Tag: London

England got their WXV campaign off to a winning start beating Australia 42-7 last Friday; They come up against Canada on Friday in the second of their three games in New Zealand

England Women’s interim head coach Louis Deacon has praised the changes made by the World Rugby Council saying it will help the women’s game grow.

The transformational reforms for the women’s game mean there will be no overlap between international and club fixtures for the first time from 2026.

It will allow for clearly defined global and regional player release periods in the women’s game which will promote opportunity and growth ahead of an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.

“This is massively exciting for the women’s game that these things have been put in place, really positive, it shows that it is continuing to grow and it will mean the players can solely focus on international periods or domestic periods,” said Deacon.

Red Roses captain Marlie Packer echoed this sentiment saying it will allow players will benefit from a schedule which should see less fixture congestion.

“The players will get a proper rest period so we can come into our pre-season ready to do,” Packer said.

“Calendars won’t be overlapping with each other which means seasons can be prolonged or extended or we have a quick turn around of tournaments.

“It’s about the welfare of the players and I think it’s a really good thing that will happen to the game.”

The Red Roses will continue their inaugural WXV campaign this Friday when they take on Canada after kicking off the tournament with an emphatic 42-7 victory over Australia last Friday.

England have made nine changes to their starting line-up for their second match of the WXV 1 tournament against Canada on Friday.

Canada also began their WXV campaign with an impressive 42-22 win over Wales, but lost to England in their two pre-season matches, albeit the scoreline becoming tighter each time.

“Canada are a very athletic side, and their set-piece is very good. For me the standout player is Sophie de Goede, she can make anything happen. The way she plays the game and sees the game is exceptional,” said Packer.

Canada captain De Goede scored the opening try within four minutes and added six conversions in her side’s opening game against Wales.

England got their WXV tournament campaign off to a winning start with a 42-7 victory over Australia

During England’s game against Australia, Packer scored two tries and keeps her place in the side while full-back Ellie Kildunne – who has three tries in her last two outings against the Canadians – and wing Claudia MacDonald return to the back three, alongside Abby Dow.

Helena Rowland switches to outside centre where she will join Amber Reed in midfield, with scrum-half Natasha Hunt named as Holly Aitchison’s half-back partner.

“When you have got a squad of 30 players, you need to have players that are adaptable. In our first game it was about giving people opportunities and that was one of the combinations we looked at,” said Deacon.

“Players need to be versatile when you have 30 available, so that’s why we’ve moved Helena around.”

A fresh front row sees Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern start, while Cath O’Donnell is back in the second row beside Zoe Aldcroft.

Morwenna Talling is selected at blindside flanker as captain Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews continue at openside flanker and No 8 respectively.

“Every player will be ready for the game, just because we have played Canada twice won’t make us any less aware of what we’re going into and we have to put a good performance in,” said Packer.

“We’ve been training with each other and there’s been a lot of time to discuss things but whatever 15-players go out there, I know they will do the job.

“We’re striving to be the best version of ourselves and it doesn’t matter about who has started and who hasn’t.”

Red Roses line-up: 15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), 14. Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), 13. Helena Rowland – vice-captain (Loughborough Lightning), 12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), 11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), 10. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), 9. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury)

1. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), 2. Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), 4. Zoe Aldcroft – vice-captain (Gloucester-Hartpury), 5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), 6. Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), 7. Marlie Packer – captain (Saracens), 8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury)

Replacements: 16. Connie Powell (Harlequins), 17. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), 18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), 19. Rosie Galligan (Saracens), 20. Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), 21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens), 22. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), 23. Jess Breach (Saracens)

In a study of the brains of 31 former players, CTE was present in 21 of the brains (68 per cent) donated to research institutes in the USA, UK & Australia; Professor Willie Stewart: “Our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing risk”

A player’s risk of developing an incurable brain disease uniquely associated with repeated head impacts is relative to the length of their career, a new study indicates.

Each additional year of playing was found to increase the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by 14 per cent, in a study of the brains of 31 former players whose average career length was 18 years.

CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem, and to date the only recognised risk factor for CTE is traumatic brain injury and repeated head impact exposure.

