Nations Championship Round 4: Results, Standings and What's Next

The November leg is up and running, and what a weekend it was. Nations Championship Round 4 delivered tries by the bucketload, a hat-trick on a Test return, a record-breaking day at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham and a first-half shootout at Murrayfield.

The northern conference won four of the six matches, but South Africa and New Zealand are still perfect. Here is everything you need to know.

1. Nations Championship Round 4 Results

Match	Score	Venue
Ireland v Argentina	42-12	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy v South Africa	7-66	Allianz Stadium, Turin
Scotland v New Zealand	21-43	Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wales v Japan	28-21	Principality Stadium, Cardiff
France v Fiji	54-17	Groupama Stadium, Lyon
England v Australia	45-22	Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

2. Ireland and France Hit Their Stride

Ireland opened the November window in style on Friday night. Hugo Keenan marked his first Test in more than a year with a hat-trick, and Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast and Ronan Kelleher added the rest in a six-try win. All 42 points came inside 56 minutes. After a tough July at the lineout, Ireland stole three Argentina throws in six minutes.

France ran in eight tries against Fiji in Lyon, with captain Antoine Dupont named player of the match. The win took them back to the top of the northern conference, but it came at a cost. Romain Ntamack left the field with a shoulder injury, and with Matthieu Jalibert already out, Fabien Galthié faces a fly-half puzzle with South Africa up next.

3. England Run Riot at Twickenham

England saved the best for Sunday. Seven tries put Australia away 45-22, with Henry Pollock scoring twice from the wing, Jamie George adding a record-breaking try and Ben Spencer sealing it with a late interception.

Henry Slade was named player of the match. The bonus-point win lifts England to second in the north, level on 15 points with Ireland but ahead on points difference.

4. South Africa and New Zealand Stay Perfect

South Africa were ruthless in Turin. Nine converted tries and a 45-0 half-time lead made it four bonus-point wins from four, with Morné van den Berg named player of the match. Italy, missing as many as 16 players, scored through Federico Ruzza but remain without a point.

Scotland gave New Zealand a fright. Hooker Ewan Ashman scored a first-half hat-trick to leave the hosts just three points behind at the break. New Zealand then kept Scotland scoreless after half-time, pulling away to win 43-21 with seven tries, two of them from Beauden Barrett.

5. Wales Hold Their Nerve in Cardiff

Wales and Japan served up the tightest match of the round. Josh Adams was the hero at both ends, scoring the decisive try in the 69th minute and winning a ruck penalty in the final minute to stop a Japan equaliser. Louis Rees-Zammit also crossed for his first try in a year, and a fourth try earned Wales a bonus point.

6. Nations Championship Standings After Round 4

Northern conference

Pos	Team	P	W	L	PD	Pts
1	France	4	3	1	+78	17
2	England	4	3	1	+71	15
3	Ireland	4	3	1	+29	15
4	Scotland	4	2	2	-11	11
5	Wales	4	2	2	-35	10
6	Italy	4	0	4	-153	0

Southern conference

Pos	Team	P	W	L	PD	Pts
1	South Africa	4	4	0	+140	20
2	New Zealand	4	4	0	+73	20
3	Australia	4	1	3	+6	8
4	Argentina	4	1	3	-32	7
5	Japan	4	1	3	-33	5
6	Fiji	4	0	4	-133	0

The north now lead the running hemisphere tally 13-11. If the tables stayed as they are, France would meet South Africa for the title at Finals Weekend, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Sunday, 29 November.

7. Round 5 Fixtures

All kick-off times are GMT.

France v South Africa – Friday, 13 November, Stade de France, 20:10
Italy v Argentina – Saturday, 14 November, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, 11:40
Wales v New Zealand – Saturday, 14 November, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 14:10
England v Japan – Saturday, 14 November, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, 16:40
Ireland v Fiji – Saturday, 14 November, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 20:10
Scotland v Australia – Sunday, 15 November, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 15:10

Friday night in Paris is the big one: first in the north against first in the south, and a potential preview of the final.

8. Back Your Team This November

Whoever you are cheering on, there is a Gilbert ball for every supporter. Our international rugby balls cover nations from both conferences, from England and France to Australia, while the Six Nations collection has replica and supporter balls for every northern conference side.

Inspired to get out and play? Explore our match ball range, or use our rugby ball guide to find the right size and level for you.

Two rounds to go, one title to win. Shop the full Gilbert rugby ball range now.