Nations Championship confirms Bok strength

The Springboks have emerged as the biggest winners from the opening half of the Nations Championship, with Rassie Erasmus’ depth-building strategy already paying dividends.

Three bonus-point wins, a points difference of +140 and another wave of successful Test debutants have left Erasmus with plenty to smile about as attention turns to an eagerly anticipated four-Test series against New Zealand. esporist.org

The Boks keep getting stronger

Opposition coaches hoping to expose weaknesses in the world champions have instead watched Erasmus add even more strings to his bow.

The Boks swept aside England, Scotland and Wales, with the Welsh failing to score a single point, while Erasmus continued to rotate his squad and hand opportunities to new faces.

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The standout example came against Wales, where 20-year-old Vusi Moyo became the youngest flyhalf to start a Test for the Springboks.

MORE: Blistering KLA sets sights on All Blacks

Rather than disrupting the team’s momentum, the new combinations have enhanced it.

“I think a lot of guys came through this Test with ticks against their name,” Erasmus said after the win in Durban.

With every passing week, competition for places is becoming fiercer – exactly what the Bok coach has been striving for.

All Blacks await

If the Boks have laid down a marker, the All Blacks have responded in kind.

Dave Rennie’s side completed an unbeaten Nations Championship campaign with an impressive 40-21 victory over Ireland, joining the Springboks at the top of the southern hemisphere standings on maximum points.

RENNIE: Boks a different beast

The All Blacks appear to have adapted quickly to Rennie’s methods, setting the stage for what promises to be a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa next month.

“We’ve put a lot of detail into our game, the boys have really embraced it,” Rennie said.

“I’m really excited, I think we’re in a good spot.”

France lead the northern charge

While the Springboks and All Blacks have dominated in the south, France have emerged as the standout northern hemisphere side.

Fabien Galthié’s men bounced back from a narrow defeat to New Zealand by beating Australia and Japan to top the European standings despite beginning the tournament without several key players, including scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.

RECAP: Six-try France outclass Brave Blossoms

The France coach praised the attitude of his squad after their convincing victory in Tokyo.

“Everything went smoothly and, above all, the energy and commitment of the players were magnificent,” he said.

Ireland and England, meanwhile, showed flashes of quality but also exposed vulnerabilities.

Ireland struggled badly against the All Blacks after an encouraging start to the tournament, while England ended their campaign with a dramatic win over Argentina but continue to battle discipline issues after collecting nine cards in eight Tests this year.

STATE OF NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Boks, Les Bleus on top

– AFP

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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Sena Gemechu and Rahel Embibel claimed victory at the Ethio Telecom Great Ethiopian Run Harar, the sixth and final race of the 2018 Ethiopian Calendar Discover Ethiopia Classics road running series, on Sunday, 19 July 2026.

Competing over a challenging 10-kilometre course around the historic walled city of Harar, Gemechu won the men’s race in 32:04.77, ahead of Mihret Awoke in second and Ibrahim Mohammed in third.

In the women’s race, Rahel Embibel crossed the finish line in 41:43.23, finishing ahead of Amran Shimuz and Aziza Mukhtar.

The Harar race concluded the nationwide Discover Ethiopia Classics circuit, which this year visited Debre Berhan, Hawassa, Jimma, Bekoji, Arba Minch and Harar.

A distinctive feature of the series is its collectible medal system. Rather than receiving identical medals, runners earned one puzzle-shaped piece of Ethiopia’s map at each race. The Harar event awarded the final section, allowing athletes who completed all six races to assemble a complete map of Ethiopia from their six medals.

Forty-three runners successfully completed every race in the series and received the fully assembled commemorative medal.

Beyond the elite competition, traveller participants who followed the entire Discover Ethiopia Classics circuit also competed in Harar. Yohannes Ayelign won the men’s traveller category, while Ribka Girma won the women’s division.

The event also featured youth development races, including a 1.5-kilometre race for athletes under 16 and a one-kilometre race for children under 11, highlighting the Great Ethiopian Run’s continued commitment to grassroots athletics.

The race attracted elite competitors alongside participants from Ethiopia and nine other countries, reinforcing the growing international profile of the Discover Ethiopia Classics series.

Organised by Great Ethiopian Run with title sponsor Ethio Telecom, the event was supported by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Tourism, Dashen Bank, Pepsi, Fab Soap, Top Water, Afran Hospital, Channel 1 Television and the Harari Tourism Commission.

The Harar event not only crowned this year’s series champions but also completed an initiative that combines competitive road running with cultural discovery across Ethiopia.

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Sacrée championne du monde 2026 après sa victoire face à l’Argentine, l’Espagne n’a pas seulement décroché une deuxième étoile. La Roja a également marqué l’histoire en établissant une nouvelle référence mondiale avec une série de 38 matches consécutifs sans défaite.

La Roja dépasse la marque de l’Italie

Ce record appartenait jusqu’ici à l’Italie de Roberto Mancini. Entre 2018 et 2021, la Squadra Azzurra avait réalisé une incroyable série de 37 rencontres sans revers, une période marquée notamment par son sacre à l’Euro 2020 face à l’Angleterre.

L’Espagne dépasse donc cette performance et devient la sélection nationale avec la plus longue invincibilité de l’histoire. Une récompense qui souligne la régularité d’un groupe installé au sommet depuis plusieurs années.

Une domination construite après l’Euro 2024

Cette série exceptionnelle accompagne la montée en puissance de la Roja sous les ordres de Luis de la Fuente. Après son titre européen en 2024, l’Espagne a conservé son identité basée sur la possession, le pressing collectif et l’émergence d’une génération talentueuse.

Sa force réside aussi dans sa capacité à gagner dans différents scénarios, en imposant son jeu face aux grandes nations tout en affichant une grande solidité défensive.

Une nouvelle génération entre dans l’histoire

En réalisant le doublé Euro 2024 – Coupe du monde 2026, tout en battant le record d’invincibilité, l’Espagne confirme son retour parmi les références du football mondial.

Après l’âge d’or de 2008-2012, marqué par deux Euros et une Coupe du monde, la Roja semble avoir lancé une nouvelle ère avec une génération capable de prolonger son règne au plus haut niveau.

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