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JOHN INVERDALE ON THE WEEKEND'S RUGBY UNION

I think people thought that the warm-up internationals for the Rugby World Cup were going to be nothing more than glorified training sessions.

But from the intensity of the tackling and hits that we have seen in the games so far it is clear that they mean an awful lot more than that.

They are proving to be quite a benchmark for when the real action begins in France on 7 September.

For Wales, their game against Argentina on Saturday has taken on a lot more significance than it needed to have done.

Because they picked such a weakened team against England two weeks ago and were thrashed 62-5, it has suddenly put a huge amount of pressure on their next two games.

They have to win one of the matches coming up against Argentina and France, because if they went into the World Cup having lost three games in a row, it really wouldn't bode well for their chances.

The worry for the Welsh is - are they going to win enough ball? The way they were bullied so comprehensively against England makes you wonder how they are going to compete for 80 minutes against the big fishes.

England's narrow defeat to France last week wasn't too much to be concerned about.

Brian Ashton's men were missing key players - unlike France who had picked their first team.

England's backs still don't excite, but then they didn't really when they won the World Cup in 2003.

England will do well to win the rematch on Saturday in Marseilles.

If they can hold the French to within five to 10 points I don't think England's World Cup prospects are to be dismissed.

The squad Ashton has selected doesn't contain many surprises, but what will be interesting is to see who makes the first XV, especially in the centre and the back row.

Enjoy the action,

John

John Inverdale presents BBC TV's coverage of Wales v Argentina on Saturday, kick off 1430 BST.

(John Inverdale was talking to Paul Birch.)


THIS WEEKEND ON BBC SPORT	All the TV and radio times

RUGBY UNION

bbc.co.uk/rugbyunion

Saturday

Wales v Argentina, 1410-1630, BBC ONE and BBC Sport website

Sunday

France v England highlights, 1700-1810, BBC TWO and BBC Sport website.

FOOTBALL

bbc.co.uk/football

Saturday

Football Focus (1210 BST, BBC ONE/online); SPL: Commentary from every game (1500, BBC Radio Scotland/online); Portsmouth v Bolton commentary (1245, Radio Five Live/online); Score (1430, BBCi/online); Premier League commentary (1500, Radio Five Live/online); Final Score (1630, BBC ONE); Newcastle v Aston Villa commentary (1715, Radio Five Live/online); Match of the Day (2230, BBC ONE/online).

Sunday

Match of the Day repeat (0740, BBC ONE/online); Man City v Man Utd commentary (1330, Radio Five Live/online); SPL: Aberdeen v Celtic commentary (1400, BBC Radio Scotland/online); Liverpool v Chelsea commentary (1600, Radio Five Live/online); Match of the Day 2 (2235, BBC TWO/online).

MORE SPORT ON THE BBC

bbc.co.uk/tvandradio

Saturday

World Badminton Championships (0700-1400, BBCi/online and 1300-1410, BBC ONE/online); MotoGP: Brno qualifying (1245-1400, BBCi/online); Cricket: Friends Provident Trophy Final, Durham v Hampshire (1030-1900, BBC Radio 5live Sports Extra/online).

Sunday

MotoGP: Brno (0945-1430, MotoGP Extra, BBCi; 1230-1400, race live, BBC TWO/online). European Show Jumping Championships (1205-1315 and 1405-1600, BBCi/online; 1530-1700, BBC TWO/online); Super League Show (1300-1350, BBC North and BBC Sport website); World Badminton Championships (1400-1500, BBC TWO/online).