KUMAMOTO, Japan The gap between the haves and have-nots in international rugby has proved difficult to bridge for most tier-two nations but Uruguay can hold hope that they are moving in the right direction after a landmark World Cup.
KUMAMOTO, Japan A scrappy Wales were made to work hard for victory against Uruguay but prevailed with a bonus point 35-13 win in Kumamoto on Sunday to top Pool D and set up a World Cup quarter-final with three-times finalists France.
KUMAMOTO, Japan As karaoke singers, Australia’s squad make fine rugby players, according to winger Reece Hodge, who would prefer to belt out the national anthem with his team mates during the World Cup quarter-finals.
FUKUOKA, Japan Crippled by administrative chaos and a coaching merry-go-round through the World Cup cycle, Samoa arrived in Japan with an ambitious goal of reaching the knockout rounds.
FUKUOKA, Japan Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said Bundee Aki was shattered that his Rugby World Cup could be over as he defended the centre's tackle that drew a red card in the 47-5 win over Samoa on Saturday.
FUKUOKA, Japan Eliminated Samoa's hopes of salvaging pride from a disappointing Rugby World Cup were dashed against Ireland on Saturday as an all-too-familiar rash of penalties hastened the Pacific islanders to a 47-5 loss.
FUKUOKA, Japan, Oct 12 Eliminated Samoa's hopes of salvaging pride from a disappointing Rugby World Cup were dashed against Ireland on Saturday as an all-too-familiar rash of penalties hastened the Pacific islanders to a 47-5 loss.
* Ireland to face New Zealand or South Africa in quarters (Adds quotes)
FUKUOKA, Japan, Oct 12 Ireland played with 14 men for 50 minutes but still eased into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a seven try, 47-5 demolition of a ragged Samoa in their final Pool A match on Saturday.
FUKUOKA, Japan A Wales team still counting the cost of their bruising win over Fiji will look to grind through Uruguay in their final Pool D clash in Kumamoto on Sunday to secure top spot in the group and a kinder path through the knockout rounds.
The United States said on Sunday it will withdraw its remaining 1,000 troops from northern Syria in the face of a Turkish offensive and Syria's army struck a deal with Kurdish forces to redeploy along its border with Turkey, both major victories for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.