Rugby World Cup Week one Wrap: Wales take a win over Georgia to take Pool D lead

Mon, Sep 23, 2019, 12:29 PM
AAP
by AAP
Wales opened their World Cup with a win. Photo: Getty Images
Wales opened their World Cup with a win. Photo: Getty Images

Rugby World Cup week one is all over and it has been an enthralling weekend of action.

Most of the powerhouse nations collected regulation wins, but it wasn't without its controversy.

Take a look right here for how the weekend unfolded.

STANDINGS

POOL A

1. Ireland - 5pts, 1W, 1BP

2. Japan - 5pts, 1W, 1BP, 

3. Samoa - 0pts (no games played)

4. Russia - 0pts, 1L,

5. Scotland - 0pts, 1L

POOL B

1. Italy - 5pts, 1W, 1BP

2. New Zealand - 4pts, 1W, 0BP

3. Canada - no games played

4. South Africa - 0pts, 1L

5. Namibia - 0pts, 1L

POOL C

1. England

2. France

3. Argentina

4.  USA - no games played

5.  Argentina

POOL D

1. Wales - 5pts, 1W, 1BP

2. Austrlia - 5pts, 1W, 1BP

3. Uruguay - no games played

4. Fiji - 0pts, 1L

5. Georgia - 0pts, 1L

WRAP

WALES vs GEORGIA

Six Nations champions Wales opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with a bonus-point 43-14 victory over Georgia in Toyota City on Monday.

The victory not only sent out a signal of intent to main Pool D rivals Australia, who beat Fiji in their opener, but also dispelled any doubts there might have been of a hangover in the Welsh camp over the sending home of assistant coach Rob Howley amid allegations of illegal betting.

Four slick first-half tries from Jonathan Davies, Justin Tipuric, Josh Adams and Liam Williams ensured a bonus point for Wales, who were given a stern examination by a strong Georgian scrum that came to life in the second period.

There were barely two minutes on the clock when centre Davies was played in under the posts after a perfect pass by scrum-half and namesake Gareth, decoys Dan Biggar and Hadleigh Parkes bamboozling a leaden-footed defence.

Biggar's conversion surprisingly came back off the posts, but the fly-half redeemed himself with a penalty shortly afterwards.

Another well-drilled midfield move saw winger Adams split the defence before offloading to Gareth Davies.

The scrum-half was brought down short, but Tipuric was on hand to swoop for the ball and sidestep inside Giorgi Tkhilaishvili to run through unmolested for Wales' second try, Biggar converting.

The third came soon after, Adams running in from almost halfway after an inside Biggar pass off a lineout, with the Georgian defence glaringly absent.

Biggar hit the extras and it was a point a minute after 22 minutes, the 35,545-strong crowd at a sultry Toyota Stadium scenting a rout.

The sole bright spark for Georgia in a grim first-half display saw a rare break into Welsh territory by hooker Shalva Mamukashvili, Gareth Davies twice on hand with tapdowns to halt the foray.

Skipper Alun Wyn Jones, matching Gethin Jenkins' record of 129 Wales caps, and No 8 Josh Navidi were at the heart of the effective Welsh rush defence to nullify the threat from the "Lelos."

Instead it was Wales who had the last word of the first 40 minutes, Liam Williams scooping up Jonathan Davies' pass to dot down in the corner, Biggar making no mistake to stretch the score out to 29-0.

The Georgians opened the second-half exactly as coach Milton Haig would have liked, Mamukashvili bundled over from an attacking line-out for a well-received try that Tedo Abzhandadze converted.

Wales roared back with their own driving maul, but fresh-on-the-field Jaba Bregvadze collapsed it, which was spotted by referee Luke Pearce who had no option but to yellow card the replacement hooker.

A raft of replacements disrupted the flow of the game, enabling Georgia to weather the 10-minute sin-binning without conceding any points.

