 15. Pepito Elhorga, 14. Aurélien Rougerie, 13. Yannick Jauzion, 12. Damien Traille, 11. Christophe Dominici, 10. Frédéric Michalak, 9. Fabien Galthié (c), 8. Jean-Jacques Crenca, 7. Yannick Bru, 6. Sylvain Marconnet, 5. Fabien Pelous, 4. Serge Betsen, 3. Jérôme Thion, 2. Olivier Magne, 1. Imanol Harinordoquy; Replacements: 16. Raphaël Ibañez, 17. Olivier Milloud, 18. David Auradou, 19. Christian Labit, 20. Dimitri Yachvili, 21. Gérald Merceron, 22. Brian Liebenberg
Romania: 15. Dănuț Dumbravă, 14. Cristian Săuan, 13. Valentin Maftei, 12. Romeo Gontineac (c), 11. Gabriel Brezoianu, 10. Ionuț Tofan, 9. Lucian Sîrbu, 8. Ovidiu Tonița, 7. Costica Mersoiu, 6. George Chiriac, 5. Cristian Petre, 4. Sorin Socol, 3. Marcel Socaciu, 2. Marius Țincu, 1. Petru Bălan; Replacements: 16. Petrișor Toderașc, 17. Cezar Popescu, 18. Augustin Petrechei, 19. Alex Tudori, 20. Cristian Podea, 22. Mihai Vioreanu; Unused: 21. Iulian Andrei

23 August

[2] [3]

23 August 2003
Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg47–15Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Try: Blair
Danielli
Laney
McLaren
Ross
White
Con: Paterson (2)
Ross (2)
Pen: Ross (3)
Try: Mazzucato
Palmer
Con: Pez
Pen: Pez
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)

Scotland: 15. Ben Hinshelwood, 14. Simon Danielli, 13. James McLaren, 12. Andrew Henderson, 11. Kenny Logan, 10. Gordon Ross, 9. Mike Blair, 8. Tom Smith, 7. Robbie Russell, 6. Bruce Douglas, 5. Scott Murray (c), 4. Jason White, 3. Nathan Hines, 2. Jon Petrie, 1. Simon Taylor; Replacements: 16. Gordon Bulloch, 17. Gordon McIlwham, 18. Iain Fullarton, 19. Martin Leslie, 21. Chris Paterson, 22. Brendan Laney; Unused: 20. Graeme Beveridge
Italy: 15. Gert Peens, 14. Nicola Mazzucato, 13. Andrea Masi, 12. Cristian Stoica, 11. Mirco Bergamasco, 10. Ramiro Pez, 9. Alessandro Troncon (c), 8. Matthew Phillips, 7. Scott Palmer, 6. Maurizio Zaffiri, 5. Marco Bortolami, 4. Santiago Dellapè, 3. Salvatore Perugini, 2. Carlo Festuccia, 1. Andrea Lo Cicero; Replacements: 16. Fabio Ongaro, 17. Ramiro Martinez-Frugoni, 18. Sergio Parisse, 19. Mauro Bergamasco, 21. Francesco Mazzariol, 22. Gonzalo Canale; Unused: 20. Juan Manuel Queirolo


26 August

26 August 2003
Biarritz 21–0 Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg Georgia XV
Biarritz

27 August

27 August 2003
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg54–8Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Try: S. Williams (2)
Phillips
Popham
Brew
Gav. Thomas
Con: Henson (6)
Pen: Henson (4)
Try: Bălan
Pen: Dumbravă
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Referee: Andy Turner (South Africa)

Wales: 15. Gavin Henson, 14. Nathan Brew, 13. Matthew Watkins, 12. Andy Marinos, 11. Shane Williams, 10. Nick Robinson, 9. Mike Phillips, 1. Paul James, 2. Mefin Davies (c), 3. Ben Evans, 4. Brent Cockbain, 5. Ian Gough, 6. Jonathan Thomas, 7. Gavin Thomas, 8. Alix Popham; Replacements: 16. Paul Young, 17. Chris Anthony, 18. Deiniol Jones, 19. James Bater, 20. Gareth Wyatt, 21. Jon Bryant, 22. Andy Williams
Romania: 15. Dănuț Dumbravă, 14. Cristian Săuan, 13. Valentin Maftei, 12. Romeo Gontineac (c), 11. Gabriel Brezoianu, 10. Ionuț Tofan, 9. Lucian Sîrbu, 8. Ovidiu Tonița, 7. Costica Mersoiu, 6. George Chiriac, 5. Cristian Petre, 4. Sorin Socol, 3. Marcel Socaciu, 2. Marius Țincu Yellow card.svg, 1. Petru Bălan Yellow card.svg; Replacements: 16. Dan Tudosa, 17. Petrișor Toderașc, 18. Cezar Popescu, 19. Augustin Petrechei, 20. Alex Tudori, 21. Iulian Andrei, 22. Ion Teodorescu

