Portugal beat quarter-finalists Fiji to earn first World Cup win in classic

By Nick Powell, Online Editor Fiji……………………………………………23 Tries: Botia 48, Doge 68 Conversions: Lomani 49, 69 Penalties: Lomani 10, 74, 76 Portugal……………………………………24...

Tonga end tournament with exciting Romania victory

By Tom Jeffreys Tonga……………………………………………45 Tries: Kata 11, 66; Moala 15, Taumoepeau 22, Vailanu 49, Ahki 62, Taumoefolau 71 Conversions: Havili 13,...

Carreras hat-trick sends Argentina through with entertaining win

By Matthew Luddington Japan…………………………………………..27 Tries: Fakatava 16, Saito 38, Naikabula 65 Conversion: Matsuda 17, 39, 67 Penalties: Matsuda 52 Drop Goals:...

Farrell so sorry for shot clock blunder

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Lille Skipper Owen Farrell vowed never to repeat his blunder that could have cost nervy England victory...

Wales top pool but Faletau ruled out

By BEN JAYCOCK Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after breaking his arm in...

Sweeney backing for a strong second tier

By PAUL REES Bill Sweeney has pledged Twickenham’s support for the Championship but said the level of funding for the second...

Championship clubs raise RFU concerns

The Championship clubs held an emergency session on Wednesday to discuss the way ahead in the context of both the progress...

Slade out to inspire the next generation

By MARK STEVENS Henry Slade says he will use the heartbreak of missing out on selection for this year’s Rugby World...

Spencer keeps the armband at Bath

By JON NEWCOMBE Ben Spencer says it is “a huge privilege” to lead Bath into a second season, and is grateful...

The Great Escape! Veteran Care gets England out of jail

By NICK CAIN England ........................................... 18pts Tries: Chessum 9, Care 73 Conversions: Farrell 74 Penalties: Farrell 18, 58 Samoa ............................................. 17pts...

Not enough clarity, too much confusion

PAUL REES A victory but a step backwards. After three matches that were largely stress free, Danny Care burgled Samoa with...

Majestic Ireland blow Scots away

By TOM BRADSHAW Ireland........................... 36pts Tries: Lowe 2, Keenan 26, 39; Henderson 32, Sheehan 44, Ringrose 58 Conversions: Sexton 27, 33,...

Carreras gets vote at No.10 for Pumas

PREVIEW... Japan v Argentina Today. Kick-off 12pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes It is winner takes all in Nantes today to...

Moala makes his World Cup debut

PREVIEW... Tonga v Romania Today. Kick-off 4.45pm Stade Pierre-Mauroy ROMANIA head coach Eugen Apjok has made nine changes as hooker Ovidiu...

Fiji need just one point to qualify

Preview Fiji v Portugal Today. KO 8pm Stadium de Toulouse FIJI require one point from today’s match to qualify for the...

Wales finish with a flourish

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales................................. 43pts Tries: Francis 16, Williams 23, Rees-Zammit 43, 67, 74; North 80 Conversions: Costelow 17, 24, 44,...

I expect Wales to make semi-finals

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND SHANE WILLIAMS JOB done for Wales in Nantes, but no cigar! Six tries, five points and a...

Epic match in store as Ireland sharpen claws

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK An Ireland v New Zealand quarter-final is a mouthwatering prospect, especially after Andy Farrell’s...

Jones happy with Aussie courage

Australia......... 34 Portugal ...........14 AUSTRALIA secured a bonus-point win to keep their slim chances of reaching the quarter-finals alive despite a...

Italy crushed by rampant France

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER France.................................60pts Tries: Penaud 2, 37; Bielle-Biarrey 12, Ramos 21, Jalibert 46, Mauvaka 53, Moefana 63, 75 Conversions: Ramos...

Ludlam lays down the law

AMAZON’S documentary, which covers the play-off stages of last season’s Premiership, is out next week and TRP understands Lewis Ludlam’s team...

Steve’s climbing the ladder

ONE of the constants of England training is Steve Borthwick’s ladder which has travelled all around France with the team. The...

Romanians warm up with final lunch

ROMANIA’S team had conceded 242 points, and scored just eight, in their three pool matches ahead of today’s against Tonga. They...

Steward tees up for the south

■ JUST like in Japan four years ago, which had the Olympics following a Rugby World Cup, this tournament has felt,...

Dutch students enjoy their day trip to Lille

WORLD Cup organisers reported significant ticket sales for games in Lille from the Netherlands and one student rugby club, TSRC Tarantula...