Despite their far more combative half, it was replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams who chased down a George North grubber for Wales' fifth.

Toulon prop Levan Chilachava responded for Georgia when he bombed over from short range, but Wales had the last word when North finished well after some neat footwork and a sharp offload from Tomos Williams.

RESULT

Wales 43

Tries: Williams 2, Davies, Tipuric, Adams, North

Cons: Biggar 4, Halfpenny

Pens: Biggar

Georgia 14

Tries: Mamukashvili, Chilachava

Cons: Abzhandadze 2

ENGLAND vs TONGA

Manu Tuilagi scored two tries as England launched their bid for a second Rugby World Cup title with a comfortable but error-strewn 35-3 bonus-point win over Tonga on Sunday.

The Samoa-born centre crossed twice under the Sapporo Dome roof in a first half that ended with England well ahead at 18-3.

And second-half scores from hooker Jamie George and replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie saw England secure a bonus point for scoring four tries, a result that could be crucial in a tight Pool C.

In addition England, playing within themselves, also appeared to avoid any injuries to key players.

"We had to toil hard today and I was particularly pleased at the end of the game when we were under the pump a bit, we defended really well," said Jones.

"That's two Tests now we haven't conceded a try so we're pretty happy with that. We'll just build our game as we go along.

"We'd like to be sharper with the ball and that will come. But I was really pleased with the efforts of my players. They worked hard and what a great effort by Tonga. They fought really hard."

England, whose humiliating first-round exit on home soil at the 2015 World Cup led to Jones's appointment as coach, took an 11th-minute lead when captain Owen Farrell scored the first of his 15 points with a penalty.

Tonga scrum-half Sonatane Takulua equalised three minutes later after a thumping hit by flanker Zane Kapeli on England number eight Billy Vunipola, whose father and uncle both played in the Tonga side thrashed 101-10 by England at the 1999 World Cup.

England thought they had scored the opening try when flanker Sam Underhill charged over after fullback Elliot Daly ran a loose kick back.

But with the grounding unclear to the television match official, the score was disallowed.

From the resulting five-metre scrum, however, Tuilagi bundled over for a 24th-minute try which the TMO did award. Farrell missed the conversion but England still led 8-3.

England lock Maro Itoje then gave away a penalty to the obvious fury of Jones, in charge of his native Australia when England beat the Wallabies in the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney.

But Takalua was off target and his miss was made worse for Tonga, hammered 92-7 by world champions New Zealand in a warm-up match this month, when Tuilagi scored his second try.

Daly released Jonny May and the left wing made a surging run before his well-timed inside pass to Tuilagi allowed the midfielder to charge in in the 31st minute.

Farrell converted and England led 15-3.

England, declining a kickable penalty, almost had another try before half-time.

But, with Tonga defending desperately on their own line, an infringement led to a penalty in front of the posts which Farrell landed to give England a comfortable 15-point advantage at half-time.

Farrell made it 21-3 early in the second half with a 39-metre penalty and now it seemed as if the only issue remaining was whether a Tonga team coached by Toutai Kefu, who played under Jones for Australia, could stop England scoring four tries.

England, after Sam Underhill knocked-on when well-placed, eventually scored their third try when a thunderous rolling maul saw hooker Jamie George power over in the 57th minute.

But England lost momentum as Jones rang the changes, although their fourth try did arrive three minutes from time when wing Anthony Watson's surging run and pass released Cowan-Dickie.

England now have a quick turnaround before their next Pool C match against the United States in Kobe on Thursday, with Tonga playing Argentina, looking to bounce back from an agonising loss to France, on Saturday.

RESULT

England 35

Tries: Tuilagi 2, Cowan-Dickie

Cons: Farrell 3

Pens: Farrell 3

Tonga 3 

Pens: Takulua

IRELAND vs SCOTLAND

Ireland powered past Six Nations rivals Scotland 27-3 to put themselves in the box seat to reach the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.