30 August

[4] [5] [6]

30 August 2003
Ireland  IRFU flag.svg61–6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Try: Hickie (4)
Kelly
Byrne
Dempsey
Humphreys
Con: Humphreys (6)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Pen: Peens (2)
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: S. Lander (England)

Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. John Kelly, 13. Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12. Rob Henderson, 11. Denis Hickie, 10. David Humphreys, 9. Guy Easterby, 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Reggie Corrigan, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Leo Cullen, 6. Simon Easterby, 7. Eric Miller, 8. Victor Costello; Replacements: 16. Paul Shields, 17. Justin Fitzpatrick, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. Kieron Dawson, 20. Brian O'Meara, 21. Geordan Murphy, 22. Jonny Bell
Italy: 15. Gert Peens, 14. Nicola Mazzucato, 13. Cristian Stoica, 12. Matteo Barbini, 11. Diego Sacca, 10. Francesco Mazzariol, 9. Alessandro Troncon (c), 8. Sergio Parisse, 7. Mauro Bergamasco, 6. Andrea de Rossi, 5. Mark Giacheri, 4. Cristian Bezzi, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 2. Fabio Ongaro, 1. Andrea Lo Cicero; Replacements: 16. Carlo Festuccia, 18. Aaron Persico, 19. Matthew Phillips, 22. Andrea Masi; Unused: 17. Ramiro Martinez-Frugoni, 20. Matteo Mazzantini, 21. Ramiro Pez


30 August 2003
France  Flag of France.svg17–16Flag of England.svg  England
Try: Brusque
Pen: Michalak (3)
Drop: Michalak
Try: Tindall
Con: Grayson
Pen: Grayson (3)
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)

France: 15. Nicolas Brusque, 14. Aurélien Rougerie, 13. Yannick Jauzion, 12. Damien Traille, 11. Christophe Dominici, 10. Frédéric Michalak, 9. Fabien Galthié (c), 8. Jean-Jacques Crenca, 7. Yannick Bru, 6. Sylvain Marconnet, 5. Fabien Pelous, 4. Serge Betsen, 3. Jérôme Thion, 2. Olivier Magne, 1. Imanol Harinordoquy; Replacements: 16. Raphaël Ibañez, 17. Olivier Milloud, 18. David Auradou, 19. Sébastien Chabal, 20. Patrick Tabacco, 22. Brian Liebenberg; Unused: 21. Xavier Garbajosa
England: 15. Iain Balshaw, 14. Josh Lewsey, 13. Ollie Smith, 12. Mike Tindall, 11. Ben Cohen, 10. Paul Grayson, 9. Austin Healey, 8. Alex Sanderson, 7. Lewis Moody, 6. Martin Corry, 5. Danny Grewcock, 4. Steve Borthwick, 3. Julian White, 2. Dorian West (c), 1. Graham Rowntree; Replacements: 16. Steve Thompson, 17. Jason Leonard, 18. Simon Shaw, 22. Jamie Noon, 22. Jamie Noon; Unused: 19. Andy Hazell, 21. Dave Walder


6 September

[7] [8]

6 September 2003
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg31–22Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg  Georgia
Try: Castrogiovanni
Checchinato
Lo Cicero
Troncon
Con: Pez
Pen: Pez (3)
Try: Urjukashvili
Con: Jimsheladze
Pen: Jimsheladze (4)
Drop: Urjukashvili
Asti
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: D. Ramage (Scotland)

Italy: 15. Gonzalo Canale, 14. Mirco Bergamasco, 13. Cristian Stoica, 12. Nanni Raineri, 11. Nicola Mazzucato, 10. Ramiro Pez, 9. Alessandro Troncon (c), 1. Andrea Lo Cicero, 2. Fabio Ongaro, 3. Martin Castrogiovanni, 4. Santiago Dellapè, 5. Andrea de Rossi, 6. Marco Bortolami, 7. Aaron Persico, 8. Sergio Parisse; Replacements: 16. Carlo Festuccia, 17. Salvatore Perugini, 18. Carlo Checchinato, 19. Mauro Bergamasco, 20. Juan Manuel Queirolo, 22. Gert Peens; Unused: 21. Vincenzo Zullo
Georgia: 15. Bessik Khamashuridze Red card.svg, 14. Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 13. Tedo Zibzibadze, 12. Irakli Giorgadze, 11. Irakli Machkhaneli, 10. Paliko Jimsheladze, 9. Irakli Abuseridze, 8. Ilia Zedginidze (c), 7. Gregoire Yachvili, 6. Giorgi Chkhaidze, 5. Victor Didebulidze, 4. Zurab Mtchedlishvili, 3. Aleko Margvelashvili Yellow card.svg, 2. Akvsenti Giorgadze, 1. Avto Kopaliani; Replacements: 16. Goderdzi Shvelidze, 17. David Dadunashvili, 18. Vano Nadiradze Yellow card.svg, 19. Grigol Labadze Yellow card.svg, 20. Irakli Modebadze, 21. David Kiknadze


