Maybe the second round of the World Cup didn’t bring us any clash between major countries, but it was, above all, very interesting. The big nations played against the smaller ones with slightly changed lineups where the favorites struggled quite a bit. However, there were no major surprises, except that it is not really a shock that Fiji beat Australia. Besides that match, perhaps the biggest derby was between England and Japan, where Japan did not show what it knows and can do.
After two rounds, the English did their best work, recording two victories against the two biggest rivals in the group. The Fijians won 6 points against Wales and Australia. It could easily happen that this will be a pair in the ¼ final of the World Cup, to the general joy of all rugby fans.
Group A:
Uruguay scared but did not surprise France
Fabien Galthié brought out the reserve team and gave them a precise task on how to play. The Uruguayans put up a strong resistance, showed their teeth and played heroically. However, it was not enough to defeat the French, who ended up winning 27-12. There were no surprises, but in the end, Uruguay did not allow the bonus point to be won, which is a surprise in itself. In the end, everyone can be satisfied, Uruguay with the game they played, and France with the play of the other team and win without injuries. Which is extremely important in tournaments like this that last almost 2 months.
New Zealand routinely completed the job
When teams like France and New Zealand are knocked out by the B teams, it’s not weak squads, it’s teams playing at a high level that TIR 2 rugby nations can’t get close to. The New Zealanders demonstrated this last Friday when they convincingly defeated Namibia. The All Blacks didn’t want to leave anything to chance and from the start imposed a high tempo that the Africans could not match. In the end, it was a convincing 71-3.
Group A table:
| Поз (Pos) | Екипа (Team) | У(GP) | П(W) | И(L) | Н(D) | ПФ(PF) | ПА(PA) | ПД(PD) | БП(BP) | Б(Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  France | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 32 | 178 | 2 | 18 |
| 2 |  New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 253 | 47 | 206 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 |  Italy | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 181 | -67 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 |  Uruguay | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 164 | -99 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 |  Namibia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 255 | -218 | 0 | 0 |
Next fixures:
Utaly – Uruguay, wendsday 20th of september, kickoff at 17:45h.
France – Namibia, Thursday 21st of september, kickoff 21h.
New Zealand bye.
Group B:
Jet-powered Ireland
Although they rested only a few players in the first match, in the second match against Tonga we can say that the Irish were in the strongest squad. Even so, the Irish scrum was put to a big test against the highly motivated Togoans. However, in the end, Ireland even managed to win convincingly, but that does not even remotely correspond to the actual state of forces on the field. Farrell led the Irish to a very disciplined and efficient team. In the end, they won with a score of 59-16. It seems unrealistic that Tonga conceded 59 points, but it is true. The green and white machine is running at full steam.
Convincing South Africa
Our neighbors didn’t stand a chance against a visibly motivated South African reserve team. Romania was not very lucky with the draw, because in all probability they will not be able to achieve positive results in the group of death. South Africa were focused, and already after 11 minutes they scored a bonus point, which is the fastest scored bonus point in history. Unfortunately, since a few days ago, Malcolm Marx suffered a knee injury and will have to miss the entire Championship. However, yesterday’s news is that Andre Pollard has been invited to join the squad, which has further boosted the morale of all Springboks fans.
Group B table:
| Поз (Pos) | Екипа (Team) | У(GP) | П(W) | И(L) | Н(D) | ПФ(PF) | ПА(PA) | ПД(PD) | БП(BP) | Б(Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ireland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 46 | 144 | 3 | 19 |
| 2 |  South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 151 | 34 | 117 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 |  Scotland | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 146 | 71 | 75 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 |  Tonga | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 96 | 177 | -81 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 |  Romania | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 287 | -255 | 0 | 0 |
Next fixures:
South Africa – Ireland, Saturday 23rd of september, kickoff 21h.
Scotland v Tonga, Sunday 24th of september, kickoff 17:45h.
Romania is bye.
Group C
A win for Wales against the very unpleasant Portuguese
And Wales fielded a combined squad against Portugal. Before the match, the difference in the quality of both teams was evident. But that was not the situation on the field, where the Portuguese were extremely motivated and combative. The favored Welshmen struggled a lot. At halftime the score was 14-3. Pressure was exerted by the Portuguese, who did not allow the Welsh to break away, that is, to score a fourth try for a bonus point. The Welsh managed to do that, even in 83rd minute when Faletau finally scored the essay for the bonus point. The final score was 28-8.
Historic victory for Fiji
With a 22-15 win over Australia, Fiji showed they are a team that can go far. Although they had two very difficult matches at the very beginning of the tournament, they can regret on the one hand, but also be satisfied on the other. Just so they don’t suffer the fate of Japan in 2015 . For the most part, they now have an easier job waiting for them until the end of the group competition. Australia was very pale, at times they showed that they are a top team, but they could not cope with the flying Fijians. At the end of the match, the Fijians had a penalty which they missed, thus giving Australia a bonus point. We will see if this failure will cost the Fijians a place in the quarter finals. We remind you that Australia has never finished a competition in group stage.
Group C table:
| Поз (Pos) | Екипа (Team) | У(GP) | П(W) | И(L) | Н(D) | ПФ(PF) | ПА(PA) | ПД(PD) | БП(BP) | Б(Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wales | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 59 | 84 | 3 | 19 |
| 2 |  Fiji | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 88 | 83 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 |  Australia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 91 | -1 | 3 | 11 |
| 4 |  Portugal | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 64 | 103 | -39 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 |  Georgia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 113 | -49 | 1 | 3 |
Next fixures:
Georgia – Portugal, Saturday 23rd of September, kickoff at 14h.
Wales v Australia, Sunday 24th of september, kickoff 21h.
Fiji bye.
Group D
Samoa starts competition with a win
Samoa did not shine too much in the game against Chile. In the first part of the match, it was 19-10 for the favorites from the Pacific Islands. The Chileans were very combative and disciplined. They had their opportunities, which they knew how to use. However, Samoa was too much for the debutants. In the end, the result was more convincing than the situation on the field, Samoa won 43-10. Chile did not disappoint, on the contrary.
English better than indisposed Japan
The English play by far the most boring rugby in our opinion. But they managed to completely neutralize the two strongest rivals in the group in the first two rounds, and have an open path to first place. We must say quite deservedly so. They completely outplayed the Japanese, who are no longer the same team as they were four years ago. Japan was clueless, too much improvisation and surprise attempts that sometimes looked comical. The English stuck to their system and in the end more than deservedly celebrated 34-12.
Group D table:
| Поз (Pos) | Екипа (Team) | У(GP) | П(W) | И(L) | Н(D) | ПФ(PF) | ПА(PA) | ПД(PD) | БП(BP) | Б(Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  England | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 39 | 111 | 2 | 18 |
| 2 |  Argentina | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 69 | 58 | 2 | 14 |
| 3 |  Japan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 109 | 107 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 |  Samoa | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 75 | 17 | 3 | 7 |
| 5 |  Chile | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 215 | -188 | 0 | 0 |
Next fixures:
Argentina – Samoa, Friday 22nd of september, kickoff 17:45h.
England – Chile, Saturday 23rd of september, kickoff 17:45h.
Japan bye.
