Nations Championship: Predictions, team news, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments for Round Three
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and an inset of Alex Mann
It’s the final round of the first leg of the Nations Championship, and here’s everything you need to know, including the global broadcasters, kick-off times, team line-ups and referees.
Heading into the final weekend of the internationals this July, the two hemispheres (the south including Japan) are deadlocked at six wins apiece, with the north scoring more points (399) and tries (57) than the south (377 and 53).
Round three gets underway in New Zealand once again with the All Blacks hosting Ireland at fortress Eden Park, before Japan and France collide in Tokyo.
Australia then host Italy in what will be Joe Schmidt’s final game in charge of the Wallabies before handing over the reins to Les Kiss. Fiji then ‘host’ Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium.
Durban will host the Springboks versus Wales in the penultimate game of the weekend, with the action concluding in Santiago del Estero with another edition of Argentina against England – with Steve Borthwick hoping to have better success than Thomas Tuchel.
Check out all the team line-ups, our predictions and everything else you need to know about this weekend’s Nations Championship action below.
New Zealand v Ireland
Prediction: All Blacks by five
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Caleb Clarke
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 1 Tom O’Toole
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:10 (local), 08:10 (UK), 09:10 (France), 09:10 (South Africa), 17:10 (AEST), 19:10 (New Zealand), 04:10 (Argentina), 16:10 (JST), 03:10 (EDT)
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos (FFR) and Damon Murphy (RA)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
Japan v France
Prediction: France by 30
Japan: 15 Takuro Matsunaga, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Kippei Ishida, 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Jack Cornelsen, 7 Ben Gunter, 6 Esei Haangana, 5 Warner Dearns (c), 4 Harry Hockings, 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 2 Hayate Era, 1 Sojiro Otsuka
Replacements:16 Kenji Sato, 17 Takato Okabe, 18 Izi Sword, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Taira Main, 23 Shunsuke Uenobo
France: 15 Matthieu Jalibert, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Marko Gazzotti, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Kalvin Gourgues
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: Tokyo National Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 17:40 (local), 09:40 (UK), 10:40 (France), 10:40 (South Africa), 18:40 (AEST), 20:40 (New Zealand), 05:40 (Argentina), 17:40 (JST), 04:40 (EDT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR) and Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
Australia v Italy
Prediction: Wallabies by 10
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Miles Amatosero, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Paolo Odogwu, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Alessandro Ortombina, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Leonardo Marin
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 18:10 (local Perth), 11:10 (UK), 12:10 (France), 12:10 (South Africa), 20:10 (AEST), 22:10 (New Zealand), 07:10 (Argentina), 19:10 (JST), 06:10 (EDT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU) and Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
Fiji v Scotland
Prediction: Scotland by 20
Fiji: 15 Isaiah Armstrong Ravula, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c), 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 George Horne, 8 Gregor Brown, 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Max Williamson, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Liam McConnell, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Sione Tuipulotu
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14:10 (local), 14:10 (UK), 15:10 (France), 15:10 (South Africa), 23:10 (AEST), 01:10 (19 July, New Zealand), 10:10 (Argentina), 22:10 (JST), 09:10 (EDT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) and Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
South Africa v Wales
Prediction: Springboks by 40
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Damian Willemse
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Teddy Williams, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 James Botham, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Joe Hawkins
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets, Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:40 (local), 16:40 (UK), 17:40 (France), 17:40 (South Africa), 01:40 (19 July, AEST), 03:40 (19 July, New Zealand), 12:40 (Argentina), 00:40 (19 July, JST), 11:40 (EDT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR) and James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Argentina v England
Prediction: England by three
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Tomás Rapetti, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Joaquín Moro, 22 Simón Benítez Cruz, 23 Lucio Cinti
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 George Martin, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Tom Curry, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 Noah Caluori
Date: Saturday, 18 July, 2026
Venue: Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Kick-off: 16:10 (local), 20:10 (UK), 21:10 (France), 21:10 (South Africa), 05:10 (19 July, AEST), 07:10 (19 July, New Zealand), 16:10 (Argentina), 04:10 (19 July, JST), 15:10 (EDT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) and Paul Williams (NZR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Broadcasters: ITV (United Kingdom), TF1 (France), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), Wowow (Japan), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)