Rugby World Cup 2011

[Corzza]

Ireland put the boot into Wallabies

AUCKLAND, 17 Sept. - Ireland put the boot into Australia's Rugby World Cup hopes with a 15-6 victory in their Pool C game at Eden Park on Saturday night.

Boasting one of the slickest backlines in the tournament, the Wallabies struggled to live up to their billing and the Irish got home on the back of four penalties and a drop goal before a crowd of 58,678.

As much as full back Kurtley Beale tried to weave his magic, Ireland stood firm with a defence that refused to buckle.

"It was the performance we knew we had in us," said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll.

"You could swear you were in Dublin with this crowd and it was our job to give them something to cheer about."

Wallabies skipper James Horwill said: "Ireland did well and we played some dumb rugby. We were not good enough."

Having won 20 of their 29 clashes with Ireland, with another match being drawn, Australia were favourites on paper, though these two countries have produced some epic battles over the years. This was no different.

Setbacks

The Wallabies suffered late setbacks, with star flanker David Pocock withdrawing on the morning of the game with a back strain. He was replaced by Ben McCalman, while Tatafu Polota-Nau came into the front-row for an ill Stephen Moore.

Australia had their first chance for points in the fifth minute after full back Rob Kearney was penalised for a high tackle on Beale, but wing James O'Connor sent his shot just wide.

O'Connor, back in the starting side, made no mistake from in front six minutes later after the Wallabies were gifted a penalty from a scrum five metres out.

Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton drew his side level at 3-3 after 15 minutes.

Australia then had to weather an onslaught from Ireland and Sexton put the Irish ahead 6-3 with only his second drop goal in international rugby.

O'Connor squared things up in the 24th minute after the Irish were caught offside.

Desperate for a break

The Wallabies were again caught offside in the 49th minute and Sexton landed his third penalty to put Ireland 9-6 ahead.

Minutes later, Australia again infringed at the scrum but they were fortunate that Sexton's relatively easy attempt rattled off the upright.

It was the Will Genia-Quade Cooper combination that almost found a way through for Australia wide on the right, but Cooper's final pass went astray with the line in sight.

Again Australia's scrum conceded a penalty and this time it was a gift for Ronan O'Gara, who had come on as a replacement in the 48th minute. At 12-6 ahead in 61st minute, Ireland sniffed a victory and Australia were desperate for a break.

Australia needed all their resolve to keep Ireland out in the 67th minute, a timely penalty arriving as Ireland were bearing down.

But another collapsed scrum virtually in front minutes later gifted O'Gara another penalty to put Ireland 15-6 ahead with 10 minutes left.

Australia were camped all over Ireland's line in the closing minutes but could not break through.

It took some desperate cover defence to stop Ireland's Tommy Bowe from almost running the length of the field to cross, after he intercepted a stray pass from Cooper.

[Buf-Phoon]

what a scrappy game, good on the Irish I suppose,

think the Aussies are goooorne, cant see em beating both the All Blacks and the Saffers

[sexual harrassment panda]

if the play like that then they will have no chance, good tactics in the tackling and brackdowns by the irish.

scrappy game which has cost Aus dearly

[Corzza]

Wales are ready for vital clash with Samoa

HAMILTON, 18 Sept. - It will be all-or-nothing for Wales when they take on Samoa in their second Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool D match at Waikato Stadium on Sunday.

The Welsh narrowly lost their first match of the tournament to RWC champions South Africa in Wellington but coach Warren Gatland says his team have regrouped over the past week and are keen to pick up where they left off.

“We maintained momentum with aspects of the performance (against the Springboks), providing a host of positive points to take into Sunday’s match against Samoa. We could not fault the effort, passion and commitment of the players last week and we are looking for the same again on Sunday,” he said.

In an enormous show of faith, Wales will go into Sunday's game with the same starting line-up that lost 17-16 to South Africa. It is the first time they have done that in their World Cup history.

"It's a message of confidence in terms of the way we performed last match. We've got everyone fit and hopefully we can build on last week," Gatland said.

Despite losing their first match, Wales will go into the game in the unaccustomed role of favourite but skipper Sam Warburton believes that doesn't add any pressure.

"It'll be different but things have got to change. If you ask New Zealand or one of the other Tri-Nations teams, they wouldn't care. If you want to be one of the best teams in the world, you have to deal with that pressure," he said.

"If people want to put that tag on us, that's fine," added defensive coach Shaun Edwards. "It's up to us to perform."

No style change

Samoa made three changes to their squad shortly before kick-off. Fly half Tusi Pisi was replaced by Tasesa Lavea, who was at No. 22. Lavea's place on the replacements bench was taken by James Sooialo.

Also on the bench, Manaia Salavea replaces Taiasina Tuifua at 19.

The Islanders said they won't be changing the way they play. "We'll play our usual style. Most teams around the world know how we play now. We're pretty physical," said second row Kane Thompson.

The Samoans have been disadvantaged by having to play twice in four days, but they say there will be no excuses.

"If we let things like that affect us we won't be focusing on the task at hand. It definitely won't be an excuse," said Thompson.

Hooker Mahonri Schwalger added: "It's pretty harsh, but it's the nature of the tournament. It's about which team can recover quickest and front up."

Samoa will be hoping Alesana Tuilagi, the three-try hero against Namibia, can reproduce his match-winning form against Wales.

"I wouldn't like to be standing in front of him when he's in full cry. He's quite a sight when he's in full flight," said Samoan backs coach Brian McLean.

Gatland returns home

Warren Gatland, who has been coaching Wales since 2007, was born in Hamilton and is excited to see his team play in his home town. He played 140 matches for Waikato and coached them to Air New Zealand Cup success in 2006.

