Sunday brought the hangover from a brutal weekend of Test rugby, and there was no gentle way to process it. Wales are picking through the wreckage of a second-quarter collapse in Argentina, Scotland are nursing both a bruising defeat and a refereeing grievance, and the World Rugby rankings have been reshuffled from the top four to the bottom of the top 20. Meanwhile England, fresh off a rout of Fiji, spent the day thinking about who fills in for an injured scrum-half rather than looking back.
Three rounds of the Nations Championship remain before the northern hemisphere’s summer tourists head home, and Sunday’s fallout made clear just how little margin for error is left. As Steve Tandy put it after Wales’ defeat in San Juan, progress in international rugby is rarely a straight line – so which of Sunday’s five biggest stories points furthest off course?
What Happened In The Nations Championship This Weekend?
Argentina beat Wales 35-21 in San Juan on Saturday, with Joaquín Oviedo scoring twice as Los Pumas pulled clear either side of half-time despite tries from Dewi Lake, Rhys Carré and Ben Warren. Wales’ reality check now comes with a daunting sequel: a trip to face world champions South Africa, who themselves needed a late Jesse Kriel try to see off a spirited Scotland 42-28 in Pretoria on Saturday. That match spilled into Sunday’s news agenda too, after Gregor Townsend branded a first-half Springboks collision a “head-butt” that escaped with only a yellow card.
Elsewhere in round two, the All Blacks put 47 points on Italy in Wellington, with Will Jordan breaking the side’s all-time try-scoring record along the way, while France ended a 60-year losing run away to Australia in Brisbane and Ireland blooded four debutants in a bonus-point win over Japan in Newcastle. Between them, Saturday’s five results have set up a final fortnight of the tournament in which almost every side outside the world’s top three still has something to prove.
How Did The World Rugby Rankings Move After The Weekend?
England’s 73-8 demolition of Fiji saw them leapfrog Scotland into fifth for the second weekend running, while further down the table Spain posted the weekend’s biggest climb and France moved into the top four, with Wales dropping below Japan as a result of Saturday’s defeat. The full picture, as of 12 July 2026:
| Pos | Team | Points | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 93.96 | +0.02 |
| 4 | France | 87.43 | +0.68 (up to 4th) |
| 5 | England | 84.75 | +0.84 (up 1) |
| 6 | Scotland | 84.09 | -0.02 (down 1) |
| 11 | Japan | 76.42 | up 1 |
| 12 | Wales | 76.38 | -0.29 (down 1) |
| 16 | Spain | 67.66 | +1.02 (up 4) |
What’s The Latest England Team News Before Argentina?
Steve Borthwick has moved fast to cover for injury, with Raffi Quirke called up after Alex Mitchell was ruled out of the Argentina Test in Santiago del Estero on 18 July. It is the only change of note so far to a matchday squad flushed with confidence after Saturday’s rout, and it leaves Borthwick’s half-back options stretched thin with three rounds of the tournament still to navigate.
Who Will Ireland Select To Face The All Blacks At Eden Park?
Andy Farrell’s side beat Japan 36-20 in Newcastle on Saturday, blooding four debutants including Sean Jansen, and attention has already turned to next weekend’s standalone Test against New Zealand. Ireland’s predicted XV for Eden Park weighs up how many of Saturday’s fringe players get another chance against the All Blacks, who beat Italy 47-17 in Wellington with Will Jordan breaking the side’s all-time try-scoring record.
What Else Made Headlines On Sunday?
Away from the results, Ardie Savea’s daughter revealed her favourite All Black isn’t her dad – a lighter footnote to a weekend otherwise dominated by refereeing rows and ranking swings.
Nations Championship Facts: 12th July 2026
Have England secured a top-five world ranking spot? Yes. As of 12 July 2026, England sit fifth on 84.75 points, above Scotland, after beating Fiji 73-8.
Who do Wales play next in the Nations Championship? Wales travel to face South Africa after Saturday’s 35-21 defeat to Argentina in San Juan.
When do Ireland face the All Blacks? Ireland play New Zealand at Eden Park next weekend, having beaten Japan 36-20 in Newcastle on 11 July.
Did Scotland’s head coach explain the “head-butt” incident? Yes. Gregor Townsend said after the 42-28 defeat to South Africa that he felt a stiffer sanction than a yellow card was warranted for Ben-Jason Dixon’s collision with Scott Cummings.
Which side made the biggest jump in the World Rugby rankings this weekend? Spain, who gained 1.02 rating points and climbed from 20th to 16th after beating Tonga 32-19 in the World Rugby Nations Cup.
