Pool D qualifiers: 2011 Rugby World Cup
Following their poor built-up and injury concerns for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), few would have imagined the defending world champions, Springboks, to deliver strong performances in their pool matches. In the end, Springboks and Wales make their way
to the quarterfinals from Pool D.
Springboks finished on top of Pool D, as they swept aside every other team in the pool. They also managed to bag two bonus points to finish as the leaders in the group with 18 points. Springboks, overcame Wales threat in their close 2011 RWC encounter.
After that, there was no turning back as they kept on improving. Springboks scored 166 points, which includes the 21 tries they have scored in their four matches.
At the same time, they did not let their opposition get easy scoring opportunities, which are confirmed by the fact that their opponents scored just two tries against them. Their defensive performance is also illustrated by the fact that in their four pool
matches, they conceded just 24 points. They were tested by Wales but they managed to come forth with the 17 – 16 win over them. Similarly, against Samoa the final scorecard read 13 – 5, as they kept the Samoans at bay from the upset.
Wales finished second on the pool with 15 points, as they denied Fiji from creating any sort of drama by thrashing them with a massive margin of 66 points. Besides their one point defeat, which they suffered at the hands of the Springboks, Wales have won
all of their remaining three games. They have also secured three bonus points consisting of two try bonus points and a losing bonus point.
Wales scored 180 points against their opponents, which is the highest number scored by any team in the pool. They have scored 23 tries and conceded just 4. Samoans finished third on the pool with 10 points. They won their games against Namibia and Fiji,
but suffered defeat against Wales and Springboks.
Samoa, with their 10 tries, has scored 91 points in their four pool games and conceded 49 points. They managed to win a try bonus point and losing bonus point.
Fiji earned a bonus point victory over Namibia in their 2011 RWC opener. Besides this, they failed to make any real impression as they did not even manage to secure a losing bonus point in their remaining three games. They conceded 167 points and 19 tries
while scoring only 59 points, which includes their seven tries. Six of these seven tries came in their game against Namibia.
Namibia ended their 2011 RWC campaign without a point and got a beating by every other team in the pool. On positive note, they scored 5 tries but conceded 36 tries and 266 points.
Wales will take on Ireland, while Springboks will take on the Wallabies in their quarterfinal clash.
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