Nations Championship: South Africa and France lead standing after opening phase

The Springboks top the Southern Hemisphere standings after impressive wins over England, Scotland and Wales in the Nations Championship. Photo: Backpagepix

South Africa and France top their respective tables after the Southern Hemisphere Tests in the inaugural Nations Championship.

The Springboks, New Zealand and other Southern Hemisphere nations will visit the Northern Hemisphere in November to play three Tests apiece before the grand climax on finals weekend at Twickenham at the end of November.

Here, we pick out three talking points from the first half of the Championship

One problem the Southern Hemisphere teams will be spared when they come north is draining long trips. This was the opposite for most of the Northern Hemisphere sides in the three-week series.