Overview
- South Africa defeated France 32-17 in Paris after Lood de Jager was sent off at halftime, a resilient display that reinforced Rassie Erasmus’s side as the benchmark.
- Argentina overwhelmed Wales 52-28 in Cardiff in Steve Tandy’s first game, and captain Jac Morgan suffered a shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him.
- Italy beat Australia 26-19 in Udine, intensifying scrutiny on Joe Schmidt, who said he was "pretty gutted" as his side slipped to six losses in eight Tests.
- New Zealand edged Scotland 25-17 at Murrayfield, with Damian McKenzie delivering a late try and long-range penalty to seal the result.
- The outcomes carry seeding implications, with Wales at 12th risking a tougher Rugby World Cup draw if they falter against Japan and Australia’s top‑six position under threat.