Three push-over tries in the first half did the damage before wing Andrew Conway grabbed a fourth after the break to secure a bonus-point win, with games to come against Japan, Russia and Samoa in Pool A.

"We started really well -- we were positive, we wanted to attack," said Ireland captain Rory Best.

"Obviously with the conditions in the second half it became a bit more of an arm-wrestle but we know how good a team they are and we're delighted with that win."

With a sea of green-clad Ireland supporters dominating the stands at a packed but wet International Stadium Yokohama, Ireland were in no mood to be nice to their Six Nations rivals.

In a brutally physical game, in which the medics were rushed off their feet, Ireland bossed the breakdown and held a commanding 19-3 lead at half-time.

As the rain's intensity increased in the second half it was Ireland who relished the deteriorating weather most with a further eight points.

Conor Murray was given a dream ride behind a rampant forward pack, directing traffic with aplomb, particularly with an on-target kicking game, and pre-match concerns about Ireland's injury-hit backline quickly evaporated.

Scotland, meanwhile, did not help themselves with a weak defensive effort while being unable to penetrate the green wall in front of them.

The bonus-point win put Ireland level with hosts Japan with their first-round victories in Pool A, and the two go head-to-head next weekend.

James Ryan, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong and Conway scored for Ireland with Johnny Sexton and Murray landing a conversion each and Jack Carty kicked a penalty.

For Scotland, Greig Laidlaw's first-half penalty was their only score.

RESULT

Ireland 27

Tries:  Ryan, Best, Furlong, Conway

Cons: Sexton, Murray

Pens: Carty

Scotland

Pens: Laidlaw

ITALY vs NAMIBIA

Italian captain Sergio Parisse became only the third man to play in five Rugby World Cups as the Six Nations team recovered from a slow start to beat minnows Namibia 47-22 on Sunday.

In blustery wind and torrential rain at times, the Six Nations outfit ultimately had too much firepower, racking up a seven-try, bonus-point win against a spirited Namibia, the World Cup's lowest-ranked team at 23.

Namibia's defence coach had promised to treat fans to an impromptu haka if his minnows pulled off a shock and it was the unfancied Welwitschias who started the brightest in the gusty Hanazono Stadium.

The underdogs were on the scoresheet with only five minutes on the clock, seizing on an overthrown line-out to produce a flowing move down the right flank finished off acrobatically by scrum-half Damian Stevens.

Italy hit back within minutes, a Parisse-inspired push-over in the scrum resulting in a penalty try as Namibia collapsed on their line.

The Italians squandered several chances in a nervy and error-strewn first half but eventually took the lead in the 26th minute as they unpicked the Namibian defence for fly-half Tommaso Allan to touch down under the posts.

The champagne moment of the match came on the stroke of half-time as Federico Ruzza's no-look pass let in Tito Tebaldi for a try, well converted to give the favourites a 21-7 lead at the break.

With the match being played on the fringes of a typhoon, rain hammered down in the early part of the second half and Italy extended their advantage almost immediately through an Edoardo Padovani try after a clever kick behind Namibian lines.

Italy never looked in danger of losing the match, scoring three further tries via Carlo Canna, Jake Polledri and Matteo Minozzi, but the spirited Namibians refused to lie down and a touch-down from winger JC Greyling was greeted with roars from the capacity crowd.

A mazy Chad Plato try under the posts gave the Namibians a final consolation score just before time.

Often Six Nations whipping boys, Italy are targeting their October 4 clash against South Africa as a possible route to reaching the knock-out stages for the first time but this inconsistent performance will not leave the Springboks unduly worried.

The 36-year-old Parisse's record-equalling fifth World Cup put him alongside fellow countryman Mauro Bergamasco and Samoan legend Brian Lima, and his 141st cap also drew him level with Irish star Brian O'Driscoll in second place on the all-time list.

