Wales survived a Fijian onslaught to escape with 23-13 victory at the Millenium Stadium on Thursday in front of more than 70,000 thoroughly entertained fans. Fiji had more than enough possession to put points on the board, but missed opportunities and resolute Welsh defense earned the home side the win. The …

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, …

Jonathan Joseph returns to bolster the England midfield in the critical Pool A match against Australia on Saturday, one of three changes to the side that lost to Wales last weekend. Despite speculation that he would play no further part in the pool stages, the Bath centre has shrugged off …

Michael Cheika has reverted to the identical starting lineup that faced Fiji for the massive Pool A match against England on Saturday. If Australia defeat England, it could spell curtains for the host side, having lost to Wales in dramatic fashion on the weekend. The Wallabies, meanwhile, enjoyed a cozy …

Duncan Weir will start in the no10 shirt for Scotland against the Springboks on Saturday. Finn Russell misses out, still recovering from an ankle injury suffered against the USA on Sunday, one of a handful of first choice players left out of the run-on side. Gordon Reid and Fraser Brown …

Fourie du Preez will lead the Springboks for the first time in a test match, taking over the captaincy from Jean de Villiers after the centre was forced to drop out of the tournament with a broken jaw. Heyneke Meyer has made only three changes from the side that beat …

Milton Haig has named a much-changed Georgian side to play the All Blacks on Friday, opting to rest some first choice players but in doing so fielding the most experienced Lelo side ever in test rugby. Captain Mamuka Gorgodze is the only starting forward remaining from the disappointing 54-9 loss …

The All Blacks will roll out their big guns to face Georgia in Cardiff on Friday. After playing a reserve side against Namibia, Steve Hansen has reverted to virtually the same lineup that he selected for the Argentina match, with four exceptions – one enforced. Four players – Liam Messam, …

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 …

Tonga came away winners over Namibia by a 35-21 score in a very entertaining match at Sandy Park in Exeter on Tuesday. The Tongans outscored their opponents by five tries to two, but some wayward kicking and discipline issues kept the Namibians in the match. Telusa Veainu was a late …

Kieran Crowley has chopped and changed his lineup to face France on Thursday, with seven switches in total from the team that ran Italy desperately close at Elland Road. Canada will need to manage their resources with another game on the horizon against Romania on Tuesday. Aaron Carpenter and Brett …

France have retained only two of the starting side that faced Romania, reverting to their first strength team for the match against Canada at Milton Keynes on Thursday. Only Wesley Fofana and Brice Dulin continue, as Philippe Saint-André opts not to take any chances against a team that gave Italy …

Both teams have been named for Thursday’s crucial Pool A match between Wales and Fiji at the Millenium Stadium. With Wales now on the ascendency thanks to a famous upset over England, they must beat Fiji to keep their quarter-final prospects alive, and do so on just four days rest. …

Hard to believe we’re already into week 3! The games are getting tougher, attrition is starting to become more of a factor, and a couple wild upsets have us all second guessing our picks. We’re splitting up the week once again, with our midweek choices up now and the weekend …

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 …

Patrick Parfrey has been summoned to join up with Canada’s World Cup squad as an injury replacement. The versatile back, who has started tests at both flyhalf and inside centre, will take the spot of Connor Braid, who came off injured early in the narrow defeat to Italy on Saturday. …

Ireland were made to work for it, but came away convincing 44-10 winners over a game but outmatched Romanian side. The game at Wembley Stadium set a new World Cup record with a reported 89,267 in attendance, eclipsing the mark set at the same stadium for the New Zealand-Argentina match …

Namibian Head Coach Phil Davies has named his lineup for Tuesday’s Pool B match against Tonga in Exeter. The Welshman has made eight changes from the side that faced New Zealand in London on Thursday. Veteran captain Jacques Burger will lead the team in search of their first win in …

It was a tale of two halves as Scotland used a huge second half surge to overcome a 13-6 halftime deficit to defeat the USA in Leeds. Scotland scored five second half tries to secure a bonus point and a 39-16 victory. The USA put forth a strong first half …