Five biggest selection mistakes from Nations Championship Round One

With the northern and southern hemispheres set to go head-to-head in the competition for the first time, several high-profile stars have been overlooked. Here, we take a look at five of the most surprising omissions from the opening round squads.

Van der Merwe appears to have fallen significantly down the pecking order for Scotland, having missed out on the matchday 23 for this weekend's Test against Argentina.

He featured for the Barbarians against South Africa and has dealt with several injury setbacks this season that may have affected his form.

Even so, Scotland's decision to start Jamie Dobie on the wing ahead of him is surprising, given Dobie's limited experience in the position compared with Van der Merwe.

With his outstanding physicality, top-end pace and proven finishing ability, Van der Merwe seemed well suited to a fixture that is expected to offer the space and attacking opportunities often associated with Argentina. However, Gregor Townsend has chosen to leave him out.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Dave Rennie's first All Blacks squad was the battle for the fly-half jersey, and Barrett's omission from the starting role has inevitably raised questions about his long-term future with New Zealand.

Ruben Love has been handed his first international start at fly-half despite competition from the highly experienced Damian McKenzie and Barrett.

Although McKenzie has been selected at fullback, there is no place for Barrett in the side. That comes as a surprise given France's quality and the challenge they are expected to present.

Technically, Lowe has not been dropped. Instead, he is unavailable because his move to Japan makes him ineligible for Ireland selection under current IRFU regulations.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has indicated that the former Leinster wing is unlikely to feature for Ireland while playing in Japan, although he stopped short of completely ruling him out of contention for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The 33-year-old departed Leinster at the end of the 2025-26 season after the two parties were unable to agree on a new contract.

Given Farrell's comments suggesting an exception could potentially be made in the future, Lowe can still be viewed as a notable absentee from the squad to face Australia, even if a return remains possible.

Many supporters were hoping to see Pollock start against the Springboks, so Steve Borthwick's decision to name him among the replacements is likely to disappoint some fans.

Being on the bench still gives Pollock the opportunity to influence the match, but considering the attention surrounding the young back-rower, there was a strong case for handing him a starting role and making the occasion even more significant.

While the decision may fit into England's broader long-term plans, Borthwick may have missed an opportunity to generate some goodwill among supporters.

Like Van der Merwe, Graham's place on the bench is an unexpected call from Scotland.

The winger has a proven ability to exploit space and a strong record as a finisher, qualities that could be especially valuable in a game expected to be open and attack-minded.

Being named as the replacement back does not fully reflect Graham's clinical finishing, explosive acceleration and sharp footwork, all of which make him one of Scotland's most dangerous attacking players.