Beers help dull pain

ENGLAND fans were pouring into Lille on Friday, via Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, and were greeted by volunteers Victoria...

Codling’s happy to keep faith with youth

By PAUL REES Alex Codling has given his young players exposure in the Premiership Cup and that trend will continue when...

Walsh sparks Ospreys

URC Friendlies THE Ospreys continued their pre-season preparations with a slender 28-26 victory over Cardiff. Cardiff led at half-time thanks to...

Banking analysis causes uproar

Santander, the Spanish-owned British banking giants, has caused fury among leading Championship clubs after producing a report to attract investment for...

Itoje is too expensive for French

French clubs have gone cold on signing England and Lions lock Maro Itoje when his contract with Premiership champions Saracens runs...

Racing 92 will fight to keep Arundell

BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 will fight any attempts by Gloucester and Bath to lure England international Henry Arundell back to...

Championship clubs look to Cohen to raise profile

Championship clubs have asked former Leicester Tigers chief executive, players agent and legal eagle Simon Cohen to help them maximise their...

Biarritz offer deal to Petch

Former Exeter and Northampton tighthead Alfie Petch is heading to France after joining Biarritz as a medical joker on a contract...

Leicester’s new launch

Leicester have announced that they will launch their first-ever Down Syndrome rugby team later this month to mark awareness month for...

Dream Team with Alex Dolly

Alex Dolly, the Doncaster Knights and former Fylde, Rotherham, Jersey & Nottingham scrum-half, chooses the best XV he has played with...

Magic money tree can’t last for ever

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK BILL Sweeney does not much care for accountability. It is why his first...

Pellegrini shows the depth of talent

Pat Pellegrini’s beautifully taken chip-and-chase try for Tonga against South Africa in last weekend’s World Cup clash in Marseille was a...

Saracens go on rampage to cut down Hartpury

By MO SHER Saracens ..........68pts Tries: Segun 16, 32; Hartley 47, Adejimi 51, 58, Davies 54, Knight 61, 78; Stonham 73,...

Impressive Bath start to show their worth

By MARK STEVENS Bath .................................. 34pts Tries: Annett 4, De Glanville 15, Francis 36, Muir 39, Ojomoh 76 Conversions: Francis 5,...

Anderson hits the heights to steer Quins home

By LUKE JARMYN Nottingham...... 21pts Tries: Valentine 26, Tiueti 38, Stronge 41 Conversions: Hollingsworth 27, 39, 42 Harlequins ...... 45pts Tries:...

Blues tame the Tigers for first time in over 40 years

By DAVID THOMPSON Bedford ............ 47pts Tries: Litchfield 3, Howard 13, Adamson 47, Worley 49, King 60, Conway 70, French 80...

We need to hit ground running, says Waller

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Northampton Saints v Doncaster Knights Today. Kick-off 2.15pm, Franklin’s Gardens Hard work ahead: Northampton prop Ethan Waller...

Clinical Pirates are too strong for Scottish

By MO SHER London Scots ..14pts Tries: Mehson 61, Panday 77 Conversions: Haydon 62, 78 Cornish P ..........50pts Tries: Dugmore 8,...

Sharks pack just has too much bite for battling Mob

By KEVIN MILLER Sale ................... 64pts Tries: James 2, Dugdale 11, 24, 30, 61, Taylor 15, Bedlow 40, 67, Carpenter 69,...

Galloping Reeves races in to steal it for Gloucester

By PAUL SMITH Gloucester ........................32pts Tries: Hillmann-Cooper 7, Hearle 14, Clement 34, 58; Reeves 79 Conversions: Hastings 14, Barton 58 Penalties:...

16-try Bristol go on a spree to demolish Cambridge

By ROGER PANTING Bristol ................98pts Tries: Thacker 4, 19, 35, Lane 10, 47, Bradbury 12, Caulfied 15, Thomas 24, 51, 60,...

Falcons call up young guns for Caldy clash

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Newcastle v Caldy Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Kingston Park Ready to go: Ben Douglas makes his first start...

‘Fantastic to be part of Exeter’s rise to the top’

The former Exeter Chiefs number eight talks about his life in the game When I made my Exeter debut against Fylde...

Sacrificial lambs who took one for the team

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED RUGBY being a hard old game even when things are going your way, the willingness to suffer...

Bunker mentality makes it easier for refs

Where football leads, rugby inevitably follows. So when can we expect the equivalent of a VAR cock-up to lord it over...