Robert Kitson recaps a historically packed 72-hour rugby weekend, picking out the winners and losers from across the Nations Championship and associated fixtures. The Boks' 45-0 half-time lead over Italy is the headline number — Kitson flags South Africa as looking ominous — while Ireland and England are credited as the weekend's standout performers. The full piece works through the broader cast of results, from Ireland's Friday night clash with Argentina to Scotland vs New Zealand at Murrayfield, and assesses what the weekend's form lines mean for the Championship picture.
AnalysisGeneralThe Guardian Rugby
Nations Championship weekend: Boks ominous, Ireland and England impress
Kitson's Nations Championship weekend debrief flags the Boks as the most ominous force on show — 45-0 up at half-time against Italy — while Ireland and England are named as the weekend's winners. The full piece ranks the winners and losers across a historically packed 72 hours of rugby.
Related stories
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Hansen: Wellington told us more about the All Blacks than the Springboks
Hansen argues the Wellington result revealed more about All Black confusion than Springbok dominance, while cautioning against scoreline fixation — and backing the new-look All Blacks to learn from the Greatest Rivalry tour.
James Doleman to referee South Africa v England as World Rugby confirms Nations Championship officials
James Doleman will referee South Africa v England at Ellis Park on 4 July, with Andrew Brace and Pierre Brousset as assistants, as World Rugby confirms the full list of officials for the July leg of the 2026 Nations Championship.
Erasmus satisfied with alignment camps but warns proof must come on the field
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks are in a good place after more than 60 players attended two alignment camps, but insists the results must now translate onto the field as SA Rugby prepares to name a training squad within two weeks.
Nations Championship Round 1: Boks set the benchmark, Japan turn heads
Louw's Nations Championship round-one review crowns the Boks as the weekend's benchmark-setters and flags Japan's Italy upset as the competition's first real surprise — while taking aim at the scheduling call that denies Japan a home fixture against Ireland.