The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica in the week of the Rugby World Cup final, found CTE present in 21 of the 31 brains (68 per cent) donated to research institutes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Cases with CTE averaged a career length of 21.5 years, while in those without CTE the average was 12.1 years.

The study’s lead author Professor Willie Stewart said: “In this study, we have combined the experience and expertise of three leading international brain banks to look at CTE in former rugby players.

“These results provide new evidence regarding the association between rugby union participation and CTE. Specifically, our data shows risk is linked to length of rugby career, with every extra year of play increasing risk.

“Based on this it is imperative that the sport’s regulators reduce exposure to repeated head impacts in match play and in training to reduce risk of this otherwise preventable contact sport related neurodegenerative disease.”

Twenty-three of the players played at amateur level only, while eight also played at the elite level. The study found no correlation between the level the individual had played at and an increased risk of CTE, nor between whether they played as a forward or a back.

World Rugby is exploring ways to mitigate the risk of concussion and improve how diagnosed or suspected concussions are managed.

The governing body’s executive board has recommended that unions participate in an opt-in global trial of lowering the tackle height in the community game to below the sternum – also known as a “belly tackle”.

World Rugby also promotes a ‘recognise and remove’ approach to dealing with concussion in the amateur game, while it has detailed return-to-play protocols at that level and in the elite game.

A group of former professional and amateur players diagnosed with early-onset dementia are involved in legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union.

The players claim the governing bodies were negligent in that they failed to take reasonable action to protect them from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows.

A World Rugby spokesperson said: “World Rugby is aware of the findings from the University of Glasgow study and we are committed to always being informed by the latest science.

“Our Independent Concussion Working Group recently met with Boston University representatives, including Professor Ann McKee, alongside other world leading brain health experts, to continue our dialogue on how we can make the game safer for the whole rugby family.

“What all the experts told our Independent Concussion Working Group was, that we should continue to reduce the number of head impacts, and that is exactly what we will do.

“World Rugby will never stand still when it comes to protecting players’ brain health which is why community players around the globe are taking part in trials of a lower tackle height this season.

“It is also why we have rolled out the use of world leading smart mouthguard technology in WXV, our new elite women’s competition, and from 2024 all elite competitions using the Head Injury Assessment will use smart mouthguards, in addition to the current independent doctors and in-game video footage to ensure that players are receiving the best possible care.”

Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley, with a public consultation planned next month; Wasps have been without a permanent home since leaving Coventry when they were suspended from all competitions last year

Former Premiership giants Wasps have announced their intention to explore the
possibility of establishing a permanent home in Kent.

The club, who were removed from the Premiership last year after falling into administration, say they are “actively engaged” with Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location.

A prospective move to Kent would mark another geographical shift for the club, who played most of their 156-year history in London, before moving to High Wycombe in 2002 and Coventry in 2014.

Wasps, who are two-time European champions and six-time Premiership winners, had £95m worth of debts when the club went into administration and said this decision “signifies a new chapter in the club’s journey, reaffirming its commitment to professional rugby”.

A statement read: “Having faced significant challenges with regulation and funding, the club has persisted with its determination to revive Wasps at the highest possible level.”

The club has also agreed an option of utilising Worcester Warriors’ Sixways ground for both training and playing purposes, while Wasps say they will be actively exploring temporary facilities to underpin its operations in Kent.

A Sevenoaks District Council spokesman said Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley, with a public consultation planned next month.

Wasps played their home games in Coventry before dropping out of the Premiership

“As a top-tier club, with an international profile, we firmly believe this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the spokesman added.

“Wasps would bring unparalleled economic, sports development, health, education, and skills benefits to the district and we are keen to explore how that could be achieved.”

It has yet to be confirmed what level of the league pyramid Wasps will be able to return to.

Ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, we take a look at some reasons for optimism; England vs South Africa takes place on Saturday (8pm kick-off UK time); the match in Paris is a repeat of the 2019 final which the Springboks won

The beauty of knockout rugby is that there is always an upset on the cards and an England win on Saturday could be one for the ages.

Despite being a finalist against South Africa back in 2019, England’s form has significantly dipped, fresh faces and a fresh coaching team headed by Steve Borthwick now helping to drive a side which entered the competition with very little expectations on them from fans.

