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France broke South Africa's unbeaten run in the most dramatic fashion possible — a 21-19 victory at the Stade de France on Friday night that will sting the Springboks all the way to Dublin. The world champions had been flawless through four rounds, but Les Bleus found two more points when it mattered most, and now Rassie Erasmus's side must beat Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday to keep their southern hemisphere pool hopes alive. Steven Kitshoff summed up the mood bluntly: the Boks will be looking for blood.
Southern Hemisphere Pool Standings Shift
That defeat drops South Africa a point behind New Zealand in the southern hemisphere pool, even though the All Blacks endured the most humiliating result of this entire competition. Wales — yes, Wales — ended 73 years of hurt with a 35-28 victory at a heaving Principality Stadium on Saturday, claiming their first win over New Zealand since 1953. Steve Tandy's side defended with everything they had, and what they produced arguably stands as the biggest shock in Test rugby since Japan toppled the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup. Former internationals Sam Warburton and Dan Biggar both described it as one of the most stunning upsets in Test history. New Zealand still lead the southern pool by one point, though, because they secured a bonus point on the way down. Read the full breakdown in our Wales vs New Zealand match report.
England Dominates Japan in Northern Pool
In the northern pool, France remain top heading into the final round, but only just. England dismantled Japan 78-15 at Allianz Stadium — 13 tries, with Henry Arundell's understudy Tommy Joseph helping himself to five — to close the gap to a single championship point. Ireland are level on points with England after recovering from a sluggish first half to dismantle Fiji 43-15, though they trail on points difference. Argentina kept their own playoff hopes flickering with a hard-fought 19-15 win over Italy — the only southern hemisphere victory of the round outside of France's triumph. For the full picture on the Springboks' Paris loss, see our France vs South Africa match report.
Scotland sit fourth in the northern pool, nudging above Wales on points difference alone after a gritty 15-12 win over Australia at Murrayfield on Sunday. Rory Darge was outstanding at the breakdown, winning the floor war all afternoon. The Wallabies, beaten again, are running out of road. The final round of pool fixtures all land on Saturday 21 November. France host Argentina at the Stade de France (22:10 SAST) and will be strong favourites to book the top-of-the-table final slot on Sunday 29 November — but England face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium (16:10 SAST) and Ireland host South Africa at the Aviva Stadium (18:40 SAST), meaning both northern sides can leapfrog Les Bleus if France slip. Those results will also set the full six-match playoff bracket at Allianz Stadium the following weekend, with the top finisher from each hemisphere meeting in the inaugural Nations Championship final.