The 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches were a series of rugby union test matches that took place in August and September 2015, as the 20 competing teams prepared for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
For most teams, their preparation kicked off in August after various training camps before the squad announcement deadline date of 31 August. Uruguay were the first to begin their warm-up campaign at the start of August, playing three tests: first against an Argentina XV, and then a two-test series against Japan, before playing an uncapped match against a Basque Selection team. Wales and reigning Six Nations champions Ireland followed suit a week later, with the first game of a home and away series, after which Wales played Italy, just days after they announced their final World Cup team. Hosts England played a home and away test series against France before they played Ireland in London. Both Ireland and France played Scotland at home, while Scotland played a home and away test series against the Italians.
With a reduced 2015 Rugby Championship, participants Argentina hosted South Africa, while reigning World Cup champions New Zealand hosted Australia for the second Bledisloe Cup match of 2015. En route to the World Cup, the Wallabies stopped off in the United States to play their national team for the first time on American soil since 1976. The United States also hosted English club side Harlequins, while they also faced Canada in Ottawa. Canada additionally hosted Pro12 champions Glasgow Warriors, before they faced Georgia and Fiji at a neutral venue in the United Kingdom, which also hosted Georgia's encounter with Japan. Glasgow's Scottish counterparts Edinburgh, faced Romania, who also took on Tonga for just their second time in their history.
Aside from Harlequins, other English clubs faced international opposition, when Newcastle Falcons faced Georgia, Leicester Tigers faced Argentina, Yorkshire Carnegie played Romania and Wasps hosted Samoa. Samoa were the first international rugby union team to play at the Olympic Stadium in London, when they faced the Barbarians, with most of that team haven played for a World XV side against Japan a week earlier.
Fixtures
Week 1
Team details FB 15Jerónimo Etcheverry (c)RW 14Francisco BulantiOC 13Pedro Deal IC 12Andrés VilasecaLW 11Rodrigo SilvaFH 10Felipe Berchesi SH 9 Agustín OrmaecheaN8 8 Alejandro NietoOF 7 Fernando Bascou BF 6 Juan de Freitas RL 5 Mathias Palomeque LL 4 Franco LamannaTP 3 Mario Sagario HK 2 Germán Kessler LP 1 Juan Echeverría Replacements:PR 16Oscar Durán HK 17Arturo Avalo PR 18Alejo Corral LK 19Ignacio Dotti FL 20Gabriel Puig FL 21Agustín Alonso SH 22Guillermo LijtensteinCE 23Joaquín Prada Coach: Pablo Lemoine FB 15Román MirallesRW 14Ramiro Moyano OC 13Matías Orlando (c) IC 12Joaquín PazLW 11Axel MüllerFH 10Juan León NovilloSH 9 Gonzalo Bertranou N8 8 Lisandro Ahualli de ChazalOF 7 Gonzalo PaulínBF 6 Rodrigo BáezRL 5 Aníbal Panceyra GarridoLL 4 Ignacio Larrague TP 3 Guido Randisi HK 2 Santiago Iglesias Valdez LP 1 Roberto Tejerizo Replacements:HK 16Tomas Baravalle PR 17Santiago García Botta PR 18Cristian Bartolini LK 19Ignacio CalasFL 20Vito Scaglione SH 21Patricio Baronio FH 22Domingo Miotti CE 23Tomás Granella Coach: Felipe Contepomi Ricardo Le Fort Man of the Match: Alejandro Nieto (Uruguay)
Touch judges: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Joaquín Montes (Uruguay) Notes: Uruguay awarded caps for this match. This was Uruguay's first ever victory over Argentina, despite it not being a full test match.