RESULT

Italy 47

Tries: Penalty, Allan, Tebaldi, Padovani, Canna, Polledri, Minozzi

Cons: Allan 3, Canna 2

Namibia 22

Tries: Stevens, Greyling, Plato

Cons: Loubser 2

Pens: Loubser

NEW ZEALAND vs SOUTH AFRICA

Read the match report here.

WALLABIES vs FIJI

Read the match report here.

Player ratings here.

The Breakdown: Five talking points from AUSvFIJ

FRANCE vs ARGENTINA

France produced some champagne rugby before almost losing the plot and had to survive a last-gasp penalty to pip Argentina 23-21 in their World Cup opener on Saturday.

Flyhalf Romain Ntamack paced a schizophrenic French performance with 10 points as the three-time finalists hung on to win a pulsating Pool C clash in Tokyo and leave the Pumas staring into the abyss in the tournament's so-called 'group of death'.

Argentina, who will now likely need to beat England to avoid an early exit, almost pulled off an astonishing comeback after being sent into battle by an emotional rallying cry from football legend Diego Maradona.

Trailing by 17 points at half-time, they fell just short after a last-minute penalty from Emiliano Boffelli sailed just wide, allowing France to claim a crucial victory.

"I thought the game was finished, I thought we'd lost the game," admitted France captain Guilhem Guirado, referring to the late penalty Australian referee Angus Gardner awarded to Argentina.

"But I am very, very proud of my boys. It was a tough game tonight but we are very happy to start the competition with a win."

A cagey opening was punctuated by some bone-shuddering tackles from both sides, Argentine fly-half Nicolas Sanchez sent sprawling by prop Jefferson Poirot in a monster collision.

Lock Guido Petti was a one-man wrecking crew for the Pumas in the early skirmishes and his bulldozing run led to a 15th-minute penalty that Sanchez slotted over to put the 2015 semi-finalists on the board first.

But France hit back quickly through Gael Fickou, who showed great feet to beat two Argentina defenders and score after good work from fellow centre Virimi Vakatawa.

Their tails up, the French extended their advantage with another sumptuous try four minutes later when flying winger Damian Penaud caused panic in Argentina's defence before flipping the ball to Antoine Dupont to crash over.

Ntamack added a pair of penalties that sent Les Bleus into half-time leading 20-3, book-ending a key passage of play where France's giant front row stopped Argentina's scrum on their own goal line.

A bruising game was played in a carnival atmosphere, with many travelling fans sporting colourful national garb, including a noisy group of French fans dressed as Gallic roosters.

But Argentina were all business and came out firing in the second half as Petti marked his 50th cap by trundling over from a driving lineout to reduce the deficit.

Another driving maul allowed Julian Montoya to dive before a Benjamin Urdapilleta penalty on the hour-mark made it a two-point game.

Urdapilleta stroked another three-pointer to give Argentina the lead with 12 minutes to play, completing a remarkable turnaround.

But Camille Lopez dragged France back in front moments later with a superb drop goal that just had the legs in his first involvement after coming on.

Ntamack missed a late penalty before Boffelli hooked his long-range effort just wide to allow France to escape after an ill-tempered affair which boiled over after the final whistle as fighting broke out between the two sets of players.

Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma accused Gardner of favouring France with his decisions.

"It's a shame to be refereed like a small nation," he fumed.

"But we didn't do anything in the first half, defended badly, didn't attack well -- lost every ball into contact," added Ledesma, who was left to rue fine margins.

"We created many opportunities, scored, missed two points, missed three points in the first half. It comes down to that."

RESULT

France 23

Tries: Fickou, Dupont

Cons: Ntamack 2

Pens: Ntamack 2

Drop: Lopez

Argentina 21

Tries: Petti Pagadizaval

Cons: Urdapilletta 2, Sanchez

JAPAN vs RUSSIA

Japan beat Russia in the opening Rugby World Cup match. Photo: Getty ImagesKotaro Matsushima scored a sizzling hat-trick as hosts Japan recovered from a torrid start to beat Russia 30-10 in their Rugby World Cup opener on Friday.

