England first into RWC quarterfinals

● England barged past 14-man Argentina and into the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals yesterday as Japan extended their dream run and Australian teenage sensation Jordan Petaia announced himself in style on the big stage.

Japan’s Brave Blossoms sent home fans into ecstasy with their third straight win, a 38-19 victory over Samoa — including Kotaro Matsushima’s last-gasp fourth try to grab the all-important bonus point.

The result primes Japan, the one-time tournament whipping boys, for a shot at reaching the quarterfinals for the first time when they face Six Nations side Scotland next week in Yokohama.

“I’m really proud of our team, especially at the end there — it was a never-say-die attitude,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph.

“At the end of the day the belief in our team has grown and I guess we will need it going into next week.” Japan’s win came after Eddie Jones’s England became the first team into the last eight with a bonus-point, 39-10 victory over Argentina, aided by Tomas Lavanini’s 17th-minute red card for a high tackle on Owen Farrell.

And in Oita, Petaia, 19, crowned his international debut with a dazzling try as Australia’s youngest ever World Cup player helped the Wallabies overcome two yellow cards to beat Uruguay 45-10.

England’s qualification shows the progress of the 2003 champions since 2015, when they suffered the embarrassment of becoming the only World Cup hosts to fail to reach the knockouts.

The game was over as a contest when Tomas Lavinini saw red for a high tackle on Owen Farrell after only 17 minutes, clearing England’s path to a six-tries-to-one, bonuspoint win. —