France continued to swelter as one other day of motion came about throughout the nation.
These day by day recordsdata provides you with the newest reporting from across the World Cup in addition to betting strains, what to observe for data and greatest reads. Verify in with ESPN all through the match as we convey you the newest from France.
Right now’s version: England make a press release as Argentina crumble, whereas Australia lastly get a win beneath Eddie Jones.
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THE LEAD:
Finally England followers have one thing to smile about. For the second time in 4 Exams, Steve Borthwick’s facet had been capable of finding a option to win with solely 14 males on the sphere, after Tom Curry was dismissed after simply three minutes of their 27-10 win over Argentina of their Rugby World Cup opener. It definitely wasn’t fairly, with George Ford’s proper boot chargeable for all 27 of England’s factors, however it can matter little to a staff that had endured a horrible World Cup build-up that had left many followers doubting whether or not they would get out of their group, not to mention problem for a second World Cup crown.
Whereas the win will ease the stress on coach Steve Borthwick, a 3rd crimson card in 4 Exams will solely additional shine the highlight on England’s defensive approach. On this event it was back-rower Curry who acquired his defensive problem mistaken, albeit after a kick reception from Pumas fullback Juan Cruz Mallia who had solely simply landed again on the bottom. The place suspended teammates Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola had made direct shoulder contact with their sufferer’s heads, Curry’s dismissal was the results of a head-on-head collision. As such, the very fact he hadn’t dipped on the hips meant he was at all times going to be at risk of a red-card improve, after the preliminary on-field ruling from French referee Mathieu Raynal had been a yellow-card bunker assessment.
The incident divided opinions on social media — as these collisions are inclined to do — however in all probability Curry should entrance a World Rugby disciplinary panel to plead his case in an try and keep away from becoming a member of each Farrell and Vunipola amongst England’s suspended stars.
Nonetheless, that evolving state of affairs should not detract from Ford’s virtuoso efficiency, which can rank among the many most interesting he has ever produced within the England No. 10 shirt. Three drop targets and 6 penalties may not make for a trending spotlight reel, however in World Cup rugby that issues little. He was excellent in Marseille on Saturday night time.
AROUND THE CUP
Tupou creates spotlight reel second in fiftieth Check
Taniela Tupou could not consider his luck when he was monitoring again in defence halfway via the second half of Australia’s 35-15 win over Georgia in Paris on Saturday. With Georgia’s star fullback Davit Niniashvili having burned the Wallabies on the counter, Australia had been scrambling again in cowl to attempt to neutralise the state of affairs. After Nic White had introduced Niniashvili to floor, the Georgian fullback popped the ball up within the air, however as a substitute of discovering a supporting teammate, he discovered Tupou, who tore off again within the different route. Whereas the prop did not have the pace to get to the road, he discovered his personal fullback Ben Donaldson looming up in assist, and made the correct alternative to dump across the nook of one other Georgian defender.
“I believed I had it [the try], I believed I had it,” Tupou quipped later proudly adorned in his fiftieth Check cap. “I believe if I had dummied and saved going I’d have had him, however I used to be simply as blissful that I arrange another person. However I hoped he scored as a result of I used to be drained.”
Tupou was among the many Wallabies greatest of their 20-point win, their first beneath Jones in six Exams. The front-rower performed a key position in a dominant Wallabies scrum, and was busy across the paddock with seven runs for 22 metres, whereas he additionally popped up at scrum-half whereas Tate McDermott was elsewhere engaged.
Wallabies’ O’Connor makes particular World Cup opener much more memorable
Wallabies utility James O’Connor might not be participating within the World Cup on the pitch, however he is persevering with to create stellar moments off it after he saved the day for a younger french fan on the opening night time on the match.
Witnessing a father and his son Lino having their tickets scammed for France’s opening win in opposition to the All Blacks at Stade de France on Friday night time, the 33-year-old examined his French and provided to convey Lino in with him.
Posting a photograph on Instagram, O’Connor mentioned the daddy and son had travelled six hours to get to Paris for the sport earlier than they found their tickets had been faux, whereas the Wallaby had a spare ticket as his personal pal was operating extraordinarily late for the sport.
