Samoa

Japan kept their World Cup quarterfinal hopes alive with a clinical 26-5 win over an ill-disciplined Samoa. Expected to be a much closer affair, Samoa had three players sent to the sin bin and were penalized 17 times in a sloppy performance. Japan dimnated possession and territory in the match …

Into the big weekend with some games doubling as extra knock-outs. Can Japan pick themselves up again after the tough match against Scotland? Does Samoa have another gear? Will England dig themselves out of the abyss with the Wallabies ready to trample on their dreams? Paul is our token ‘South American’ with …

The teams have been named for the crucial Pool B match between Samoa and Japan. Both sides have one win thus far, and must earn a second of they are to progress to the quarter-finals. After a stunning upset over South Africa, the Brave Blossoms will be seen as favorites, …

Two weeks in and the casualties are mounting in the World Cup. More than half of the teams (11 in total) have been forced to replace at least one player, three more if you count players who were originally named in the 31-man squad but were forced to withdraw before …

As a fan of the global game I take greater pleasure out of watching the pool phase of Rugby World Cups than many people certainly do but now this appears to have changed, and for the better. So good have the group matches been that we have been treated to more …

The Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. UP Argentina Possibly the best half of rugby of any team in the tournament thus far was that produced in the second …

A second straight upset defeat wasn’t in the cards for South Africa as they post a convincing 46-6 victory over Samoa. In a position where they could not afford another loss, South Africa got a hat trick from JP Pietersen and 14 points from the boot of Handre Pollard. “Last week still hurts,” said Springbok …

Predictions take 2… b! The second part of this week’s predictions, this time covering the half-dozen games ahead on Saturday on Sunday. There are a couple doozies up ahead, so read below to hear from the pros! The midweek action went pretty much entirely as predicted, though once again Bryan’s dissension …

The race for the quarterfinalists out of Pool B at the Rugby World Cup is going to be interesting. It could become even more so depending on the outcome of the Samoa/South Africa match on Saturday. With a loss already on their books, South Africa cannot afford another stumble. Samoa, …

South African Head Coach Heyneke Meyer has made eight changes to the Springboks starting lineup for Saturday’s pool match against Samoa in Birmingham. Having lost first up against Japan the match is a must win for the 1995 and 2007 World Cup winners. Toulon back-rower Duane Vermeulen has been declared …