The inaugural Nations Championship moves into its fifth round this weekend, with six fixtures scheduled across Friday, Saturday and Sunday as teams continue their campaigns ahead of the Finals Weekend later this month.
Only two rounds of pool matches remain, leaving teams with limited opportunities to improve their positions in the standings. South Africa and New Zealand lead the Southern Hemisphere table, while France, England and Ireland occupy the top three positions in the Northern Hemisphere standings.
The weekend’s headline fixture sees France host the unbeaten Springboks in Paris on Friday. Other matches include Wales against New Zealand, England versus Japan, Ireland against Fiji, Italy taking on Argentina and Scotland hosting Australia.
France and Springboks Prepare for Paris Showdown
France will face South Africa on Friday at 22:10 South African time in a meeting between two of the competition’s leading teams.
France have named Antoine Dupont as captain, with Maxime Lucu at scrum-half and Théo Attissogbe, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and Louis Bielle-Biarrey included in the backline.
Their starting team also features Yoram Moefana, Grégory Alldritt, Cameron Woki, François Cros and Julien Marchand.
South Africa have selected Damian Willemse at full-back, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Ethan Hooker on the wings. Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende form the centre partnership, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg start in the half-back positions.
Siya Kolisi captains the Springboks, with Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ruan Nortjé and Lood de Jager also named in the starting pack.
France starting XV: Théo Attissogbe, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Kalvin Gourgues, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Antoine Dupont (captain), Maxime Lucu, Grégory Alldritt, Cameron Woki, François Cros, Mickaël Guillard, Florian Verhaeghe, Sipili Falatea, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros.
France replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Régis Montagne, Charles Ollivon, Tom Staniforth, Esteban Capilla, Axel Desperes, Émilien Gailleton.
Springboks starting XV: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morné van den Berg, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortjé, Lood de Jager, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché.
Springboks replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Franco Mostert, Cameron Hanekom, Paul de Villiers, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.
Italy and Argentina Meet on Saturday
Italy will host Argentina on Saturday at 13:40 South African time.
Italy have named Tommaso Allan at full-back, with Ange Capuozzo, Paolo Odogwu, Leonardo Marin and Monty Ioane also included in the backline. Paolo Garbisi and Stephen Varney will occupy the fly-half and scrum-half positions.
Giacomo Nicotera will captain the side from hooker, with Lorenzo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani and Ross Vintcent among the forwards.
Argentina’s starting lineup includes Bautista Delguy, Rodrigo Isgró, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares and Mateo Carreras in the backline. Tomás Albornoz and Simón Benítez Cruz will provide the half-back partnership.
Pablo Matera captains Argentina, with Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti and Bautista Bernasconi also selected.
Italy starting XV: Tommaso Allan, Ange Capuozzo, Paolo Odogwu, Leonardo Marin, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Lorenzo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent, Federico Ruzza, Niccolò Cannone, Simone Ferrari, Giacomo Nicotera (captain), Danilo Fischetti.
Italy replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Muhamed Hasa, Marco Riccioni, Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, Alessandro Ortombina, Samuele Locatelli, Alessandro Garbisi, Federico Mori.
Argentina starting XV: Bautista Delguy, Rodrigo Isgró, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Tomás Albornoz, Simón Benítez Cruz, Juan Martín Scelzo, Joaquín Moro, Pablo Matera (captain), Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti, Francisco Moreno, Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger.
Argentina replacements: Facundo Bosch, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Ephraim Elias, Juan Martín González, Facundo Isa, Gonzalo García, Gerónimo Prisciantelli.
Wales Face New Zealand in Cardiff
Wales will welcome New Zealand to Cardiff on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:10 South African time.
Blair Murray starts at full-back for Wales, while Louis Rees-Zammit, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn and Gabriel Hamer-Webb feature in the backline. Sam Costelow and Tomos Williams are selected as the half-backs.
Dewi Lake captains the Welsh side from hooker. Jac Morgan, Taine Basham, James Botham and Adam Beard are also included in the starting lineup.
New Zealand have named Beauden Barrett as captain, with Richie Mo’unga at fly-half and Cortez Ratima at scrum-half. The backline also features Fehi Fineanganofo, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown and Josh Moorby.
Scott Barrett, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai and Asafo Aumua are among the forwards selected.
Wales starting XV: Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams, Taine Basham, Jac Morgan, James Botham, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Nicky Smith.
Wales replacements: Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas, Dillon Lewis, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dan Edwards, Louie Hennessey.
New Zealand starting XV: Beauden Barrett (captain), Fehi Fineanganofo, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby, Richie Mo’unga, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Anton Segner, Josh Lord, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua, George Bower.
