Following a rip-roaring opening weekend, the Nations Championship is back this Saturday for an intriguing Round 2.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's fixtures...
New Zealand v Italy
Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 17:10 Local (06:10 BST)
The Dave Rennie era got off to a perfect start with a thrilling bonus-point win over France, and the All Blacks now look to maintain their historic stranglehold over the Azzurri. New Zealand have won all 17 previous meetings between the sides, racking up a staggering 998 points in the process. The hosts' game plan centers around terrifying post-contact power and aerial supremacy.
New Zealand lead the tournament for post-contact metres (154) and initial breaks (12), spearheaded by Will Jordan, who crossed for two tries last weekend. With Cam Roigard in majestic form and Jordie Barrett leading the tournament with two try assists, Italy's defence faces the ultimate test. Italy, however, arrive with a highly disciplined defensive identity. Gonzalo Quesada's men rank second in the competition for tackle success (84.7%) and defensive ruck entries (78), anchored by Lorenzo Cannone's flawless 20-tackle display in Round 1. Italy also bring set-piece perfection, having won 100% of their scrums and a round-high 17 lineouts last weekend. If they can weaponise their tournament-leading 28.6% restart retention rate and eliminate the unforced errors that plagued them in Tokyo, the Azzurri possess the tools to disrupt the hosts' rhythm.
- Key Stat: Ardie Savea won more jackals (2) than any other player in Round 1, epitomising an aggressive All Black breakdown unit that logged 78 ruck entries.
Australia v France
Venue: Suncorp Stadium Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 17:40 Local (08:40 BST)
Two wounded giants collide in Brisbane, both desperate to bounce back from agonisingly close opening-round defeats. While France have won the last three consecutive meetings between the two sides, the Wallabies hold a flawless 5-0 historical record against Les Bleus at Suncorp Stadium. Joe Schmidt's Wallabies will lean heavily on a brutal defensive and carrying edge.
Australia lead the competition for dominant tackle contacts (12) and beat 36 defenders in Round 1. Powerhouse backrower Rob Valetini was a force of nature last weekend, topping the tournament charts with 33 post-contact metres from 19 carries. Backed by a scrum that functioned at 100%, the Wallabies have the tools to punch holes in the French line. France arrive boasting their own heavily physical blueprint. Fabien Galthié's side made more tackles than any other team in Round 1 (190), with midfielder Yoram Moefana racking up three dominant hits. In attack, fly-half Matthieu Jalibert remains the orchestrator, leading the team with 19 carries and four offloads last weekend. Expect an expansive, high-velocity battle as France look to exploit their dangerous offloading game (12 in Round 1) against an Australian side eager to snap a five-match losing streak.
- Key Stat: Power running meets set-piece pressure. Australia stole two lineouts last weekend, a weapon that will be crucial to disrupting a French lineout that operated at a 94% success rate when these sides last met.
Japan v Ireland
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 20:10 Local (11:10 BST)
Following their clinical victory over Italy, Japan embark on a mouth-watering clash against a high-flying Irish side in Newcastle. While Ireland boast a 90.9% historical win rate in this fixture, no one will forget Japan's iconic 19-12 upset at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Brave Blossoms have developed a lethal tactical kicking game. Japan lead the tournament in total kick metres (984) and kicks in play (35), driven by fly-half Ryunosuke Ito's individual round-high 395 kick metres.
Combined with a tournament-leading 46 total possessions and a flawless 100% lineout success rate, Japan will look to pin Ireland back and let point-machine fullback Takuro Matsunaga (17 points in Round 1) strike from the tee. Ireland, however, represent a massive step up in clinical execution. Andy Farrell's men spent more time in the opposition half than anyone else in Round 1 (11 possessions) and dominated the sky with a round-high 19 lineout wins. With a perfect scrum and the defensive grit of Jack Conan - who made 19 tackles at a 95% success rate last weekend - Ireland are poised to challenge Japan's expansive ambitions and extend their five-match winning streak.
- Key Stat: Defending the gainline will be everything. Japan boast the tournament's highest tackle success percentage (86.4%), which they must deploy to halt an Irish midfield marshalled by Stuart McCloskey, who beat 6 defenders last weekend.