Week 2
Team details FB 15Hallam AmosRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Tyler MorganIC 12Scott Williams (c) LW 11Eli WalkerFH 10James Hook SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Dan Baker OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Ross Moriarty RL 5 Dominic DayLL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Aaron Jarvis HK 2 Richard Hibbard LP 1 Nicky Smith Replacements:HK 16Kristian Dacey PR 17Rob Evans PR 18Scott Andrews FL 19James King N8 20Taulupe Faletau SH 21Lloyd Williams FH 22Gareth Anscombe FB 23Matthew Morgan Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Felix JonesRW 14Andrew Trimble OC 13Keith Earls IC 12Darren CaveLW 11Fergus McFaddenFH 10Paddy JacksonSH 9 Eoin Reddan N8 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) OF 7 Tommy O'Donnell BF 6 Jordi MurphyRL 5 Donnacha Ryan LL 4 Iain HendersonTP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Richardt Strauss LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16Rory Best PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Michael Bent LK 19Dan Tuohy FL 20Chris Henry SH 21Kieran Marmion FH 22Ian Madigan WG 23Simon Zebo Coach: Joe Schmidt Man of the Match: Keith Earls (Ireland)
Touch judges: Pascal Gauzère (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Gareth Anscombe, Kristian Dacey, Dominic Day, Ross Moriarty Tyler Morgan and Eli Walker (all Wales) made their international debuts. Mike Ross (Ireland) earned his 50th test cap. No replacement was issued when Tommy O'Donnell was taken off injured in the 75th minute.
Week 3
Team details FB 15Ben SmithRW 14Nehe Milner-Skudder OC 13Conrad Smith IC 12Ma'a NonuLW 11Julian SaveaFH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Richie McCaw (c) BF 6 Victor Vito RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie RetallickTP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16Keven Mealamu PR 17Wyatt Crockett PR 18Nepo Laulala FL 19Jerome Kaino FL 20Sam Cane SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Colin Slade CE 23Malakai Fekitoa Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Henry Speight OC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt To'omuaLW 11Adam Ashley-CooperFH 10Quade Cooper SH 9 Nic WhiteN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 James Horwill LL 4 Will Skelton TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Dean Mumm LK 20Kane Douglas FL 21David Pocock CE 22Matt Giteau CE 23Kurtley Beale Coach: Michael Cheika Man of the Match: Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Notes: Richie McCaw surpassed Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll world record as the most capped rugby player, with 142 caps. David Pocock (Australia) earned his 50th test cap. New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup.
Team details FB 15Ayumu Goromaru RW 14Karne HeskethOC 13Kotaro MatsushimaIC 12Male Sa'uLW 11Kenki Fukuoka FH 10Harumichi TatekawaSH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Michael Leitch (c)BF 6 Hendrik TuiRL 5 Justin Ives LL 4 Luke ThompsonTP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Masataka Mikami Replacements:PR 16Hisateru Hirashima HK 17Takeshi Kizu PR 18Hiroshi Yamashita LK 19Kazuhiko Usami N8 20Hayden Hopgood SH 21Atsushi Hiwasa CE 22Craig Wing WG 23Yoshikazu Fujita Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15 James O'Connor RW 14 Taqele NaiyaravoroOC 13 Ben TapuaiIC 12 Christian LealiifanoLW 11 Nick CumminsFH 10 Berrick Barnes SH 9 Andrew EllisN8 8 Pierre SpiesOF 7 Liam GillBF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Ali Williams LL 4 Bakkies Botha (c) TP 3 Carl Hayman HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements:HK 16 Tolu Latu PR 17 Ben Alexander PR 18 Petrus du Plessis LK 19 Luke Jones FL 20 Sean McMahon SH 21 Luke Burgess FH 22 Mike Harris WG 23 Dom ShipperleyCoach: Robbie Deans Touch judges: Hirabayashi Taizo (Japan) Shimizu Rui (Japan)
