Kurt-Lee Arendse of South Africa makes a break. Photo: photosport
World champions South Africa recovered from 14-6 down and the sending-off of powerhouse lock Lood de Jager to overpower France 32-17 in a bruising test in Paris.
France cracked completely under pressure as their discipline disintegrated, throwing away an early lead despite the Springboks being reduced to 14 men on the stroke of halftime.
Two years after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks on home soil, Les Bleus appeared poised for revenge.
Still without injured captain Antoine Dupont, France looked irresistible early on as winger Damian Penaud scored twice to become his country's all-time leading try scorer with 40, surpassing Serge Blanco's long-standing record.
A succession of reckless infringements and a costly yellow card, however, handed the initiative to the Springboks who punished every mistake.
South Africa fought back with tries from Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions.
England make it six
England's Ben Earl. Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie
England withstood a testing physical assault from a fired-up Fiji before their Bomb Squad again helped them take control to secure a 38-18 victory at Twickenham - their ninth successive win - and set up next week's New Zealand clash nicely.
England led 14-13 at halftime and 21-18 after an hour before their high-quality bench turned the game, just as it had in last week's win over Australia.
"It was one of the hardest games of rugby I have had to play. They have world-class players across the pitch," flanker Ben Earl said after being named man of the match for the second week in a row.
"We have to give the respect to Fiji, they brought a plan that troubled us in the first half but I think our bench was brilliant."
England were electric from the kick off and relentlessly quick rucks and sharp handling through a series of phases sent hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie over for the opening try after five minutes.
Fiji hit back almost immediately, however, as England failed to deal with a rolling maul and Tevita Ikanivere was almost untouched as he barrelled over.
Bulldozing centres Kalaveti Ravouvou and Josua Tuisova were proving a midfield menace and Fiji cut loose down the left before Caleb Muntz seized on Simione Kuruvoli's kick to score their second try for a 10-7 lead.
England worked their way back into the game and gained an advantage when Selestino Ravutaumada was yellow-carded for a reckless mid-air challenge on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
A minute later the winger strolled into the space where Ravutaumada should have been to catch a Fin Smith kick for England's second try, which Smith converted for a 14-13 halftime lead.
Two years ago a half-full Twickenham crowd jeered an insipid England as they lost to Fiji for the first time, but there is far more of a feel-good factor around the team at the moment and an appreciation of the attacking strides they are making under coach Steve Borthwick.
That confidence proved to be well-placed as England gradually took control, though it took them a while in the face of ferocious hits from the huge Fiji players.
Italy stun Wallabies
Italy's wing Monty Ioane (L) and Italy's lock Niccolo Cannone celebrate after winning the Six Nations rugby union international match between Italy and Scotland at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, on March 9, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI
Italy upset Australia with a come-from-behind 26-19 victory, with the son of a Wallaby great scoring one try and an Australian-born winger the other to snatch a famous win for the hosts.
Louis Lynagh, born in Italy when his father Michael played for Treviso, and Melbourne-born Monty Ioane proved Italy's heroes as they won for only the second time in 20 tests against the Wallabies.
Australia scored three tries without reply in the opening 51 minutes at the Stadio Fruili before a late surge from the Italians turned the test on its head, with the 100 percent kicking return from first-five Paolo Garbisi proving the difference.
The result continued a miserable year for Australia who were beaten by England at Twickenham last week and have won five of 13 tests this year.
Italy had a 6-0 lead after Garbisi slotted over two penalties before Australia hooker Matt Faessler finished off a polished maul to score a 21st-minute try that was the first flex of Wallaby muscle.
Angus Bell stretched out to dot down a second try and put Australia in the lead, although the scores were level four minutes into the second half as Garbisi slotted over his fourth penalty.
A controversial try for first-five Carter Gordon, returning for his first test in over two years, put Australia back ahead in the 51st minute after referee Andrew Brace ruled that the ball had been stripped out of the hands of captain Harry Wilson as he was tackled on a charge towards the try line.
It was not a knock on as Italy claimed, allowing Gordon to pick up the loose ball and jink his way over.
A furious Italy responded with a double score in the space of five minutes, first through Lynagh in the corner after a line-out maul and Ioane attacking the line with Garbisi kicking both conversions.
Italy might have had another in the closing stages after Federico Ruzza intercepted the ball, but his offload was spilt with several teammates to choose from and the try line beckoning.
The home side held firm, however, with tenacious tackling in to stop a desperate Australia from scoring.
Ireland pull away
Ireland started slowly before pulling away to beat Japan 41-10 at the Aviva Stadium with a strong second half easing concerns about their recent form ahead of tougher challenges to come against Australia and South Africa.
Andy Farrell's men were extremely sloppy in the first half and lucky to be 17-10 up at the interval after a yellow card for Japan let them wrestle control through tries from Jack Crowley and Nick Timoney, before Kenta Kobayashi deservedly responded.
Even though the Irish also lost a man to the sin bin for the start of the second half, they were far better with tries from Andrew Porter, replacements Gus McCarthy and Paddy McCarthy and winger Tommy O'Brien overwhelming the tiring Japanese.
"We got a reaction at halftime so that was a bit better," Farrell, whose side fell away badly in the final 20 minutes in last weekend's 26-13 defeat by New Zealand.
"You can be short of confidence when things aren't flowing your way and I thought we regathered ourselves pretty well in the second half, even though there were still a few errors. To get to 41-10 from where we were at halftime was the pleasing part."
Ireland's first 10 points all came from flyhalf Crowley, a penalty, fine team try and conversion - the latter pair shortly after the yellow card for Japan centre Charlie Lawrence blunted the visitors' encouraging start.
While Ireland welcomed back captain Caelan Doris, it was one of the handful of fringe players given a chance - flanker Timoney - who sped home impressively for his fifth try in as many caps since making his debut in 2021.
But familiar errors returned.
Ireland's lineout, which has now struggled on a consistent basis, was even more of a shambles early on. Doris blamed the initial struggles on players being unable to hear the calls in the stadium.
The returning captain, who played all 80 minutes, described his side's performance as mixed and was critical of how much ball they gave away.
- Reuters