Japan's prolific winger became the first player to score three tries in a World Cup opening game after a brilliant solo effort with just over 10 minutes left in Tokyo.

The Brave Blossoms looked to have caught stage fright in their the Pool A clash and found themselves behind after just five minutes before Matsushima came to the rescue by scoring three of Japan's four tries.

"Straight from the kick off they put us under extreme pressure with their gameplan, they really tested us today," said Japan captain Michael Leitch.

"I think with the nerves out of the way, we can start looking forward to (their next game against) Ireland."

Read more here.

RESULT

Japan 30

Tries: Matsushima 3, Labuschagne

Cons: Tamura, Matsuda

Pens: Tamura

Russia 10

Tries: Golosnitskiy

Cons: Kushnarev

Pens: Kushnarev

TEAMS

JAPAN vs RUSSIA

Russia coach Lyn Jones said on Wednesday he had a cunning plan to ambush hosts Japan in this week's Rugby World Cup opener, revealing only that it involves a little mayhem.

The Russians, known as the Bears, will tower over their opposite numbers when they line up in Tokyo on Friday, but few people are giving them much chance of springing an upset against the world's 10th-ranked side.

"With structured and organised sides like Japan you need to create chaos to get them to think for themselves," Jones told AFP after naming a full-strength side led by his skipper Vasily Artemyev.

"I don't know if they're educated to do that, but it's all theory anyway.

"We do have a plan," added the former Wales international.

"We have got a formula and we think we can take Japan on and make life as difficult as possible for them."

Russia gave Japan a fright the last times the teams met in November, the Brave Blossoms scraping a 32-27 victory in Gloucester.

"We just need to enter that last 20 minutes with everything to play for," said Jones.

"Let's be realistic -- there's probably a 20 percent of us winning the game," he admitted ahead of the Pool A fixture.

Jones pointed to wingers Kirill Golosnitskiy and German Davydov as potential match-winners for Russia if the Japanese fail to fire.

TEAMS

Japan to face Russia

Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Asaeli Ai Valu, Wimpie van der Walt, James Moore, Michael Leitch (capt.), Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Lomano Lava Lemeki, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, William Tupou. Reserves: Atsushi Sakate, Isileli Nakajima, Jiwon Koo, Luke Thompson, Hendrik Tui, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rikiya Matsuda, Ryohei Yamanaka

Russia to face Japan

Valery Morozov, Stanislav Selskii, Kirill Gotovtsev, Andrey Ostrikov, Bogdan Fedotko, Vitaly Zhivatov, Tagir Gadzhiev, Nikita Vavilin, Vasily Dorofeev, Yury Kushnarev, Kirill Golosnitskiy, Dmitry Gerasimov, Vladimir Ostroushko, German Davydov, Vasily Artemyev (capt.). Reserves: Evgeny Matveev, Andrei Polivalov, Azamat Bitiev, Andrey Garbuzov, Anton Sychev, Dmitry Perov, Ramil Gaisin, Vladislav Sozonov

AUSTRALIA vs FIJI

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says the experience of David Pocock and Michael Hooper earned them the chance to start together in Australia's World Cup opener against Fiji on Saturday.

Cheika said experience was the ultimate factor in deciding to pick the sevens together in the starting side and pushing Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to the bench.

"I think with the first game of the World Cup we just went with a bit of experience for this one," he said.

Read more here.

