Next stop Tokyo

Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Great Britain, and the United States played their final warm-up tournaments this weekend.

Russiastrolled to another European Championship, made all the easier this year by the absence of five teams from the competition, including their greatest rivals, France, and England.

The Russians won at a canter, but it is difficult to say what we or they learnt from another tournament win. The Olympics will be a significant step up and, while there was a good deal of squad use, conceding 14 points against Portugal (who should not have been playing in the Championship at all, without the five withdrawals) suggests some possible fragility in defence (or perhaps a loss in concentration).

Scotland – without their GB players – reached the finished third, and fourth overall, which looks good for the future and ambitions to win a World Series spot. They were pipped for second place (and second overall) by Poland who saved their best for the final three-team medal pool, beating Scotland 29-14 in the silver medal decider. Despite a disappointing fourth place this weekend, Spain ended as overall third.

United StatesandGreat Britainmet in the final World Rugby-organised warm-up tournament in Los Angeles. With Kenya pulling out the day before, USA Rugby managed to draft in Mexico as a replacement to play alongside Jamaica. Both are significant powers in the region, but well behind the USA and GB who dismissed them with ease. USA then beat Great Britain 26-7 to end the first day.

The size of the victories against Mexico and Jamaica resulted in a restructuring of the second day, with idea of a four-team tournament was set aside and instead the USA and Great Britain meeting in three more games, the USA winning two with the final one drawn.

Finally,Australia,New ZealandandFijimet in Townsville for the Oceania 7s, with numbers being made up by an Oceania Barbarians selection. New Zealand were on a different level to their opponents, including their Australia hosts who they beat comfortably 34-5 and 26-5, and ending with a +162 points difference over their six games. Australia also lost one of their two games against Fiji, who look very capable of recording similar “surprise” results in Tokyo.

Where does leave the likely direction for medals in Tokyo? Based on what we have seen this weekend it is very hard to see anyone stopping New Zealand making up for 2016 and winning gold. Anything can happen over 14 minutes, but the way in which they dismissed two other Tokyo-bound teams with ease this weekend was very impressive.

The real scrap will be for the other medals. Here the great unknown will be Canada – who we have not seen in action for over a year – but from those that have been active perhaps France and the USA look the most on form, while Russia and Great Britain certainly cannot be discounted. And watch out for Fiji.

Quest for gold(Los Angeles): United States 71-0 Jamaica; Great Britain 76-0 Mexico; Mexico 10-29 Jamaica; United States 26-7 Great Britain; United States 24-14 Great Britain; Mexico 10-17 Jamaica; Mexico 32-5 Jamaica; United States 21-17 Great Britain; Mexico 35-19 Jamaica; United States 12-12 Great Britain

European Championship(Moscow):Pool A: Russia 38-0 Germany; Portugal 19-19 Germany; Russia 24-14 PortugalPool B: Spain 19-17 Wales; Scotland 24-5 Wales; Spain 14-29 ScotlandPool C: Belgium 21-10 Romania; Poland 57-0 Romania; Belgium 0-19 PortugalPool D: Russia 52-0 Wales; Belgium 31-10 Wales; Russia 36-0 BelgiumPool E: Scotland 33-5 Romania; Portugal 12-12 Romania; Scotland 28-0 PortugalPool F: Poland 33-12 Germany; Spain 38-0 Germany; Poland 19-19 SpainPool I (7th-9thplace): Romania 12-31 Wales; Germany 7-31 Wales; Romania 0-25 GermanyPool H (4th-6thplace): Spain 29-14 Portugal; Belgium 17-19 Portugal; Spain 12-14 BelgiumPool G (1st-3rdplace): Russia 33-5 Poland; Scotland 14-29 Poland; Russia 22-5 Scotland

Oceania Sevens(Townsville): Australia 31-17 Fiji; New Zealand 51-0 Oceania; New Zealand 33-14 Fiji; Australia 51-0 Oceania; New Zealand 34-5 Australia; Fiji 21-12 Oceania; New Zealand 34-7 Oceania; Australia 12-19 Fiji; Australia 32-7 Oceania; New Zealand 27-12 Fiji; Fiji 14-12 Oceania; Australia 5-26 New Zealand