“Humorous how life works generally. Lino and his Dad had their tickets scammed on the sport and travelled six hours only for this World Cup opener, so you’ll be able to think about the frustration… Lino accepted the ticket and the remaining is historical past.. We had a good time. Positively examined my French, that is for positive.”
Little doubt a second that Lino will bear in mind for the remainder of his life.
Namibia’s World Cup drought continues
Namibia’s await a primary World Cup win extends to a file 23 video games, after they had been finally blown off the park 52-8 by an error-strewn Italy of their opening match in Saint-Etienne. However they will take loads of coronary heart after they opened the scoring inside the first two minutes earlier than they scored a superb attempt by way of wing Gerswin Mouton.
Whereas the scoreline blew out within the second half, the Azzurri will not be impressed with their opening efforts within the first half, squandering a number of attempt scoring alternatives. Taking a slim 17-8 lead into the break, it was an excellent 60-metre attempt via wing Ange Capuozzo that noticed the sport swing Italy’s method.
Underneath the sweltering solar, Italy went on to earn a bonus level victory as they ran in seven tries as Namibia struggled to maintain up with the tempo and finally wilted beneath the stress.
With a lot more durable assignments in France and All Blacks to return the Azzurri coach Kieran Crowley shall be on the lookout for a a lot improved efficiency from his squad in the event that they’re to have any hope of scoring an upset and reaching the quarterfinal.
Romania stun the world — a minimum of for 30 seconds
Outdated head Jonny Sexton returned to his classic greatest as he grew to become Eire’s oldest participant whereas additionally notching 24 factors in his facet’s emphatic 82-8 win over Romania on Saturday night time. In his first sport again from suspension, Eire’s captain performed greater than half the match in a transfer that shocked many along with his poor damage monitor file, many feared any bump might derail the staff’s World Cup with the fly-half so instrumental within the facet’s plans within the match forward.
As a substitute, he performed an assured sport, scoring two tries and kicking seven conversions to go away 10 factors wanting overtaking Eire nice Ronan O’Gara as Eire’s high attempt scorer.
Romania strike first 👊
Take a look at what it means! #RWC2023 | #IREvROU | @RugbyRomania pic.twitter.com/zzA8qEI5Pn
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 9, 2023
“Age is only a quantity, I am simply delighted to be again,” Sexton mentioned put up match. “We’re delighted clearly to get a consequence and to get a factors distinction like that. We knew it was gonna be a tricky sport initially, particularly with Romania being very bodily they usually definitely did not allow us to down in that regard.”
In the meantime, for simply 30 seconds the world was turned the wrong way up when Romania pulled off a outstanding second to attain a shocking attempt within the second minute to take a lead over the World No.1 facet. Gathering a dribbling kick simply inside his personal half, Romania fly-half Hinckley Vaovasa stepped contained in the kick chase and located house down the left wing earlier than offloading 15 metres from the road to halfback Gabriel Rupanu who dove down beneath the posts to attain first blood within the lopsided contest.
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NEWS OF THE DAY
There shall be no panic from the All Blacks after their first-up loss to France on Friday night time, regardless of it being their first ever pool loss on the Rugby World Cup. Having the definitive sport in Pool A was at all times going to supply the loser one other alternative, and whereas Italy are on the enhance it can take one thing particular from the Azzurri to actually fear both France or the All Blacks.
“We’re disenchanted with the consequence however we’re additionally very conscious we’re in a match the place we have a transparent purpose in pool play and nothing has actually modified in that sense,” he mentioned.
“We have to tug aside a number of items. The place we acquired to in that first 50-odd minutes was actually pleasing, and we maybe might have been in a good higher place if we might handled that interval earlier than halftime a little bit bit smarter. We acquired into an excellent place in opposition to a extremely robust staff in a reasonably hostile setting.
“Then we acquired squeezed, acquired annoyed a little bit bit and began to lose the battle on the breakdown and positively we misplaced the aerial battle, significantly when chasing our kicks the place we acquired clumsy. Between these two areas the French fed off that.”
