This is the Test match that does not need a fancy new format

November 7, 2026 — 6:30am

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If ever there was a fixture that doesn’t need to be part of a fancy new competition format to sell itself, it is the Wallabies playing England at the home of rugby.

The Test at Twickenham is intrinsically valuable, and the winning players in the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT) won’t be dashing to look up the new Nations Championship table to work out the implications for the tournament. The victory alone will be worth savouring.

But, that doesn’t mean the 12-team Nations Championship lacks importance or relevance.

In fact, its significance to Australia and the other “big” Test-playing nations is becoming clearer, particularly in light of comments made by Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney this week.

Sweeney, one of the architects of the new tournament, said the 10 nations that play in the Rugby Championship and Six Nations will create “a commercial rights agency” for their benefit.

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The move has been........

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