Nations Championship Round Five Recap

November 15, 2026
31
Ultimate Rugby

Nations Championship, Round 5 recap

Wales beat the All Blacks for the first time since 1953, France ended South Africa’s perfect run, and Scotland edged Australia at Murrayfield.

Results

Match	Score
France v South Africa	21–19
Wales v New Zealand	35–28
Italy v Argentina	14–19
England v Japan	78–15
Ireland v Fiji	43–15
Scotland v Australia	15–12

What happened

France 21–19 South Africa. France ended a long wait for a win over South Africa at the Stade de France. They scored three converted first-half tries through Grandidier-Nkanang, Attissogbe and Bielle-Biarrey, after an early yellow card to Lood de Jager, and led 21–7 at the break. South Africa won nine scrum penalties, and Cobus Reinach’s try in the 51st minute and Malcolm Marx’s from a maul in the 72nd closed the gap. Jasper Wiese was sent off in the 43rd minute for a dangerous clean-out, while France had Lucu, Grandidier-Nkanang and Montagne yellow-carded. Manie Libbok missed the conversion of Marx’s try that would have levelled it. It was South Africa’s first defeat of the tournament.

Wales 35–28 New Zealand. Wales ended a 34-match losing streak against the All Blacks. They led 21–7 after tries from Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake and Archie Griffin, but New Zealand levelled 21–21 before half-time through Ratima, Sititi and Fineanganofo. Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit then scored early in the second half, and Sam Costelow kicked all five conversions. Peter Lakai pulled New Zealand back to within seven in the 53rd minute, but Wales held the All Blacks up over the line three times in the closing stages. Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan and James Botham each made more than 30 tackles. Wales also set a new Test record for team tackles.

England 78–15 Japan. England ran in 13 tries at Allianz Stadium. Will Joseph scored five, equalling the England record. Japan lock Harry Hockings was shown a 20-minute red card early on, and England led 49–10 at half-time. The bonus point keeps England on 20.

Ireland 43–15 Fiji. Ireland led only 17–15 at half-time after a sluggish start, with Fiji scoring through Tuisova and Yato. Ireland then scored 26 unanswered points in the second half, with tries from Kelleher, Porter, O’Brien and Timoney. Tommy O’Brien and Rob Baloucoune both scored twice.

Italy 14–19 Argentina. Argentina won a close game in Genoa, scoring tries through Bernasconi, Isgro and Carreras. Italy replied with a Monty Ioane try and a penalty try, and took a losing bonus point.

Scotland 15–12 Australia. Scotland led 12–5 at half-time and held on, even though Australia scored a late try through Max Jorgensen. Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey scored Scotland’s tries, and Finn Russell kicked a conversion and a late penalty.

The logs (after Round 5)

Northern Hemisphere

Pos	Team	P	W	L	PD	TB	LB	Pts
1	France	5	4	1	+80	4	1	21
2	England	5	4	1	+134	4	0	20
3	Ireland	5	4	1	+57	4	0	20
4	Scotland	5	3	2	−8	3	0	15
5	Wales	5	3	2	−28	3	0	15
6	Italy	5	0	5	−158	0	1	1

Southern Hemisphere

Pos	Team	P	W	L	PD	TB	LB	Pts
1	New Zealand	5	4	1	+66	5	1	22
2	South Africa	5	4	1	+138	4	1	21
3	Argentina	5	2	3	−27	2	1	11
4	Australia	5	1	4	+3	3	2	9
5	Japan	5	1	4	−96	0	1	5
6	Fiji	5	0	5	−161	0	0	0

Stat leaders

Points scored

	Player	Team	Points
1	Maxime Lucu	France	53
2	Fin Smith	England	40
3	Tomas Albornoz	Argentina	36
4	Sam Prendergast	Ireland	35
5	Takuro Matsunaga	Japan	32

Tackles made

	Player	Team	Tackles
1	Jac Morgan	Wales	112 (22.4 per game)
2	Ross Vintcent	Italy	95
3	Alex Coles	England	84
4=	Ben Gunter	Japan	72
4=	Dewi Lake	Wales	72

Defenders beaten

	Player	Team	Beaten
1	Jiuta Wainiqolo	Fiji	36 (7.2 per game)
2	Immanuel Feyi-Waboso	England	34 (8.5 per game)
3	Louis Rees-Zammit	Wales	20
4=	Matthieu Jalibert	France	19
4=	Damian McKenzie	New Zealand	19