TEAMS

Wallabies to face Fiji

Scott Sio, Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt.), Isi Naisarani, Nicholas White, Christian Lealiifano, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, James O'Connor, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale. Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Genia, Matt To'omua, Dane Haylett-Petty

Fiji to face Wallabies

Campese Ma'afu, Samuel Matavesi, Peni Ravai, Tevita Cavubati, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt.), Peceli Yato, Viliame Mata, Frank Lomani, Ben Volavola, Semi Radradra, Levani Botia, Waisea Nayacalevu, Josua Tuisova, Kini Murimurivalu. Reserves: Tuvere Vugakoto, Eroni Mawi, Manasa Saulo, Tevita Ratuva, Mosese Voka, Nikola Matawalu, Alivereti Veitokani, Vereniki Goneva

FRANCE vs ARGENTINA

Toulouse young guns Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont will start at half-back as France plumped for youth for their opening Pool C match against Argentina on Saturday.

Head coach Jacques Brunel opted for goal-kicker Ntamack, 20, over Camille Lopez while 22-year-old Dupont starts at scrum half, the experienced Maxime Machenaud beating out Baptiste Serin for a place on the bench.

Lopez had started two of the three warm-up matches, but struggled with the boot, in contrast to Ntamack.

"He's started several times for us and we think that having Ntamack on for the first part of the game and Lopez the second is the most satisfactory selection," Brunel said.

Ntamack, son of emblematic ex-France winger/full-back Emile, more often than not lines up at inside centre for Toulouse, but Brunel dismissed any concern over handing him the keys to number 10.

"We have absolutely no doubt about his quality at fly-half," Brunel said of Ntamack, a key playmaker in leading the France side to glory in the World Rugby under-20 championship in 2018.

Ntamack will also take on the kicking duties, Brunel confirmed.

"He's shown that this role doesn't scare him," he said.

"He trains regularly at his club and has a convincing success rate."

Fiji-born Virimi Vakatawa slots into the centre alongside Gael Fickou, with Wesley Fofana out injured.

"Since his arrival in Japan, Virimi has been more than present and shown off his qualities in training and against opposition (versus Yamaha Jubilo on Friday), which led us to select him," Brunel said.

TEAMS

France to face Argentina

Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (capt.), Rabah Slimani, Arthur Iturria, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Yoann Huget, Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud, Maxime Medard. Reserves: Camille Chat, Cyril Baille, Demba Bamba, Bernard Le Roux, Louis Picamoles, Maxime Machenaud, Camille Lopez, Thomas Ramos

Argentina to face France

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustín Creevy, Juan Figallo, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera (capt.), Marcos Kremer, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Cubelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Ramiro Moyano, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Matias Orlando, Matías Moroni, Emiliano Boffelli. Reserves: Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Santiago Carreras

NEW ZEALAND vs SOUTH AFRICA

South African coach Rassie Erasmus predictably named his number one side on Thursday to face New Zealand in the marquee clash on the opening weekend of the World Cup.

He will roll out the same side that thrashed Japan in their final warm-up match before the tournament, a line-up that had only one change from the team that drew 16-all with New Zealand last month when Siya Kolisi was injured.

Between them, the Springboks and All Blacks have won five of the eight World Cups and Erasmus has been quite open about the game plan needed to take down his arch-rivals in their Pool B clash at Yokohama on Saturday.

Against Japan, Springbok halves Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard spent much of the time kicking the ball away so the South Africans could rehearse their defensive lines ahead of the sustained periods of attack they expect from the All Blacks.

"We've picked our best side," Erasmus said.

"It's going to be a massive challenge with the rain they're predicting.

Everyone's talking about the slippery ball and the wetness. Kicking is going to play a big part."

Erasmus believed his backline -- with a speedy outside trio of Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi -- would match whoever the All Blacks put up but the crunch area would be how his bigger forward pack handled the breakdown in the humidity as the game wore on.

"We've been working really hard on that over the last six or seven Test matches. It will be a massive challenge."

With Kolisi restored to full health he will form a powerful loose forward trio with Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit, with the tight five of Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff adding muscle.

Crusaders backline general Ryan Crotty has been preferred to Sonny Bill Williams to marshall the All Blacks in their blockbuster World Cup opener against South Africa in Yokohama on Saturday.

