Pool A qualifiers: 2011 Rugby World Cup
The pool phase of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) has ended on Sunday, October 2. From Pool A, the 2011 RWC hosts and World Number One ranked All Blacks have progressed to the last eight of the global show piece tournament. They are accompanied by France,
who has also claimed a spot in the quarter-finals of the event.
Besides New Zealand and France, Pool A consisted of Tonga, Canada and Japan. The 2011 International Rugby Board (IRB) Pacific Nations Cup winners, Japan, ended their campaign without securing a win. The result has shocked the management and fans and particularly
their coach, who was confident of his team managing to win at least two games in the tournament.
Canada played a 23 – 23 draw with Japan in their last pool match of the tournament and the squad conceded their showdown against Tonga by 13 points. On the other hand, Canada enjoyed a relatively better 2011 RWC tournament. They opened their 2011 RWC campaign,
with an upset victory over the Pacific Islanders, Tonga. Canada registered the first upset of the tournament as they defeated the Tonga 25 – 20.
Tonga finished their 2011 RWC campaign on a strong note particularly considering the fact that they had a very poor start to their campaign, as they lost both of their opening encounters consecutively. Tonga lost their first two games against All Blacks
and Canada and bounced back strongly to finished third on the Pool A tables.
Tonga delivered probably the biggest upset of the tournament as they defeated the France in their last pool match of the tournament. France managed to secure a losing bonus point, which was enough to confirm them a place in the last eight of the tournament
even though Tonga beat France 19 – 14.
Les Bleus were involved in two crucial matches in the tournament. Following their shocking defeat at the hands of the Tongans that will find a permanent place in the rugby record books, their pool match encounter against the All Blacks drew massive attention.
France knocked out the All Blacks from the 2007 RWC as they defeated New Zealand in the quarter-finals. The match was payback as All Blacks ensured their dominance over their European world cup rivals at the fortress in Eden Park, Auckland.
All Blacks were simply the most impressive team of all pools. They have secured the maximum points from each match, which means they have secured four bonus point wins that has helped them to finish on top of the pool with 20 points.
France finished second with 11 points, while Tonga, Canada, and Japan finished 3rd, 4th and 5th with 9, 6, and 2 points respectively.
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