Week 2 2025 Quilter Nations Series had its share of surprises, with the biggest being the way that the Springboks crushed France’s hopes for revenge following the Springboks’ one-point win over France in the 2023 World Cup.
Italy’s win against Australia was a “surprise” but not as big as the guts shown by Scotland in their titanic battle against the All Blacks, while the way Argentina dismissed Wales was impressive to say the least.
Ireland 41-10 Japan
Ireland produced a strong second-half performance to subdue a never-say-die Japan at Aviva Stadium in the opening game of the Quilter Nations Series. A stop-start first half saw Jack Crowley and Nick Timoney get over the whitewash and with Crowley adding the extras and a penatly a half time lead of 17-10. The second half saw Ireland increase the tempo, and there were tries for Andrew Porter, Gus McCarthy, Paddy McCarthy, and Player of the Match Tommy O’Brien to secure an impressive 41-10 win.
Scotland 17-25 All Blacks
All Blacks replacement, and man of the match, Damian McKenzie produced three moments of last-quarter magic, including the winning try, in a 25-17 win that extended Scotland's misery to 33 games without a win against New Zealand. However, it wasn't easy; three players were sin-binned, meaning the All Blacks played 30 minutes of the game with 14 men. Meanwhile, Scotland unleashed a brilliant third-quarter burst to wipe out the All Blacks' 17-point halftime advantage.
However, McKenzie's introduction at fullback saw him push a brilliant 50:22 kick to touch to break Scotland's shackles. While turning the offensive tide, he then claimed a try after the All Blacks had been battling to use their field position to advantage. From a lineout, first five-eighths Beauden Barrett was swamped. He threw a long pass in desperation to Leicester Fainga'anuku, who had moved to the wing. He then got the ball to McKenzie, who defied belief in twisting his body at all angles to get out of two tackles, to avoid going into touch and grounding the ball in the corner with seven minutes left to play. But he wasn't done. In the 78th minute, a penalty 48 metres out saw skipper Ardie Savea called for a penalty goal attempt, which McKenzie landed to secure an unbeatable eight-point margin.
England 38-18 Fiji
England survive a scare to see off talented visitors for second Autumn Nations Series victory.
Fiji led by six points in the first half and scored three tries through hooker Tevita Ikanivere (two) and fly-half Caleb Muntz, while also having a second-half try from scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli ruled out - a score which would have brought things to a one-point game inside the final quarter.
England kept their heads to secure the win, though, and finished with six tries through hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, prop Ellis Genge, and replacements Jamie George, Henry Arundell, and Maro Itoje.
Italy 26-19 Australia
Italy has proven their last win was no fluke as they took a 26-19 win over the Wallabies in Udine. The Wallabies had a rare half-time lead as the return of Carter Gordon sparked their attack. But it was a pair of wingers very familiar with Australia that proved the difference as Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane crossed for back-to-back tries to put the hosts in front. Their impressive defence held on from here, delighting the home crowd and sinking the Wallabies.
France 17-32 Springboks
Three tries in the final quarter by South Africa decided a pulsating reprise of the 2023’s breathless Rugby World Cup quarter-final with the 14-man Springboks stunning a Stade de France crowd, thirsting for revenge, with a 32-17 (halftime 13-14) victory to celebrate Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test in style.
Replacements Andre Esterhuizen and Grant Williams, as well as starting flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezul,u added tries to a first-half score by Cobus Reinach to record a ninth win in 10 matches against a stunned home team.
The grit and resilience that have been bred into this team over the past six years came to the fore in the final quarter, just when it appeared that the blue tide might be about to overwhelm the Boks.
Instead, the Boks reasserted forward dominance, cleared the bench and took control.
Wales 28-52 Argentina
Argentina were able to add the scalp of Wales to those of the British & Irish Lions, Australia and New Zealand already captured this year as they ran in seven tries in a record win over the hosts at Principality Stadium. The game provided the fans with an 11-try feast to gorge on, and Wales fully played their part in the entertainment as they bagged four tries of their own. If it wasn’t the winning start everyone had wanted for new head coach Steve Tandy, there was still plenty to feel good about. But while there were four home tries to savour, there was a huge blow for Tandy and his team when skipper Jac Morgan was forced off with an injury after scoring his second-half try.