Rugby's new world league. The Six Nations sides, the Rugby Championship four, plus Japan and Fiji — home and away across July and November, with a finals weekend in London to crown an actual world champion in between World Cups. The summer tour finally counts for something.
South Africa's 33-26 win in Cape Town has turned the four-Test contest with New Zealand into a proper fight.
Six back-to-back tests on 11 July give rugby's new international competition a proper Saturday rhythm.
Andy Farrell has made nine changes for Ireland's Nations Championship meeting with Japan in Newcastle.
South Africa beat England 45-21 at Ellis Park, and the first weekend already gave England a tournament problem.
New Zealand beat France 34-32 in Christchurch, but the first marquee match of the new tournament left as many questions as answers.
Ireland beat Australia 33-31 in Sydney, but the comeback win came with enough defensive alarms to keep Andy Farrell busy.
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