Another weekend of Rugby World Cup fixtures have been completed and they have gone a long way to shaping the outcome of the pools. With the tier one nations having just the one game left some teams have guaranteed themselves places in the knockout rounds while others head into next weekend’s final pool fixtures knowing its win or go home.
In Pool A New Zealand are the only team to have achieved the maximum 15 points as they ran in five tries to comfortably beat France and secure top spot. Victory will have been even sweeter for the All Blacks as France have been their bogey team at World Cups. France appeared to have selected a weakened side with many suggesting they were happy to settle for second in the group and the apparent easier side of the knock out draw but nobody can deny the class of the All Black back line as the likes of try scorers Cory Jane, Israel Dagg and Sonny Bill Williams would be a stern test for any defence. Earlier in the week Tonga beat Japan to keep their slim hopes of qualification, they can still reach the knock out stages with a bonus point victory over France. Canada can also qualify but would need not only a victory over Japan in midweek but a historic win over New Zealand in the final pool game.
In Pool B England put one foot in the quarter finals with an impressive 67-3 win over Romania. They ran in ten tries including hat-tricks for wingers Mark Cueto and Chris Ashton. Martin Johnson was pleased with the performance but still conceded there is work to be done as the side is still giving away far too many penalties that will be punished against better opposition. The pool was blown wide open with Argentina’s victory over Scotland however, as all three teams can still progress. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino’s late try sealed the game for the Puma’s but Scotland still had their chances as a Dan Parks sliced a drop goal in the dying minutes. Scotland will now have to beat England on Saturday and either score five tries or stop England from recording the losing bonus point. Argentina will qualify with a bonus point victory over Georgia or if Scotland gets nothing in an England victory. Georgia will also play Romania in what promises to be an intriguing midweek clash.
Pool C saw Ireland remain top with an emphatic nine try victory over Russia while Italy, who beat Russia earlier in the week, and Australia who ran in 11 tries against the USA both kept their hopes alive. All three teams could still make the quarter finals as Italy would expect to record a victory in their midweek game against the USA to set up a winner takes all clash with Ireland on Sunday and Australia know that victory against Russia in Nelson on Saturday guarantees them progression to the knockout stages and they could still top the group if Italy score an upset against Ireland in Dunedin. No team would want to finish runner up in the group as that would likely set up a quarter final clash with South Africa.
Pool D leaders South Africa continued to gather momentum with a 87-0 victory over Namibia on Thursday, the 12 try rout included a welcomed score for Brian Habana who not only ended his 15 month try scoring drought but also became the Springbok’s top try scorer of all time in the process. It didn’t get much easier for Namibia who completed their tournament with another heavy defeat just four days later as Wales also ran in 12 tries on route to a 81-7 victory. Heinz Koll’s try at least ensured the African minnows were not kept scoreless for the second time in a week. The pool’s other fixture saw Samoa keep their slim chances of qualification alive with a 27-7 win over Island neighbours Fiji, but they will still have to beat South Africa in their final game and hope Fiji can pull off an upset over Wales.
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