Springboks v England, All Blacks v France headlines Nations Championship opening round + can the Wallabies upset Ireland?

A brand-new World Rugby era begins, with David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie teeing up a massive opening weekend of the Nations Championship and Nations Cup, plus the key questions already bubbling away. The headline act is France v New Zealand in Christchurch, with a Hurricanes-flavoured All Blacks spine, Ruben Love at 10, and France leaning heavily on Bordeaux combinations. There’s plenty of heat too: England head to Johannesburg to face a loaded Springboks side, while the Wallabies name a few surprises for Ireland in Sydney, including Josh Nasser at hooker and Jock Campbell at 15. Japan roll the dice without Eddie Jones in the coaches box, starting a fourth-year university flyhalf against Italy. The lads also touch on under-20s results, crowd concerns, and why meaningful windows and better communication matter if rugby wants more eyeballs.

Also in this episode:

● Nations Championship launch and why it’s historic

● France v New Zealand selections and key match-ups

● Japan v Italy: Ryunosuke Ito starts at 10

● Wallabies team debate for Ireland in Sydney

● England v South Africa: power, altitude, bench impact

● Nations Cup fixtures: Uruguay, Georgia, Samoa, Chile, USA

PLUS: Why global calendar alignment and meaningful tournaments keep rugby’s best players visible.

RUGBY UNITY LIVE! IN NEWCASTLE 10 JULY 2026: https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/hunter-rugby-luncheon-japan-v-ireland-61ffdo

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