Major countries participate in this Nations Championship, the first of its name. In the day’s marquee clash between the two sides who suffered defeat on the first day, France prevailed over Australia 42-26, their biggest win on the island continent thanks to a hot second period of 30-5.
New Zealand vs Ireland clash on the horizon
The Irish, who won on the first day in Australia (33-31), again scored five points against Japan (36-20). I’m preparing well for the match against New Zealand next week. Like the Blues, the All Blacks, under new coach Dave Rennie, found success early in the second half against Italy, scoring four tries in the first fifteen minutes of that period to eventually win 47–17. With just seven tries, they won the attacking bonus and allowed their hat-trick striker Will Jordan to become their pick’s all-time leading scorer with 50.
As expected, New Zealand are up against South Africa in their group, who also have two improved wins to their name. The reigning two-time AC world champions beat Scotland 42-28.
England returns to victory
England finally ended a five-game losing streak by beating Fiji 73-8 in a one-sided match on Saturday in Liverpool. They received a bonus in the 35th minute and were already leading 35-3 before scrum-half Simione Curuvoli was red carded just before half-time for slamming his sticks into the chest of Ellis Genge as he stood up from a tackle by the Englishman.
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The Nations Championship, a new competition that replaces the summer and autumn tours, will pit Northern Hemisphere teams against Southern Hemisphere teams and Japan in three matches in July and three matches in November. Each hemisphere has its own group, the ranking of which is determined by the final at the end of November, in which a new trophy will be collected and the superiority of one hemisphere over the other will be determined.
Nations Championship ranking after day 2
Northern Hemisphere
1. Ireland: 10 points (+18)
2. France: 7 points (+14)
3. Scotland: 6 points (-5)
4. England: 5 points (+41)
5. Wales: 5 points (+1)
6. Italy: 0 points (-47)
Southern Hemisphere
1. South Africa: 10 points (+38)
2. New Zealand: 10 points (+32)
3. Argentina: 8 points (+5)
4. Japan: 4 points (+1)
5. Australia: 3 points (-18)
6. Fiji: 0 points (-80)