Team details FB 15Simon Zebo RW 14Tommy Bowe OC 13Jared PayneIC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Luke FitzgeraldFH 10Ian MadiganSH 9 Isaac Boss N8 8 Seán O'Brien (c)OF 7 Chris HenryBF 6 Jack Conan RL 5 Dan TuohyLL 4 Devin Toner TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Seán Cronin LP 1 Dave Kilcoyne Replacements:HK 16Richardt Strauss PR 17Michael Bent PR 18Nathan White LK 19Paul O'Connell FL 20Jordi Murphy SH 21Eoin Reddan FH 22Paddy Jackson WG 23David Kearney Coach: Joe Schmidt FB 15Ruaridh JacksonRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Richie Vernon IC 12Peter HorneLW 11Tim VisserFH 10Greig TonksSH 9 Henry Pyrgos (c) N8 8 David DentonOF 7 Hugh BlakeBF 6 Blair Cowan RL 5 Grant GilchristLL 4 Jim Hamilton TP 3 Jon Welsh HK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Michael Cusack LK 19Rob Harley FL 20John Barclay SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne FH 22Duncan WeirCE 23Matt Scott Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Simon Zebo (Ireland)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Jack Conan, Nathan White (both Ireland), Hugh Blake and Michael Cusack (both Scotland) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Alex Goode RW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Henry Slade IC 12Sam Burgess LW 11Jonny MayFH 10Owen FarrellSH 9 Richard Wigglesworth N8 8 Ben Morgan OF 7 Calum Clark BF 6 Tom Wood (c)RL 5 Geoff Parling LL 4 George KruisTP 3 Kieran Brookes HK 2 Rob Webber LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Alex Corbisiero PR 18David Wilson LK 19Dave Attwood FL 20James Haskell SH 21Danny Care FH 22Danny Cipriani CE 23Billy Twelvetrees Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Scott SpeddingRW 14Sofiane GuitouneOC 13Rémi LameratIC 12Alexandre Dumoulin LW 11Brice Dulin FH 10François Trinh-Duc SH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Yannick Nyanga RL 5 Yoann Maestri LL 4 Alexandre FlanquartTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (c) LP 1 Vincent Debaty Replacements:HK 16Guilhem Guirado PR 17Xavier Chiocci PR 18Uini Atonio LK 19Sébastien Vahaamahina N8 20Loann Goujon SH 21Rory Kockott FH 22Rémi Talès CE 23Gaël Fickou Coach: Philippe Saint-André Man of the Match: Anthony Watson (England)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Notes: Sam Burgess, Calum Clark, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade (England) made their international debuts. François Trinh-Duc (France) earned his 50th test cap. This was the 100th match contested between England and France.
Team details FB 15Joaquín Tuculet RW 14Santiago CorderoOC 13Matías Moroni IC 12Juan Pablo SocinoLW 11Juan ImhoffFH 10Nicolás SánchezSH 9 Martín Landajo N8 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón OF 7 Juan Martín Fernández LobbeBF 6 Tomás LezanaRL 5 Tomás Lavanini LL 4 Benjamín Macome TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 2 Agustín Creevy (c) LP 1 Lucas Noguera Paz Replacements:HK 16Julián Montoya PR 17Santiago García Botta PR 18Juan Pablo Orlandi LK 19Matías Alemanno FL 20Pablo Matera SH 21Tomás Cubelli FH 22Santiago González Iglesias FB 23Lucas González Amorosino Coach: Daniel Hourcade FB 15Zane Kirchner RW 14Lwazi MvovoOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de Allende LW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Pat LambieSH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Schalk BurgerOF 7 Willem Alberts BF 6 Heinrich BrüssowRL 5 Victor Matfield (c) LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Marcel van der Merwe HK 2 Adriaan Strauss LP 1 Trevor Nyakane Replacements:HK 16Schalk Brits PR 17Tendai Mtawarira PR 18Frans Malherbe LK 19Flip van der Merwe LK 20Pieter-Steph du Toit SH 21Cobus Reinach FH 22Handré Pollard CE 23Jan Serfontein Coach: Heyneke Meyer Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Santiago García Botta (Argentina) made his international debut.
Week 4