The 2026 Nations Championship is officially underway and WHAT an opening weekend of international rugby. 🌍🔥

Ryan and Max get stuck into every major Test as the Springboks destroy England, the All Blacks survive a French thriller, Ireland break Australian hearts, Scotland run riot in Argentina and Wales find a way past Fiji.

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🇿🇦 SOUTH AFRICA 45–21 ENGLAND 🏴

England were battered at Ellis Park.

Yes, they fought back brilliantly after a brutal opening quarter. Yes, there were moments of genuine promise.

But this was also England’s fifth consecutive Test defeat and the eighth game in a row in which they have received at least one yellow card.

So we ask the uncomfortable question…

Are England beginning to accept mediocrity?

If Italy, Argentina, Wales, Fiji, Australia or Scotland produced that performance against South Africa, would we call them plucky? Brave? Gallant? Would we praise the fightback and talk about a young team taking positives?

Probably.

But what if it was New Zealand, France or Ireland?

Would they accept being comprehensively put away?

Steve Borthwick has a 56.5% win record across 46 Tests. At what point do “young England team”, “positives to take” and “building towards the World Cup” stop being enough?

Especially when the Springboks were without Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith and Frans Malherbe.

A bad England performance?

Or a huge statement win from the Springboks?

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🇦🇷 ARGENTINA 38–47 SCOTLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scotland go to Córdoba and produce their best-ever result in Argentina.

Sione Tuipulotu leads from the front, Scotland find another gear and Gregor Townsend’s men start the Nations Championship with a massive away victory.

Is Tom Jordan the natural successor to Finn Russell? 

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🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND 34–32 FRANCE 🇫🇷

A captivating nine-try thriller in Christchurch.

New Zealand strike.

France answer.

France strike.

New Zealand answer.

Brilliant test match rugby and a fabulous first win for the Dave Rennie era. Ryan absolutely stoked for his former coach! 

Plus, remember the name: Fehi Fineanganofo. 👀 but is he going to Newcastle Red Bulls? The boys debate players being tied to contracts 

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🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA 31–33 IRELAND 🇮🇪

An absolute HUMDINGER in Sydney.

Back and forth. Five tries apiece. Australia with a chance to win it at the death.

But Ireland — and Hugo Keenan in particular — find a way.

Ireland continue building serious depth while Australia provide even more evidence that…

THE WALLABIES ARE BACK.

Carter Gordon, Dylan Pietsch and a wildly entertaining Australian side give Ireland everything they can handle.

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🇫🇯 FIJI 24–39 WALES 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

The brutal efficiency of the driving maul versus the elegance, chaos and outrageous natural ability of Fiji.

Neck and neck deep into the second half before Wales finally pull clear.

And Selestino Ravutaumada probably won’t want to watch that Josh Adams nutmeg too many times. 😭

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The Nations Championship has arrived.

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🎙️ Marc Edwards | Ryan Wilson | Max Lahiff

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