Rugby round-up: Joe Schmidt ends Wallaby reign on high, France win in Tokyo

Australia and France recorded straightforward Nations Championship wins on Saturday

Joe Schmidt is handing the reins over to Les Kiss from here on in. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Australia produced a brilliant performance as they clinched their first victory of the Nations Championship with a crushing 57-10 win over winless Italy in Joe Schmidt’s last game in charge.

The Wallabies were rampant in the opening period and ran in six tries which gave them a 38-5 lead at the break courtesy of Josh Canham’s two tries and scores from Tom Wright, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell and Len Ikitau right at the end of the half.

Italy’s Monty Ioane struck right after the break to get their second try of the game following Michele Lamaro’s effort in the first period, but that was all the joy they had.

The hosts continued to pile on the misery in the second period, Canham struck again to get his hat-trick before Billy Pollard made it 50 and Ben Donaldson added another try late on to give Schmidt a winning send off following two-and-a-half years at the helm.

🚨 Tempers flare!

A heated confrontation ends with Australia awarded a penalty and Italy shown a red card.#AUSvITA #VMSport #NationsChampionship pic.twitter.com/9pMdr6y8v0

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) July 18, 2026

Maxime Lamothe and Matthieu Jalibert each scored two tries as France registered a 42-15 bonus-point win over Japan in round three of the Nations Championship.

No.8 Alexandre Roumat and scrum-half Maxime Lucu also crossed in Tokyo to help Les Bleus back up last weekend’s victory over Australia following a narrow opening defeat to New Zealand.

Hooker Lamothe touched down inside the opening minute, before Eddie Jones’ hosts briefly led after a Takuro Matsunaga penalty and Kippei Ishida’s 14th-minute try.

Full-back Jalibert, Roumat and Lucu turned the match in France’s favour, with a converted score from Japan prop Sojiro Otsuka leaving the visitors 28-15 ahead at the break.

Jalibert and Lamothe again went over early in the second period. Romain Ntamack added the extras to the first of those tries before Lucu slotted his fifth conversion of the match.