Can Scotland, Wales or England Stop the All Blacks in the Nations Championship?

New Zealand head into November’s Nations Championship fixtures against Scotland, Wales and England unbeaten in the competition, with three wins from three and a dominant series victory over Australia adding to their momentum.

Dave Rennie’s side have scored 93 points across their last two internationals, defeating Australia 50-19 in Auckland before securing a 43-21 victory in Sydney on Saturday. The results saw the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th consecutive year, with attention now turning to their upcoming tour of Britain.

Scotland will be first to test New Zealand on 7th November, followed by Wales a week later and England on 21st November. All three sides faced the All Blacks last autumn, with England securing victory, Scotland coming close to a historic result and Wales suffering a heavy defeat in Cardiff.

New Zealand Arrive with a Perfect Nations Championship Record

The All Blacks have made an impressive start to the inaugural Nations Championship, winning their opening three matches against France, Italy and Ireland in July.

A narrow 34-32 victory over France was followed by a comfortable 47-17 win against Italy, before New Zealand defeated Ireland 40-21 at Eden Park to complete an unbeaten opening series.

Their recent Bledisloe Cup performances have provided further encouragement for Rennie, particularly after a difficult Rugby Championship campaign against South Africa. New Zealand scored six first-half tries in their latest victory over Australia, with Beauden Barrett crossing twice as the visitors established a 36-7 half-time lead.

Despite several injuries, the All Blacks have also demonstrated their squad depth. Experienced internationals Barrett and Damian McKenzie have been influential, while Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi have impressed in the forwards.

However, November’s fixtures present three different challenges, with each of New Zealand’s upcoming opponents looking to disrupt their unbeaten Nations Championship record.

Scotland Looking to Make History at Murrayfield

Scotland have never beaten New Zealand, but Gregor Townsend’s side came close to ending that record when the teams met in Edinburgh last November.

Trailing 17-0 at half-time, Scotland produced an outstanding second-half comeback through tries from Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn, with Finn Russell eventually bringing the scores level at 17-17. However, Damian McKenzie crossed late to secure a 25-17 victory for the visitors.

That performance will give Scotland encouragement ahead of the rematch on Saturday 7th November, particularly after their competitive start to the Nations Championship.

Townsend’s side defeated Argentina 47-38 and Fiji 33-17 during July’s opening rounds, although they were beaten 42-28 by South Africa in Pretoria.

Scotland’s ability to challenge New Zealand’s defence was evident in their previous meeting, but maintaining that pressure throughout the contest will be important if they are to secure a historic first victory.

Can Wales End Their 73-Year Wait?

Wales face a considerably different challenge when they welcome New Zealand to the Principality Stadium on Saturday 14th November.

The Welsh have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, with their most recent encounter ending in a 52-26 defeat in Cardiff last November.

Despite Tom Rogers becoming the first Welsh player to score a hat-trick against New Zealand, Steve Tandy’s side conceded seven tries as the visitors recorded their 34th consecutive victory over Wales.

Wales have also endured a difficult start to the Nations Championship. They opened with a 39-24 victory over Fiji but subsequently lost 35-21 against Argentina and 43-0 to South Africa.

Defensive improvements will be particularly important against a New Zealand attack that has recently scored 50 points against Australia and 43 in the return fixture.

Tandy’s side begin their November campaign against Japan before facing the All Blacks, giving them an opportunity to build confidence ahead of one of their toughest fixtures of the year.

England Have Already Shown They Can Beat the All Blacks

Of New Zealand’s three upcoming opponents, England are the only side to have beaten them in their most recent meeting.

Steve Borthwick’s team secured a 33-19 victory at Twickenham in November 2025, recovering from an early 12-0 deficit to record their first home win over the All Blacks since 2012.

George Ford played a significant role in the result, scoring 13 points, while Ollie Lawrence, Sam Underhill, Fraser Dingwall and Tom Roebuck all crossed for England.

The victory demonstrated England’s ability to compete with New Zealand’s attacking threats, particularly through their defensive organisation, kicking game and effectiveness in turning possession into points.

England have also won two of their opening three Nations Championship matches, defeating Fiji 73-8 and Argentina 31-24 after an opening defeat to South Africa.

Borthwick’s side will face Australia and Japan before welcoming New Zealand to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21st November, providing two opportunities to build momentum ahead of the rematch.

Nations Championship Finals Place at Stake

New Zealand’s three remaining fixtures will help determine their final position in the Southern Hemisphere standings, with all six tournament results counting towards qualification for Finals Weekend.

The inaugural competition concludes at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, between 27th and 29th November, when the six Northern Hemisphere nations face their corresponding Southern Hemisphere opponents based on the final standings.

Having won their opening three Nations Championship fixtures, New Zealand enter November in a strong position. However, with Scotland targeting a historic first victory, Wales looking to end a 73-year wait and England aiming to repeat last year’s success, the All Blacks still face three significant tests before the competition reaches its conclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the All Blacks play Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship?

Scotland face New Zealand on Saturday 7th November 2026 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, with kick-off scheduled for 2:10pm.

When do New Zealand play Wales in 2026?

Wales host New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 14th November 2026, with kick-off at 2:10pm.

When do England play the All Blacks in 2026?

England face New Zealand on Saturday 21st November 2026 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with kick-off scheduled for 2:10pm.

Have Scotland, Wales or England beaten New Zealand recently?

England defeated the All Blacks 33-19 in November 2025. Scotland lost 25-17 to New Zealand that same month, while Wales suffered a 52-26 defeat. Wales last beat New Zealand in 1953, and Scotland have never defeated the All Blacks.