Williams has been relegated to the bench as has Ben Smith, with coach Steve Hansen staying with his twin playmaker system -- Beauden Barrett at fullback and Crotty's Crusader's teammate Richie Mo'unga at flyhalf.

"Any combination of players in our squad could have justified their selection," Hansen said as he named his side on Thursday for the opening Pool B clash involving two of the tournament favourites.

"But in the end we believe the 23 we have selected is the right group for this opposition," added Hansen.

"In today's rugby environment, you need to have the mindset that it's not just about who starts, it's also about what the players coming off the bench can provide."

TEAMS

New Zealand to face South Africa

Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt.), Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, George Bridge, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sevu Reece, Beauden Barrett. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Shannon Frizell, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith

South Africa to face New Zealand

Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (capt.), Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf De Klerk, Handre Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie Le Roux. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn, Jesse Kriel

ITALY vs NAMIBIA

Italy to face Namibia

Nicola Quaglio, Luca Bigi, Tiziano Pasquali, Alessandro Zanni, Federico Ruzza, Braam Steyn, Maxime Mbanda, Sergio Parisse (capt.), Tito Tebaldi, Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Padovani, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Benvenuti, Mattia Bellini, Jayden Hayward. Reserves: Oliviero Fabiani, Simone Ferrari, Marco Riccioni, Dean Budd, Jake Polledri, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Matteo Mino

Namibia to face Italy

Andre Rademeyer, Torsten George Van Jaarsveld, Johannes Coetzee, PJ Van Lill, Tjiuee Uanivi (capt.), Rohan Kitshoff, Wian Conradie, Janco Venter, Damian Stevens, Cliven Loubser, JC Greyling, Darryl De La Harpe, Justin Newman, Chad Plato, Johan Tromp. Reserves: Louis van der Westhuizen, AJ De Klerk, Nelius Theron, Johan Retief, Max Katjijeko, Eugene Jantjies, Helarius Axasman Kisting, Lesley Klim

IRELAND vs SCOTLAND

Ireland to face Scotland

Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh Van der Flier, CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Andrew Conway, Jordan Larmour. Reserves: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Jack Carty, Chris Farrell

Scotland to face Ireland

Allan Dell, Stuart McInally (capt.), Willem Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson, Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Sean Maitland, Sam Johnson, Duncan Taylor, Tommy Seymour, Stuart Hogg. Reserves: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Simon Berghan, Scott Cummings, Blade Thomson, Ali Price, Chris Harris, Darcy Graham 

ENGLAND vs TONGA

England to face Tonga 

Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Jonny May, Owen Farrell (capt.), Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph

Tonga to face England

Siegfried 'Fisiihoi, Sosefo Sakalia, Ben Tameifuna, Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita, Sione Kalamafoni, Zane Kapeli, Maama Vaipulu, Sonatane Takulua, Kurt Morath, Viliami Lolohea, Cooper Vuna, Siale Piutau, (capt.), Atieli Pakalani, David Halaifonua. Reserves: Siua Maile, Latu Talakai, Ma'afu Fia, Dan Faleafa,Nasi Manu, Leon Fukofuka, James Faiva, Nafi Tu'itavake

WALES vs GEORGIA

Wales to face Georgia

Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tom Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt.), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Josh Adams, Hadleigh Parkes, Jonathan Davies, George North, Liam Williams. Reserves: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Aaron Shingler, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams,, Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny

Georgia to face Wales

Mikheil Nariashvili (capt.), Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Konstantine Mikautadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Mamuka Gorgodze, Beka Gorgadze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Tamaz Mchedlidze, David Kacharava, Miriani Modebadze, Soso Matiashvili. Reserves: Jaba Bregvadze, Guram Gogichashvili, Levan Chilachava, Shalva Sutiashvili, Beka Saginadze, Otari Giorgadze, Gela Aprasidze, Lasha Khmaladze

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