Forecasts for International Rugby Matches - July 5-6
**July 5, 2025: A Day of Rugby Drama**
Rugby enthusiasts around the world were treated to an action-packed day of international matches on July 5, 2025. Here's a round-up of some of the most exciting games that took place.
In the early hours of the morning, the Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu in Japan hosted the highly anticipated clash between Japan and Wales. Japan, with a second-string squad, managed to pull off a stunning victory, securing their second-ever victory against Wales, their first since 2013. The final score was 24-19, a testament to Japan's resilience and determination.
The first half saw Wales leading 19-7, but Japan came back strong in the second half, scoring three tries and nine points from the boot of Seungsin Lee. This victory not only ended Wales' hopes of winning but also contributed to their 18th consecutive international defeat as of that date. The challenging weather conditions, with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, played a part in the match dynamics, with water breaks being necessary.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the All Blacks faced off against France. Despite sending a second-string squad, France put up a good fight, but New Zealand emerged victorious by 19 points, as predicted. The suggested bet for this match was New Zealand -19 at 1.83.
In Pretoria, South Africa took on Italy. The Boks, who had recently recorded a record 54-7 win over the Barbarians, continued their dominance, winning by 40 points. South Africa have lost just once to Italy in 16 outings.
England faced off against a France XV last weekend and lost 26-24. With 13 stars on Lions duty, England fielded a depleted squad, captained by veterans Jamie George and George Ford. In contrast, Argentina, who are on a high after their surprise victory over the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, took on England. Given Argentina's current form and England's depleted squad, Argentina were predicted to win by 7 points.
In Dublin, Ireland, who were missing 15 stars on the British & Irish Lions tour, took on a new-look team. The interim coach, Paul O'Connell, set Craig Casey to captain the team for the first time. Despite the challenges, Ireland managed to hold their ground, but Argentina emerged victorious.
In La Plata, Argentina, Argentina hosted England. With only two Welsh players, Zac Morgan and Tomos Williams, in the British & Irish Lions squad, Argentina had a chance to show they've learned from their 2024 season opener, where they lost to a second-string France team. The suggested bet for this match was England +8 at 1.90.
Finally, in Newcastle, Australia faced off against Fiji. Australia, who were on a two-match losing streak after finishing their 2024 campaign with losses to Scotland and Ireland, were determined to turn things around. The suggested bet for this match was Australia -16 at 1.90. Australia remembered their loss to Fiji at the 2023 World Cup, and don't expect a repeat of that in Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Georgia won their eighth consecutive Rugby Europe Championship title in March. The clash in Pretoria was one of five fixtures on Saturday.
In conclusion, July 5, 2025, was a day of exciting rugby matches, with several upsets and expected victories. The rugby world eagerly awaits the upcoming matches, especially the British & Irish Lions series.
Sports enthusiasts eagerly awaited the rugby fixtures scheduled for July 5, 2025, with predictions for some matches highlighting potential upsets. For instance, in the clash between Japan and Wales, Japan was predicted to win despite sending a second-string squad, a stark contrast to their previous meeting in 2013. Meanwhile, the suggested bet for the match between Argentina and England was Argentina to win by 7 points, given Argentina's current form and England's depleted squad.