Fiji v England
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 14:10 Local
Fiji are staging their home fixture 10,000 miles away from the Pacific Islands, bringing their unique brand of rugby to Everton's brand-new stadium on the Liverpool docks. England hold a dominant 90% historical win rate over the Flying Fijians, but Fiji's famous 30-22 triumph at Twickenham in 2023 proves they have the capability to cause major problems for the English side on any given day.
Fiji lit up Round 1 with an unprecedented display of attacking audacity, leading the tournament in defenders beaten (42), carry metres (674), initial breaks (12), and total offloads (32). Winger Jiuta Wainiqolo entered the record books by beating a staggering 19 defenders individually last weekend. Coupled with a tournament-high 28 dominant carry contacts and a defence that won 9 turnovers, Fiji bring pure fire to Liverpool. England, arriving on the back of a tough night in Johannesburg, will counter with structure and territorial discipline. Steve Borthwick's side ranked second last weekend for kick metres (738) and dominated their own set-piece with a 100% lineout success rate. Number eight Ben Earl remains England's key talisman, having made more carries (21) and averaging more post-contact metres per carry (1.9) than any other player in the opening round. If England's pack can replicate their 95% ruck success rate, they can deny Fiji the chaotic transition ball they crave.
- Key Stat: Turnovers will dictate the tempo. Fiji’s Kitione Salawa won a joint-round-high 3 turnovers last weekend, meaning England must protect the breakdown fiercely to avoid being cut apart in open play.
South Africa v Scotland
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 17:40 Local (16:40 BST)
The reigning world champions return to the Highveld in Pretoria to tackle the tournament's highest-scoring side. South Africa have historically dominated this fixture, winning 25 of the 30 head-to-head meetings, but Gregor Townsend's high-tempo Scots arrive full of confidence after lighting up Córdoba with a seven-try masterpiece. The Springboks put on a clinical display of power rugby against England, scoring seven tries and routinely pinning the opposition deep in their own territory.
Centre Damian Willemse was majestic, racking up 16 carries and 127 kick metres, while scrum-half Grant Williams masterminded the territorial game with a round-high 16 box kicks. Backed by hooker Malcolm Marx, who hit a round-high 16 successful lineouts, the Boks will look to exert heavy pressure on Scotland at the set-piece. Scotland, however, possess a deadly, multi-faceted counter-attack. They currently lead the competition in points (47) and tries scored (7), powered by the elusive running of Kyle Rowe, who topped the charts with 177 carry metres in Round 1. Scotland also possess a ferocious opportunistic streak, winning more turnovers in the tackle (6) than any other team last weekend, with Matt Fagerson accounting for three.
- Key Stat: Set-piece chess. South Africa won a round-high two maul penalties last weekend. They face a Scottish defensive unit led by Rory Darge, who racked up 24 tackles and 2 turnovers in the opening round.
Argentina v Wales
Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
Kick-off: Saturday, 11 July - 16:10 Local (20:10 BST)
Round 2 concludes in San Juan with a fascinating clash of styles. While Wales hold the historical edge with a 60.8% win rate across 23 meetings, Los Pumas have taken the spoils in three of the last five encounters, including back-to-back victories. Argentina are currently operating as the most clinically efficient unit in the Nations Championship, boasting a flawless 100% success rate across goal-kicking, scrums, and lineouts. Fly-half Tomás Albornoz leads the competition with 6 successful goals, while midfielder Lucio Cinti remains a constant threat after beating 7 defenders last weekend.
With a physical pack that logged 23 dominant carry contacts, Argentina will look to challenge Wales' defensive line at the collision. Wales land in Argentina riding the momentum of back-to-back Test victories, including a 39-point bonus-point triumph over Fiji. Steve Tandy's side generated immense attacking pressure in Round 1, recording 13 visits to the opposition 22 and scoring a round-high 3 maul tries. Captain Jac Morgan remains the heartbeat of the team after a stunning two-try, two-turnover performance last week. If Tomos Williams can maintain his excellent tactical kicking, Wales have every chance of repeating their clinical edge on the road.
- Key Stat: An immovable object meets an irresistible force. Argentina's Julian Montoya leads the league with 25 successful tackles, but they must face a Welsh side that won a joint-high 5 jackal turnovers in the opening round.
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