Overview
- Ireland beat Australia 46-19 in Dublin, with Australia-born Mack Hansen scoring a first-half hat-trick in the hosts’ biggest win over the Wallabies.
- Coach Joe Schmidt said Australia felt in contention before late errors and Ireland’s efficiency pulled the game away, with set-piece issues and 18 turnovers proving costly.
- Analysts warn Australia are set to fall outside World Rugby’s top six, placing them in a weaker pot for next month’s 2027 World Cup draw.
- England’s rugby team defeated New Zealand 33-19, extending a 10-match winning run as Steve Borthwick’s selection and game management drew praise for control and impact off the bench.
- England’s only Ashes warm-up featured a six-wicket haul for Ben Stokes that some questioned for its value, with concerns over spin options and injuries persisting as Stuart Broad predicted an England win in the Perth opener.