Rugby World Cup enters the knockout stage
FIJI WENT DOWN TO A shock 24-23 defeat by Portugal in Toulouse last Sunday (Oct 8) but still qualified for a World Cup quarter-final and ensured the elimination of Australia in the process.
Fiji, who only needed one point from the game, finished runners-up in Pool C behind Wales and will play England on Sunday (Oct 15).
The result of the 40th and final pool game of the tournament in France also saw Eddie Jones’ Wallabies finish in third spot to miss out the knockout phase for the first time.
Despite the guarantee of finishing top of Group D after wins over Argentina, Japan and Chile, England survived a huge scare against Samoa last Saturday (Oct 7), coming from behind courtesy of a late Danny Care try to win 18-17.
The narrow victory also saw captain Owen Farrell eclipse Jonny Wilkinson’s 1,179 points record for England.
Argentina beat Japan 3927 in a thriller in Nantes last
Sunday to finish as Pool D runners-up behind England and set up the quarter-final against Wales tomorrow (Oct 14). Wales secured top spot in Pool C with a 43-19 win over Georgia.
Ireland ripped Scotland apart in an impressive 36-14 win last Saturday to finish top of their group and underline that they have what it takes to become the second world champions from the northern hemisphere.
The Irish will now face three-time champions New Zealand in the last eight tomorrow (Oct 15, 2am in Phuket) seeking to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the their history.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton said his side had made light work of Pool B, probably the toughest of the tournament. “We’re delighted to win the pool and we know this is where we want to be now. We’re in the quarter-finals against the toughest opposition we could get,” Sexton said.
New Zealand secured their quarter-final place with an 11-try 73-0 thrashing of Uruguay on Oct 5.
Hosts France will face South Africa in the fourth quarter-final on Sunday (Oct 16, 2am in Phuket). first time in