The second week of the Nations Series has come and gone. We have seen giants brought to the limit, red cards making the offending team somehow play even better, and drama across the board. Wales put on a valiant, but ultimately doomed, effort against Argentina.
Ireland thumped Japan, England, and Fiji went toe to toe, Scotland brought New Zealand close, and 14-man South Africa left France in the dust. This time, we’ll focus on the Wales and France fixtures. The Principality gave its best roar despite the smaller crowd.
Wales ran onto the pitch with little support from analysts, but massive hope. Argentina scored twice early, slicing through the back line and finding gaps in the wide channels. But Wales managed to score twice to bring themselves level, and suddenly the once silent Principality erupted into a cacophony of “WALES” chants.
However, the hope was reduced when Argentina slotted a penalty and scored a try. And then another. Wales were suffering when they went into the changerooms at half-time—the score 31–14.
Wales ended up scoring two more, with captain Jac Morgan dislocating his shoulder in the process, ruling himself out of the rest of the series. Tomos Williams provided a stellar performance, and his second-half line break was just one slither of his excellence. Blair Murray, as well as scoring one, provided a huge defensive shift.
However, Steve Tandy’s first game in charge finished with a defeat: 52–28. On paper it looks bad, but on the pitch, there were signs. Louis Rees-Zammit made his first Wales appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final exit in Marseille, having come back from the NFL.
Rees-Zammit showed promise and pace on the wing, and so did Josh Adams. The Welsh scrum was decent at times, but they will not look forward to facing the All Blacks and the World Champions South Africa. Ben Thomas was also lucky to not see red for his alleged kick to an Argentinian face.
It was a standard Argentinian performance, with shaky sections but, overall, decent enough. Santi Carreras was flawless off the tee, and Geronimo Priscantelli crossed the whitewash twice. To France’s Les Bleus, Six Nations Champions and ranked third in the world coming into the fixture.
The atmosphere was electric, and the occasion was like no other. Billed as the ultimate grudge match—being potential revenge for the 2023 Quarter Final exit that saw France bow out on home soil, losing by only a point—it was perhaps the most important 100-cap match in Springbok history, with Siya Kolisi walking out to add another chapter to his already long rugby story. The inspirational leader was on full show in Paris, and his humble nature shone through.
As I have argued in a previous issue, the greatest captain in rugby, if not sporting history, getting one of the ultimate individual achievements could not have had a better moment. Two early Penaud tries gave France a well-deserved lead. Sacha Feinberg- Mngomezulu’s tee kicking, potentially influenced by pressure, was far from perfect, missing two penalties in the first half, alongside a conversion in the second.
The score sat at a cagey 14–13 for a while after Cobus Reinach blasted his way through the French defence and into the corner. And then came a match-defining moment. Lood De Jager hits Thomas Ramos on the head during a tackle attempt.
A straight red is given and the crowd erupts. South Africa will be down to 14 for the remaining 42 minutes. The Boks trail by a point as they go into half-time, and Kolisi does not run back out onto the pitch, knowing that the Springbok game plan needs a hybrid like André Esterhuizen rather than a flanker on the pitch.
France win a penalty, and Thomas Ramos’ kick seals off their scoring for the night. 17–13. A man down, and seemingly out, the Boks kick into a higher gear. Esterhuizen scores from a maul, and Bielle-Biarrey is yellow-carded for a deliberate knock on.
Then Grant Williams picks a wonderful line and adds another five. Sacha FM adds the extras. And then he scores a stunner, looping through the French back line and sealing the match.
Les Bleus look on, dejected. Revenge will have to wait. France were outplayed, despite the man advantage.
They were worn down and despite their best efforts, they were demolished. South Africa kicked up a gear after the red card and did not look back. The World Number One is clear and obvious, and it will take some challenge to beat them.