2011 Rugby World Cup: Weekly review at the end of Pool matches
12 matches were played during the week between Monday, September 26 and Sunday, October 2. With the end of this week, the pool matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) have been completed and the quarter-finalists of the global tournament have been finalised.
The week promised much more attraction than anticipated, which was characterised by upsets and injuries to star players.
The first game of the week was played between Wales and Namibia, which Wales won comprehensively with a final scorecard reading 81 – 7. The match was played at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth on September 26. This was Namibia’s last match of the tournament,
which ended their unimpressive 2011 RWC tournament.
On Tuesday, September 27, the Azzurri kept their 2011 RWC hopes alive as they defeated United States of America (USA) by 17 points. Italy defeated USA 27 – 10 at Trafalgar Park, Nelson. On Tuesday, the 2011 Pacific Nation champions, Japan, played a 23 –
all draw against Canada. The draw has really disappointed the Japan’s head coach, who was looking for a maiden win in the tournament over the Canadians.
On Wednesday, September 28, the European division one rivals, Georgia and Romania, locked horns with each other at FMG stadium, Palmerston North. Georgia defeated Romania by a margin of 16 points as they denied the Romanians their losing bonus points. The
final scorecard read 25 – 9 to end Romania’s point-less campaign in the 2011 RWC.
After an off day on Thursday, the RWC campaign was back on track as Samoa took on the Springboks on Friday, September 30. Springboks were able to maintain their winning streak, with a 13 – 5 victory over Samoa at North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City.
On Saturday, October 1, three matches were played. In the first match, Wallabies confirmed their place in the quarter-finals after comprehensively defeating the Bears at Trafalgar Park, Nelson. Wallabies handed over a thumping 46 points margin defeat to
Russia, with a final scorecard reading 68 – 22. Wallabies were playing without several of their first choice players, who missed the game due to injury.
Later on Saturday, Tonga delivered the biggest upset of the 2011 RWC tournament, as they defeated France by a five-point margin. Les Bleus won the losing bonus point, which was enough to see them through to the knockout stages of the 2011 RWC. Tonga and
France battled each other at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, as the final scorecard read 19 – 14.
Rugby’s oldest rivals, England and Scotland, went at it on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland. Scotland entered the match needing a win to keep their RWC hopes alive but England denied their rivals a win to secure place in the final eight of the tournament.
England defeated Scotland 16 – 12.
On Sunday, October 2, four RWC matches were played, which also ended the pool stage of the 2011 RWC tournament. Argentina defeated Georgia 25 – 7 to confirm their place in the quarter-finals at FMG Stadium, Palmerston North. 2011 RWC hosts, All Blacks delivered
a thrashing 64 points margin defeat to Canada with final scorecard reading 79 – 15.
Wales kept Fiji scoreless in their last pool encounter, with a final scorecard reading 66 – 0 at Waikato Stadium Hamilton. Lastly, Ireland defeated Italy, 36 – 6 to confirm their place in the quarter-finals.
The knock-out stages of the 2011 RWC will start from Saturday, October 8.
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