New Zealand replacements: George Bell, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Kyle Preston, Rieko Ioane.
England Take on Japan in London
England will play Japan on Saturday at 18:40 South African time as they look to maintain their strong form in the competition.
Freddie Steward has been selected at full-back, with Will Joseph, Henry Slade, Max Ojomoh and Cadan Murley making up the rest of the backline. George Ford and Jack van Poortvliet start at fly-half and scrum-half.
Maro Itoje captains England, while Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Alex Coles and George Martin are among the forwards.
Japan have named Kazuma Ueda at full-back, with Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Samisoni Tua and Riku Tokito in the backline. Naoto Saito is captain and starts at scrum-half, with Riku Kitahara at fly-half.
England starting XV: Freddie Steward, Will Joseph, Henry Slade, Max Ojomoh, Cadan Murley, George Ford, Jack van Poortvliet, Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Alex Coles, George Martin, Maro Itoje (captain), Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge.
England replacements: Theo Dan, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joe Heyes, Arthur Clark, Ben Curry, Greg Fisilau, Archie McParland, Marcus Smith.
Japan starting XV: Kazuma Ueda, Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Samisoni Tua, Riku Tokito, Riku Kitahara, Naoto Saito (captain), Jack Cornelsene, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter, Warner Dearns, Harry Hockings, Shuhei Takeuchi, Mamoru Harada, Yota Kamimori.
Japan replacements: Kenji Sato, Sojiro Otsuka, Opeti Helu, Michael Stolberg, Tiennan Costley, Shinobu Fujiwara, Shinya Komura, Jisu Lee.
Ireland Welcome Fiji in Saturday’s Final Match
Ireland will host Fiji on Saturday at 22:10 South African time.
Ireland have selected Mack Hansen, Robert Baloucoune, Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki and Tommy O’Brien in their backline. Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park will start at fly-half and scrum-half.
Tadhg Beirne captains the team, with Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier, Ryan Baird and James Ryan also named.
Fiji’s lineup includes Ponipate Loganimasi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Setareki Bituniyata, Josua Tuisova and Jiuta Wainiqolo. Ben Volavola and Frank Lomani are selected as the half-backs.
Peceli Yato captains the side, with Lekima Tagitagivalu, Mesake Vocevoce and Isoa Nasilasila among the forwards.
Ireland starting XV: Mack Hansen, Robert Baloucoune, Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier, Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne (captain), James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong, Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter.
Ireland replacements: Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, James McNabney, Craig Casey, Ciarán Frawley, Stuart McCloskey.
Fiji starting XV: Ponipate Loganimasi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Setareki Bituniyata, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani, Peceli Yato (captain), Lekima Tagitagivalu, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Joseva Tamani, Luke Tagi, Tevita Ikanivere, Peni Ravai.
Fiji replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Vilikesa Nairau, Inoke Ravuiwasa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Terio Tamani, Caleb Muntz, Iosefo Masi.
Scotland Host Australia on Sunday
The fifth round concludes on Sunday when Scotland take on Australia in Edinburgh at 17:10 South African time.
The starting lineups for both teams had not been confirmed in the published team information.
South Africa and New Zealand Lead Southern Hemisphere Standings
South Africa occupy first place in the Southern Hemisphere standings after winning all four of their opening matches. The Springboks have collected 20 points and recorded a points difference of plus 140.
New Zealand are second, also with four wins and 20 points, but have a points difference of plus 73.
Australia sit third with eight points after one win and three defeats. Argentina are fourth on seven points, followed by Japan on five. Fiji are bottom without a win or points after four matches.
Southern Hemisphere standings after four rounds:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +140 | 20 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +73 | 20 |
| 3 | Australia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +6 | 8 |
| 4 | Argentina | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -32 | 7 |
| 5 | Japan | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -33 | 5 |
| 6 | Fiji | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -133 | 0 |
France Lead Northern Hemisphere Table
France are top of the Northern Hemisphere standings with three wins from four matches and 17 points.
England and Ireland are level on 15 points, with England in second place and Ireland third. Scotland occupy fourth position with 11 points, followed by Wales on 10.
Italy are sixth after losing all four of their opening matches and remain without a point.
Northern Hemisphere standings after four rounds:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +78 | 17 |
| 2 | England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +71 | 15 |
| 3 | Ireland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +29 | 15 |
| 4 | Scotland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -11 | 11 |
| 5 | Wales | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -35 | 10 |
| 6 | Italy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -153 | 0 |
With two pool rounds remaining, the weekend’s results will influence the positions teams carry into the competition’s Finals Weekend later this month.
