Was that the best weekend of international rugby since the World Cup quarterfinals?
From Ireland's series-levelling win in Durban, to Beauden Barrett's second-half masterclass in Auckland, and even the gripping Australia-Wales clash, there was plenty to enjoy across the second weekend of international action.
Unfortunately, that means there is just one further slate of games to come. While the blockbuster clashes are done for this Test window, it will be good to see some of the developing nations get the chance on the big stage.
Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it comes to hand, plus our match previews and the odds.
Friday, July 19
New Zealand vs. Fiji, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, United States, 7:30pm [12:30pm AEST Sat, 3:30am BST]
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Ardia Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Replacements: George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Wallace Sititi, Noah Hotham, Jordie Barrett, Emoni Narawa.
Fiji: Vilimoni Botitu, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu, Inia Tabuavou, Semi Radradra, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Frank Lomani; Viliame Mata, Kitione Salawa, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Temo Mayanavanua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Doge, Tevita Ikanivere, Eroni Mawi. Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Haereiti Hetet, Samu Tawake, Albert Tuisue, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Caleb Muntz, Sireli Maqala.
Team news: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has taken the opportunity to rotate his troops for this one-off Test against Fiij. Only skipper Scott Barrett, No. 8 Ardie Savea and winger Sevu Reece remain from the starting side that defeated England in the second Test in Auckland. Beauden Barrett headlines the list of inclusions after his spectacular cameo off the bench last year, while hooker Asafo Aumua and Ethan Blackadder are two eye-catching inclusions in the pack.
New Fiji coach Mick Byrne has named a nice blend of international stars and those who have come through the Drua in Super Rugby Pacific, with star centre Waisea Nayacalevu to captain the side once more. Drua fly-half Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula has been handed the No. 10 jersey after his first Super season and will team up with the experience Frank Lomani, while veteran No. 8 Viliame Mata adds size and strength in the back-row.
Prediction: What an occasion this is set to be on the United States' west coast. After two brutal Tests with England, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson will be banking on an injection of energy from his many fresh faces, though he will also demand that they perform against a Fiji team that will be buoyed by its quarterfinal run at last year's World Cup. No one expects the Pacific Islanders to come away with the win, but at the start of another international cycle, under a new coach, they will want to begin on the right foot and not suffer a heavy defeat. They have the attacking firepower to hang with the All Blacks, but as ever their biggest challenges will come at the set-piece, and in their discipline, with the Drua having experienced more than a few sorry moments in Super Rugby this year. If the Fijians can keep the margin respectable here, that will be a decent result. New Zealand by 27.
Saturday, July 20
Australia vs. Georgia, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 3:45pm [6:45am BST]
Australia: Tom Wright, Filipo Daugunu, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Darby Lancaster, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Angus Blythe, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa, Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea. Replacements: Josh Nasser, Alex Hodgman, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andrew Kellaway.
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Aka Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Sandro Todua, Luka Matkava, Mikheil Alania; Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saghinadze, Beka Gorgadze, Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze, Aleksandre Kuntelia, Vano Karkadze, Giorgi Mamaiashvili. Replacements: Luka Petriashvili, Luka Goginava, Irakli Aptsiauri, Lasha Jaiani, Luka Ivanishvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tedo Abzhandadze
Team news: After two straight victories over Wales, the Wallabies head into the clash with Georgia with a vastly-different starting side. There are 10 new faces in the run-on XV, and three further fresh inclusions on the bench. The Wallabies have also handed a Test debut to former sevens flyer Darby Lancaster, while front-rowers Billy Pollard and Isaac Kailea are making their first run-on starts. Allan Alaalatoa will captain the side after James Slipper was given the week off, while Liam Wright remains sidelined by injury.
Georgia have meanwhile named their strongest available matchday 23, headlined by star fullback Davit Niniashvili.
Prediction: Is this another Wallabies catastrophe waiting to happen? Certainly some Australian fans will recall the much-changed lineups that were defeated by Italy in 2022 and Samoa way back in 2011, but you get the feeling that on this occasion, the changes aren't quite as drastic. In Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tate McDermott and Len Ikitau, the Wallabies are welcoming back three of their best performers in recent years, even if the centre was inexplicably looked over for World Cup selection. And in Harry Wilson and Ben Donaldson, Australia have two further players who are desperate to prove they belong at the top level. Certainly Australia's set-piece, the scrum and maul in particular, could come under some pressure from Georgia, while the Europeans also showed in the World Cup clash with the Wallabies last year that they have some game-breakers in the outside backs. But the Wallabies look a more competent outfit under Joe Schmidt this season and while there may be a speedbump or two in this clash, there is more than enough experience across this Australia side to guide them through it. Australia by 15.
South Africa vs. Portugal, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, 5:00pm [1:00am AEST, 4:00pm BST]
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach; Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Phepsi Buthelezi, RG Snyman, Salmaan Moerat, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Venter, Elrigh Louw, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Quan Horn.
Portugal: Simao Bento, Manuel Cardoso Pinto, Jose Lima, Tomas Appleton (captain), Rodrigo Marta, Joris Moura, Hugo Camacho, Vasco Batista, Diego Pinheiro, Jose Madeira, Duarte Torgal, Nicolas Fernandes, 3-Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Luka Begic, Francisco Fernandes. Replacements: David Costa, Pedro Vicente, Abel Cunha, Antonio Andrade, Andre Cunha, Pedro Lucas, Domingos Cabral, Jose Santos
Team news: South Africa have made 14 changes to their starting XV for the one-off test with Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday, with seven players poised to make their international debut in the matchday 23 and a new captain in lock Salmaan Moerat.
