Round three of the Nations Championship, on Saturday 18 July, sharpened the picture in both conferences a little further. In the south, South Africa and New Zealand kept their perfect records, while Australia got their campaign going. In the north, France responded in the best possible way after their disappointment, while Ireland conceded a first defeat. Here is the round-up of all six matches, from Durban to Santiago del Estero.
In the south, South Africa and New Zealand untouchable
In Durban, South Africa put on a show against Wales (43-0). Seven tries, including those of Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel and Cobus Reinach, and above all a shutout inflicted on a Welsh side outgunned in every department. The Springboks keep their unbeaten record and top spot in the southern conference.
Overnight in New Zealand, at Auckland’s Eden Park, the All Blacks beat Ireland (40-21). Driven by an attacking festival from Ardie Savea, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Asafo Aumua, the men in black made the difference in the second half. Ireland, who saved some face through McCarthy, Keenan and Conan, lost their unbeaten record there.
France put Japan away, Australia get going
In Tokyo, France never wobbled. A few days after a reverse, they cut loose against Japan (42-15) with six tries, including a brace from fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and another from hooker Maxime Lamothe. Alexandre Roumat and Maxime Lucu completed the tally. An emphatic response, which restores French confidence in the race for the northern conference.
In Perth, Australia produced the biggest score of the day against Italy (57-10). Lock Joshua Canham helped himself to a hat-trick, in a match where the Wallabies passed fifty points to claim their first win of the campaign. Italy, reduced to two tries from Lamaro and Ioane, continue to struggle.
In the north, Scotland deliver, Wales collapse
At Murrayfield, Scotland controlled Fiji (33-17) thanks in particular to a brace from Jamie Dobie and scores from Jonny Gray, Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings. Fiji, never cowed and with three tries of their own, nonetheless remain adrift in the table.
Wales, for their part, endured a nightmare evening in Durban (0-43), while Italy suffered a third straight defeat. The two nations prop up their respective conferences.
In the late match, England survive chaos in Santiago del Estero
In the day’s final fixture, in Santiago del Estero, England claimed a statement away win (31-24), at the end of a match as spectacular as it was tense. Ben Earl’s brace and tries from Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso had given England a comfortable lead, before an extremely tense finish.
Hammered by yellow cards (van Poortvliet, Coles, then Pollock and Iyogun in quick succession), England finished the match with thirteen men and had to dig in to contain the Pumas’ comeback, sparked by Mateo Carreras and Justo Piccardo. A last Argentine try, disallowed by the TMO in the closing seconds, sealed the result and infuriated the Argentine camp. A valuable win, but a painful one.
At the end of round three, South Africa and New Zealand are streaking clear at the top of the southern conference, still unbeaten. In the north, France take charge and are heading, on current form, for a final against the Springboks, while Ireland, beaten in Auckland, lose ground.
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