Round-Up: Day 6-9

Well how about that? Today is the day the World Cup was blown wide open, thanks to an inspired performance from a gutsy and passionate Irish side. Their 15-6 victory over Australia was far from pretty, but all that matters to 

Declan Kidney’s men is the end result; and what a result it was.

It was a try-less encounter, but what it lacked in five-pointers it made up for in drama and physical tenacity. Two penalties apiece for Sexton and O’Gara together with a Sexton drop-goal were enough to cause the competitions' biggest upset so far and put the Emerald Isle in poll position to top the group and avoid the likes of South Africa and New Zealand in the quarter finals.

The normally so fluent Australian side could only muster two James O’Connor penalties, and were far from their normal clinical selves; the Wallabies had many opportunities to create try scoring chances, but impatience proved to be their downfall as they forced the play in the final third. Quade Cooper was quiet and his loose reverse pass in the dying minutes; intercepted by Tommy Bowe summed up the Australian’s overall performance. O’Connor made good ground to haul the winger down metres short, but Ireland had the territory they required to close out the game and earn their first World Cup win over Australia.

In the earlier games, South Africa and Argentina both recorded confortable wins over weaker opposition. The Springboks beat Fiji 49-3, scoring six tries from six different scorers. Argentina got off the mark in the tournament with a 43-8 win over Romania.

Earlier in the week, a hat-trick from Alessana Tuilagi powered Samoa to a 49-12 victory over Namibia. The South-sea islanders looked sharp and clinical and could yet prove to be Wales’ undoing when the sides meet tomorrow in Hamilton.

Canada caused an upset as they beat Tonga 25-20, scoring three tries in the process. A try from Phil Mackenzie eight minutes from time proved to be the winning score as the Canadians secured a famous win.

Scotland secured their second win of the group stage as they struggled to victory over Georgia in Invercargill. In one of the most unattractive games of rugby you are ever likely to see, Dan Parks kicked all of the Scots points to keep their unbeaten record intact. Georgia continued to build on their ever growing reputation in the rugby world with a fighting performance.

New Zealand scored thirteen tries as they hammered Japan 83-7 in Hamilton. Richard Kahui and Sonny Bill-Williams scored twice each and fly-half Colin Slade scored 25 points in a convincing group stage win.

Finally, the USA made sure Russia’s World Cup debut ended in defeat as they ground out a 13-7 win in New Plymouth. Scrum Half Mike Petri scored the games’ only try with Chris Wyles adding two penalties and a conversion.  

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