The Nations Championship returns this weekend, with South Africa beginning the Northern Series against Italy after an impressive run of results in the southern spring.
Since the first leg ended, South Africa and New Zealand have completed the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, Australia have continued to improve, and Japan and Fiji have gained further international experience. The Six Nations sides, however, have not played since July, adding an element of uncertainty to the November Tests.
Friday, 6 November
Argentina travel to Dublin seeking a result to restore momentum. The Pumas beat Wales and pushed Scotland and England close during the Southern Series, but their subsequent campaign brought a narrow defeat by South Africa, a loss to Australia in Jujuy and a draw in Mendoza.
Those results demonstrated Argentina’s competitiveness, although they also highlighted the team’s difficulty in turning strong performances into wins. Their task is made harder by the absence of Santiago Carreras, who is out for the rest of the season. The versatile back had been one of Argentina’s most influential players and his absence leaves a significant gap in their attacking structure.
Ireland won two of their three Southern Series matches before losing to an impressive New Zealand side. They will hope playing at home can counter Argentina’s greater recent Test experience.
Saturday, 7 November
South Africa start as one of the teams in the strongest form. The Springboks won all three of their Southern Series fixtures against England, Scotland and Wales before beating Argentina in Buenos Aires.
They then recovered from losing the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to win the final three Tests against New Zealand and take the series 3-1. Their only significant setback was a 42-38 loss to Australia in Perth, but Rassie Erasmus’ side have enhanced their status as tournament favourites. Italy, who lost all three Southern Series matches, face a particularly difficult opening assignment.
New Zealand and Scotland meet in one of the weekend’s headline fixtures, with both sides harbouring ambitions of reaching the Nations Championship Grand Final. The All Blacks beat France, Italy and Ireland in a perfect Southern Series before losing their tour of South Africa 3-1. They responded with Bledisloe Cup victories over Australia, winning 50-19 in Auckland and 43-21 in Sydney.
Scotland defeated Argentina and Fiji in July before losing to South Africa. Gregor Townsend’s side must reproduce that form immediately against New Zealand. Both teams arrive in Cardiff seeing an opportunity to collect important tournament points.
Wales need a response after defeats by Argentina and South Africa. They face Japan in Cardiff, having beaten them by one point at the same venue a year ago. Japan began the Nations Championship with victory over Italy but then lost to Ireland and France. Eddie Jones’ side have since beaten Canada 57-12, while also losing to Australia and Fiji in Tokyo.
France are strong favourites against Fiji after recovering from a narrow loss to New Zealand to beat Australia and Japan. Fiji lost all three July matches but defeated Japan 34-28 in Tokyo, underlining the threat posed by their backline.
Sunday, 8 November
Australia face England in London in a difficult fixture to assess. The Wallabies had only one Southern Series victory, but later beat Japan, won in Argentina, drew the return match and stunned South Africa 42-38 in Perth. Their two heavy losses to New Zealand exposed weaknesses, although Les Kiss’ side arrive in improved form.
England responded to a heavy defeat by South Africa by beating Fiji and Argentina, and will aim to extend that run against Australia.