“Samoa are going to have a lot of support, as will Fiji when we come back to play them in the final game of our pool, but we are hoping some of the Waikato people will be getting behind Wales as well," he said.

“We played there on our summer tour of New Zealand last year and I told all of the players what to expect then and we all really enjoyed the experience and the welcome we had in Hamilton.

“It is a special atmosphere on match day, it will be very much like coming home for me and we are hoping all the locals bring their Mooloo bells and ring them for Wales!”

Sunday's match kicks off at 15:30.

[Corzza]

Half Time:

Samoa 10 - 6 Wales

[Corzza]

Wales survive Samoa scare

HAMILTON, 18 Sept. - Wales survived a scare from Samoa to emerge 17-10 victors in a fiercely contested Pool D clash on Sunday.

The islanders, who had won both previous Rugby World Cup encounters between the nations, looked likely to register a third when prop Anthony Perenise crashed over for a try on the stroke of half-time.

But wing Shane Williams struck back with a try in the last quarter to settle the nerves of the Welsh, who had lost to South Africa by a single point a week earlier.

Both sides showed an eagerness to run the ball in the bruising encounter at Waikato Stadium.

In the eighth minute Samoa were unlucky not to get on the scoreboard after number 8 George Stowers knocked on as he tried to touch down following a destructive drive at a five-metre scrum.

Early setback

Wales coach Warren Gatland's plans suffered an early setback when Andy Powell had to replace flanker Danny Lydiate, who injured his right ankle in tenth minute.

But Wales rallied and almost immediately took the lead when James Hook slotted a penalty from in front of the posts after a high tackle on fly half Rhys Priestland.

Samoa responded with a Williams penalty midway through the half.

The Wales scrum began to gain the upper hand and when the Samoans were penalised for collapsing after 26 minutes Hook was again on target to make it 6-3, despite losing his footing as he made his kick.

Samoa felt aggrieved not to get a try after half an hour when Maurie Faasavalu was penalised for a double movement on the Wales line.

Sustained pressure

But they got their reward when Perenise crashed over after some sustained pressure.

Priestland narrowed the gap to 10-9 straight after the break with a long-range penalty that bounced on the cross bar before going over.

With full back Hook not returning to the field after half-time, Wales were without their most potent attacking influence.

But Priestland put the Welsh back in front with a penalty before Shane Williams rounded off a breakout to make the score 17-10.

Despite some committed attack by the Samoans in the last 10 minutes, Welsh defence held firm for the win.

[Corzza]

Half Time:

England 17 - 10 Georgia

[Corzza]

England finally pull away from dogged Georgia

DUNEDIN, 18 Sept. - England weathered a sin-binning, a high penalty count and furious Georgian resistance to eventually run out 41-10 winners in their Pool B encounter at Otago Stadium.

Georgia went into half-time only 17-10 behind, but second-half tries from the three-quarter trio of Delon Armitage, Manu Tuilagi and Chris Ashton (two) gave England breathing space.

Armitage put England two scores ahead and as the match entered the final quarter, Georgia’s stretched defence barely laid a hand on Tuilagi as he chose a perfect attacking line.

With Georgia flagging, Ashton then celebrated a try with his signature swallow dive, before completing the scoring right on full-time.

Fly half Toby Flood converted four of the six tries, also adding a penalty.

Wayward day

His opposite number Merab Kvirikashvili had a wayward day with the boot, missing five of his seven kicks.

The match was less than four minutes old when Shontayne Hape sprinted clear after a bullocking run by second row Simon Shaw.

When he scored his second try after 21 minutes England appeared to be cruising but indiscretion at the breakdown - the former world champions conceded 10 penalties before the break - cost them.

Dylan Hartley was sin-binned for persistent infringement just before half-time and from the ensuing penalty Georgia elected to take the scrum.

Georgian number 8 Dimitri Basilaia crashed over and the conversion by Kvirikashvili brought his side back to 17-10.

The Georgians deserved their try, having gone close earlier when wing Irakli Machkhaneli was knocked into touch as he dived for the corner.

[Corzza]

Half Time:

France 19 - 10 Canada

[Corzza]

Clerc hat-trick sinks brave Canadians

Vincent Clerc goes over to put France ahead in the fifth minute

NAPIER, 18 Sept. - A hat-trick of tries from wing Vincent Clerc helped France on their way to a 46-19 victory over Canada in their Pool A match at McLean Park.

Damian Traille also went over and France's cause was further served by a peerless kicking performance from scrum half Morgan Parra who racked up 23 points.

Full back James Pritchard kicked Canada into the lead after two minutes with a 35-metre penalty after Pascal Pape strayed offside at a ruck.

Pritchard fumbled an up and under from Francois Trinh Duc three minutes later and Clerc gathered to touch down. Parra converted to send the French 7-3 ahead.

Ryan Smith went over to put the Canucks back in front after the French defence was found wanting under a high ball from Ander Monro. Pritchard added the conversion to extend the advantage to 10-7.

A Parra penalty levelled the scores at 10-10 in the 17th minute.

Quick penalties

The Clermont Auvergne man put Les Bleus ahead in the 37th minute and extended his side's lead to nine points with two further quick penalties as the interval approached.

Munro kept the Canadians in contention after the restart, sending over two superb drop goals either side of another Parra penalty for the French.

Trinh Duc got in on the drop goal act at the other end after 56 minutes when he planted another terrific effort between the posts to restore his side's nine-point lead.

But Pritchard gave the Canucks renewed hope when he kicked his second penalty of the night three minutes later.

Full back Traille gave the French breathing space when he collected after a lineout in his own half and raced more than 60 metres through the Canadian defence for a stunning try. The ever-reliable boot of Parra added the extras to send Marc Lièvremont's team 32-19 ahead.

Clerc ran over twice in the last four minutes as Canada tired to wrap up the victory.