In the meantime, the All Blacks have added Ethan Blackadder because the substitute for injured winger Emoni Narawa. Given Sam Cane’s again damage, which dominated him out of Friday night time’s match opener, and Shannon Frizell’s personal damage, Foster felt it prudent to bolster his back-row shares somewhat than herald one other outdoors again.
MATCH PREVIEWS
Pool D: Japan vs. Chile, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (1p.m. native / 9p.m. AEST / 12p.m. GMT)
Odds [tab.com.au]: Japan $1.01, -24.5 $1.90; Chile $17, +24.5 $1.90
Both method, historical past shall be made on Sunday night time when Chile run out in Toulouse to develop into the twenty sixth staff to participate within the Rugby World Cup. Whereas Japan have struggled within the lead as much as the match, they enter the match as overwhelming favourites and may make straightforward work of the World Cup debutants. The sweltering situations will swimsuit the Courageous Blossoms who get pleasure from frenetic, unfastened play they usually’ll look to exhaust their opposition and break them open early. Whereas a win is sort of assured Jamie Joseph will wish to see some consistency and properly structured play as they put together for even sterner exams because the match progresses.
Pool B: South Africa vs. Scotland, Stade de Marseille, Marseille (5:45p.m. native / 1:45a.m. / 4:45p.m. GMT)
Odds [tab.com.au]: South Africa $1.18, -11.5 $1.85; Scotland $4.80, +11.5 $1.95
Considered one of three Pool C blockbusters, this sport pits the world No. 3 in opposition to the world No. 5, with Scotland on the lookout for a primary win in 10 makes an attempt in opposition to South Africa. And it seems to be Scotland’s greatest probability, too, throughout that dropping run, given their latest efforts beneath Gregor Townsend and the evolution of their attacking sport. They may, nonetheless, want to realize a minimum of parity in opposition to an infinite Springboks pack, and their hulking reinforcements that occupy the bench. If South Africa are dominant up entrance, then they’ll merely put on down the smaller Scottish facet, which can create loads of alternatives for the Springboks fleet-footed outdoors backs. The highlight shall be on the purpose kicking of Manie Libbok on the again for South Africa, however his rising mixture with Damian Willemse, and the expertise of Willie le Roux off the bench, provides the Boks the flexibility to run riot, simply as they did in opposition to each Wales and New Zealand of their warmup video games.
— Sam Bruce
Pool C: Wales vs. Fiji, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (9p.m. native / 5a.m. AEST / 8p.m. GMT)
Odds [tab.com.au]: Wales $1.53, -4.5 $1.95; Fiji $2.50, +4.5 $1.85
The second sport of a cracking double-header to complete off the opening weekend of motion, this sport has large ramifications for Pool C. It’s significantly important for Fiji who should again up in seven days time to face Australia. The Fijians had a close to good build-up successful the Pacific Nations Cup earlier than they had been solely narrowly overwhelmed by France, after which wrapped up their preparations with a primary ever win over England – at Twickenham besides. They’re a staff enjoying with the cohesion shaped via the Fijian Drua, however one additional booster by their European-based high quality. Wales, in the meantime, had been pretty abnormal of their preparations, duking out a win over England earlier than a defeat to the identical opposition, who had been down a person, after which a hammering by South Africa. Wales will include few surprises beneath Warren Gatland and can look to interact Fiji on the set-piece and gradual the competition down. However you simply really feel this Fijian outfit is constructing one thing particular and finally have the substance to match their model.
— Sam Bruce
– Week 1: line-ups, verdicts, ideas
TOP FEATURES OF THE DAY
Cagey Wallabies break their duck, however fail to difficulty World Cup assertion
Job completed. The Wallabies acquired the win they wanted, plus a bonus level, in a stable hit-out in opposition to Georgia. Whereas it wasn’t a efficiency to scare any of the World Cup heavyweights, their scrum, aerial kicking and new fullback Ben Donaldson, had been excellent.