6 September 2003
England  Flag of England.svg45–14Flag of France.svg  France
Try: Balshaw
Cohen (2)
Lewsey
Robinson
Con: Grayson
Wilkinson (3)
Pen: Wilkinson (4)
Try: Rougerie
Pen: Merceron (2)
Drop: Jauzion
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)

England: 15. Jason Robinson, 14. Iain Balshaw, 13. Will Greenwood, 12. Stuart Abbott, 11. Ben Cohen, 10. Jonny Wilkinson, 9. Kyran Bracken, 1. Trevor Woodman, 2. Steve Thompson, 3. Julian White, 4. Martin Johnson (c), 5. Ben Kay, 6. Richard Hill, 7. Neil Back, 8. Martin Corry; Replacements: 16. Dorian West, 17. Jason Leonard, 18. Simon Shaw, 19. Lewis Moody, 20. Matt Dawson, 21. Paul Grayson, 22. Josh Lewsey
France: 15. Clément Poitrenaud, 14. Xavier Garbajosa, 13. Yannick Jauzion, 12. Brian Liebenberg, 11. Christophe Dominici, 10. Gérald Merceron, 9. Dimitri Yachvili, 8. Christian Labit, 7. Patrick Tabacco, 6. Sébastien Chabal, 5. Olivier Brouzet, 4. David Auradou, 3. Jean-Baptiste Poux, 2. Raphaël Ibañez (c), 1. Olivier Milloud; Replacements: 16. Yannick Bru, 17. Sylvain Marconnet, 18. Fabien Pelous, 19. Imanol Harinordoquy, 20. Olivier Magne, 22. Aurélien Rougerie; Unused: 21. Frédéric Michalak


6 September 2003
Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg10–29IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
Try: Webster
Con: Paterson
Pen: Paterson
Try: Hickie
Horgan
Maggs
Wallace
Con: O'Gara (3)
Pen: O'Gara
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: N. Whitehouse (Wales)

Scotland: 15. Glenn Metcalfe, 14. Chris Paterson, 13. Andy Craig, 12. Andrew Henderson, 11. Kenny Logan, 10. Gordon Ross, 9. Mike Blair, 8. Allan Jacobsen, 7. Gordon Bulloch (c), 6. Gordon McIlwham, 5. Stuart Grimes, 4. Ross Beattie, 3. Nathan Hines, 2. Andrew Mower, 1. Simon Taylor; Replacements: 16. Robbie Russell, 17. Matthew Proudfoot, 18. Jon Petrie, 19. Iain Fullarton, 21. James McLaren, 22. Simon Webster; Unused: 20. Graeme Beveridge
Ireland: 15. Geordan Murphy, 14. Anthony Horgan, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 12. Kevin Maggs, 11. Denis Hickie, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Peter Stringer, 8. Victor Costello, 7. Eric Miller, 6. David Wallace, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 3. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Keith Wood (c), 1. Marcus Horan; Replacements: 16. Shane Byrne, 17. Simon Best, 18. Simon Easterby, 19. Kieron Dawson, 20. Guy Easterby, 21. David Humphreys, 22. Girvan Dempsey

12 September

12 September 2003
Tucumán 0–72 Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina XV
San Miguel de Tucumán

16 September

16 September 2003
South Africa XV  Flag of South Africa.svg45–24 Flag of South Africa.svg Cheetahs
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

19 September

19 September 2003
Rosario 10–54 Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina XV
Plaza Jewell, Rosario

21 September

21 September 2003
France President's XV 83–12 French Barbarians
Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié Narbonne

Notes and references

  1. "Ireland Overpower Wales". irishrugby.ie. 16 August 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. Morrison, Iain (23 August 2003). "Blair puts thin case for life at No9 with Scotland". London: The Guardian.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  3. Butler, Eddie (23 August 2003). "Woodward's second-string outgun wretched Wales". London: The Guardian.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. "Four Tries For Hickie as Ireland Overwhelm Italians". irishrugby.ie. 30 August 2003. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  5. Kitson, Robert (1 September 2003). "England call on big guns for revenge shot". London: The Guardian.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  6. Averis, Mike (1 September 2003). "Hansen gets his answer". London: The Guardian.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  7. Butler, Eddie (7 September 2002). "England's sweet revenge". London: The Guardian.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  8. "Ireland Comfortable Winners in Murrayfield". irishrugby.ie. 6 September 2003. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2013.

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