The Springboks were always going to make wholesale changes for the first ever meeting with Portugal after a bruising shared home series with Ireland and the Rugby Championship to come next month.
Uncapped hooker Johan Grobbelaar, prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels and flanker Phepsi Buthelezi all start. Replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, the son of former Springbok flanker Andre Venter, loose-forward Ruan Venter, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and fullback Quan Horn are on the bench and could all debut.
Four players have been retained in the matchday squad that lost 25-24 to Ireland in Durban on Saturday, namely wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, locks RG Snyman and Moerat, and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Portugal, meanwhile, have named former France junior international Joris Moura at flyhalf and experienced captain Tomas Appleton at inside centre for their first ever test against world champions South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Moura comes into the side for Domingos Cabral, who drops to the bench having started last weekend's 37-22 victory over Namibia in Windhoek.
Jose Lima keeps his place in midfield alongside Appleton, while Rodrigo Marta is again on the wing in a back three that also includes Manuel Cardoso Pinto and fullback Simao Bento.
Coach Simon Mannix, a former New Zealand international flyhalf who led Portugal for the first time against Namibia, has kept the same front row with props Francisco Fernandes and Diogo Hasse Ferreira either side of hooker Luka Begic.
Prediction: One of the darlings of last year's World Cup with their free-running style, it's great to see Portugal having this opportunity against Webb Ellis Trophy holders. Sadly, it's hard to see how they will match it with the world champions in a one-off clash. But they will be thankful for the opportunity and no doubt intent on giving the best account of themselves. The Springboks have obviously taken the opportunity to start a number of fresh faces, and also get some playing time into some returning veterans, headlined by Lukhanyo Am. The Boks may struggle for rhythm early in this one, given the mass changes, but once they get into their groove and put the squeeze on at set-piece it will likely prove a long afternoon for the Europeans. South Africa by 50.
Uruguay vs. Argentina, Estadio Domingo Burgueno, Maldonado, 4:00pm [5:00am Sun AEST, 8:00pm BST]
Uruguay: Mateo Sanguinetti, German Kessler, Reinaldo Piussi, Felipe Aliaga, Manuel Leindekar, Manuel Ardao, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Diana, Santiago Alvarez, Felipe Etcheverry, Nicolas Freitas, Andres Vilaseca (captain), Tomas Inciarte, Juan Manuel Alonso, Ignacio Alvarez. Replacements: Guillermo Pujadas, Ignacio Peculo, Diego Arbelo, Diego Magno, Lucas Bianchi, Carlos Deus, Joaquin Suarez, Juan Bautista Hontou.
Argentina: Thomas Gallo, Ignacio Ruiz, Eduardo Bello, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Joaquin Moro, Marcos Kremer (captain), Joaquin Oviedo, Gonzalo Bertranou, Tomas Albornoz, Mateo Carreras, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Santiago Chocobares, Ignacio Mendy, Santiago Cordero. Replacements: Ignacio Calles, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Matias Orlando.
Team news: Los Pumas visit Los Teros in Maldonado, in what promises to be a memorable day for rugby around the region. The match will be available to watch live on ESPN and Disney+.
For Argentina, Felipe Contepomi has made eight changes to his team that won 33-25 against France in Velez Sarsfield: Thomas Gallo comes in for Mayco Vivas, Ignacio Ruiz for Julian Montoya, Pedro Rubiolo for Lucas Paulos, Joaquin Moro (debut) for Pablo Matera, Gonzalo Bertranou for Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Albornoz for Santiago Carreras, Jeronimo de la Fuente for Matias Moroni and Ignacio Mendy for Bautista Delguy. One more player who could make his debut is Francisco Coria Marchetti, who has been named on the bench.
Uruguay have made five changes following their 43-28 defeat against France Development in Montevideo, all of them among the backs: Santiago Alvarez for Santiago Arata, Nicolas Freitas for Bautista Basso, Tomas Inciarte for Felipe Arcos Perez, Juan Manuel Alonso for Mateo Vinals and Ignacio Alvarez for Baltazar Amaya.
Prediction:
Chile vs. Scotland, Estadio Nacional, Santiago, 3:00pm [5:00am Sun AEST, 8:00pm BST]
Chile:
Scotland: Kyle Rowe, Jamie Dobie, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu (co-captain), Arron Reed, Ben Healy, Gus Warr, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Ritchie (co-captain), Gregor Brown, Ewan Johnson, Alex Craig, Will Hurd, Dylan Richardson, Nathan McBeth. Replacements: Patrick Harrison, Pierre Schoeman, Javan Sebastian, Max Williamson, Rory Darge, Adam Hastings, Stafford McDowall, Matt Currie.
Team news: Scotland Coach Gregor Townsend has made 10 changes to his squad that will face Chile on Saturday. Loosehead prop Nathan McBeth and tighthead Will Hurd won their first caps off the bench against Canada two weeks ago but will feature from the start on Saturday, alongside lock Ewan Johnson.
Townsend kept five players from the team that started the 42-7 victory over the United States. There will be a new halfback pairing of Ben Healy and Gus Warr, who scored twice on debut in the 73-12 win over Canada in Ottawa at the start of the tour.
Jamie Dobie comes in for Kyle Steyn on the right wing while Steyn moves inside to partner Sione Tuipulotu in the midfield. Duhan van der Merwe, who equalled Scotland's try scoring record last week, is replaced on the left by Arron Reed.
Hooker Patrick Harrison, who has yet to earn a cap, is named among the replacements and expected to get a first run out on Saturday.
Prediction:
Sunday, July 21
Japan vs. Italy, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, 2:05pm [3:05pm AEST, 6:05am BST]
Japan:
Italy:
Team news:
Prediction:
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.