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 Australia If there was any doubt that the Wallabies were up for it, there is none now. A magnificent 10-plus …

It took a long time for my colleagues and I here at Americas Rugby News to compile the list of foreign-born players involved in the ongoing Rugby World Cup. This was due to there simply being so many players picked for the tournament who are playing for countries other than …

Ireland secured top spot in Pool D with a hard-earned 24-9 victory over France in Cardiff on Sunday. Joe Schmidt’s men will be ecstatic with the win, but will have to consider the heavy cost as they suffered injuries to key players Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Jonny Sexton, and Keith …

Japan finished off their record Rugby World Cup with a 28-18 win over the USA at Kingsholm. The victory gives the Brave Blossoms a 3-1 record in pool play. Unfortunately for the side, Scotland’s narrow win over Samoa means that Japan becomes the first team in World Cup history to …

England ended their World Cup on a slightly better note as they walloped Uruguay by a score of 60-3 in Manchester. Nick Easter and Jack Nowell each scored hat tricks, while Anthony Watson added two tries to a single by Henry Slade. Felipe Berchesi’s 2nd minute penalty gave Los Teros …

Australia came away 15-6 winners over Wales in a stirring encounter at Twickenham on Saturday. Though neither side managed to cross the line, there was no shortage of attacking endeavour, with a magnificent defensive stand by the Wallabies in the second half proving the defining period of the game. Wales …

Scotland were given an almighty scare by Samoa in their pivotal Pool B match in Newcastle, escaping with a 36-33 win thanks to a late Greig Laidlaw try to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. The victory ends Japanese hopes of making the knock-outs despite the likelihood of them finishing …

Last weekend of the pool stages and there’s some very contentious match-ups all across the board. Who will top Pool D? Can Romania upset Italy to qualify for 2019? Will Japan find a way into the quarters? Here we go! Chris and Victor appear to be lost in the barrens, but we’ve …

New Zealand claimed a decisive victory over Tonga in Newcastle on Friday, but not without difficulties. The Tongan forwards gave their counterparts all they could handle for large stretches, and had the All Black scrum on skates towards the end of the second half. While Tonga may not have come …

France will fight it out with Ireland for the top spot in Pool D on Sunday at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The winner takes on Argentina in the quarter-finals, while the loser faces the All Blacks. Neither road looks easy, though the psychological boost from victory will be a …

Italy and Romania have announced their teams for their vital Pool D match in Exeter on Sunday. The game will serve as a straight knock-out of sorts as the winner automatically qualifies for the 2019 World Cup. Both sides will have to compete without their respective captains, with Sergio Parisse …

After suffering a serious beating at the hands of South Africa on Wednesday, head coach Mike Tolkin has returned to his first choice side for his team’s final Pool B match in Gloucester. Whether the game will have any importance beyond being an advert for two rising nations will be …

Eddie Jones has made four changes to the team that dominated Samoa in Milton Keynes for their final pool match against the USA on Sunday. The Brave Blossoms will need a little help from Samoa on Saturday to make the game meaningful. If Scotland win, Japan are out. Hiroshi Yamashita …

Martín Landajo will captain a makeshift Argentina side against Namibia on Sunday. Having already qualified for the quarter-finals, head coach Daniel Hourcade has opted to rest a number of his front line players and give opportunities to others. Guido Petti is the only surviving member of the tight five left …

Phil Davies has shaken up his Namibian team as they prepare to face Argentina in Leicester on Sunday. Eleven changes in all from the team that came so close to Georgia, including a new skipper as Jacques Burger has been forced out of his international swansong with concussion. Rohan Kitsoff …

Felipe Berchesi has recovered sufficiently from a collarbone problem to start for Uruguay in their final World Cup match against England in Manchester on Saturday. The star flyhalf was outstanding for Los Teros in their opening matches before being forced out of the match against Fiji. The only other change …

Stuart Lancaster has named a much-changed England side to take on Uruguay as they look to move past their crushing knock-out defeat to Australia a week ago. The match will serve as a last opportunity for fans to watch the home side play in 2015, a harsh reflection of the …

Australia will meet Wales at Twickenham on Saturday to determine first place in Pool A. The match will have massive implications for the quarter-finals, as the loser must face the Springboks next weekend while the winner takes a less daunting road against either Scotland or Japan. The Wallabies have three …

Samoa and Scotland have named their sides to take part in a crucial Pool B match in Newcastle on Saturday. Should the Manu sneak a victory, it will put Scotland in perilous danger of missing out on the quarter-finals pending Japan’s match with the US Eagles. Under-fire head coach Stephen …

The All Blacks will face Tonga in Newcastle on Friday as they look to close out their Pool C matches in style. Only a monumental upset by Tonga would have any impact on the standings, with Georgia just ahead on two points and virtual certainties to qualify for the 2019 …