‘They won’t get out of the group,’ was the first cry, then it was ‘Fiji will get them in the quarter-finals like they did at Twickenham’, now it is ‘South Africa will cruise past England in the semi-finals’.

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England head coach, Steve Borthwick backs his players to succeed against South Africa in their Rugby World Cup semi-final on Saturday and has hailed their progression throughout the tournament

The first two statements were proven to be incorrect and England will believe they can also prove the third as false too. Let’s take a look at why…

Producing a performance too early: Building towards the big dance

Throughout the years in the Rugby World Cup, several nations have performed magnificently in the last four, before failing to hit the same heights in the final. They’ve been said almost to have played their final in the semi-finals.

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Former England winger Mark Cueto does not rule out an England victory against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final and says all the pressure is on favourites South Africa.

This year, the script was slightly different as two of the quarter-finals produced final-esque clashes.

Ireland and New Zealand had fans at the edge of their seat in a war of attrition which the All Blacks ultimately won before France and South Africa dazzled with their skill and the Springboks edged by just one point. Both games set new heights and brought with it all the emotion that the latter stages of tournament rugby bring.

For England, their quarter-final was a slightly more muted contest against Fiji and it could be something which helps them come Saturday.

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James Cole has all the latest news ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-finals as Freddie Steward is set to be recalled by England in place of Marcus Smith.

Being on the opposite side of the draw to the tough Pool B, England’s group has not been where the eyes and attention have been focused and with each match, they have built confidence while flying slightly under the radar.

Knockout rugby is about backing performances up and while Ireland dazzled in their win against South Africa and France looked like a tournament favourite, both sides couldn’t bring it home in the moment it mattered.

England have made it to the big dance before and will have the confidence they have the know-how and the rugby smarts to do it again.

Picking up points: Farrell vs Libbok

Although everyone loves to see dazzling tries like those in the opening 20 minutes of the France-South Africa quarter-final but in big matches, it is paramount to pick up points when they are on offer and so focus always turns to the place kicker.

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South Africa have announced their line up for the World Cup semi-final against England.

Indeed, with the way in which Owen Farrell has been kicking from the tee recently, especially in his man-of-the-match performance against Fiji, it is one of England’s big strengths heading into Saturday.

Starting South Africa fly-half Manie Libbok has kicked dreadfully in the World Cup to date, and the man who has often taken over the duties in Faf de Klerk is sat on the bench.

Meanwhile, Farrell’s accuracy has improved as the tournament has unfolded and the England skipper knows how to step up on the big occasions.

The Springboks if required would call on Handre Pollard from the bench but if England have managed to take the contest that deep and make it about the tightest of points margins, they will be happy to have Farrell on their side.

Strength in depth: Avenging the 2019 loss

England’s Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa in 2019 was a heartbreaking one and most certainly will be fuel for the fire on Saturday.

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England captain Owen Farrell says that the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa on Saturday is a new challenge and nothing to do with the 2019 final when the two teams met in Japan.

The squad will want to avenge that moment and with Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola, and George Ford all involved in the matchday 23 from four years ago, there will be an abundance of desire in the dressing room to get the job done.

The experienced members of the squad who carry that scar will be alongside an abundance of youth too that carry no extra weight into the contest and so the coupling of the two could work out to be the driving force behind an England victory.

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Sky Sports News’ James Cole previews England’s semi-final clash against South Africa at the Rugby World Cup.

Freddie Steward is back in the side in place of Marcus Smith and the full-back will try and nullify the dangerous high kicks that South Africa can produce.

If the effort matches the energy and the stars align, England will believe they can continue their unbeaten run in this Rugby World Cup.

On Saturday in Paris, we will find out if this is the case.

New Zealand have made two changes for their World Cup semi-final showdown against Argentina on Friday with Mark Telea and Sam Whitelock coming into the starting XV.

Telea was left out the All Blacks’ 28-24 quarter-final victory over Ireland after breaching team protocols.

The 26-year-old starts on the left flank in place of Leicester Fainga’anuku, who drops out of the matchday 23, despite scoring the first of the Kiwis’ three tries against the Irish.

Veteran second-row Whitelock swaps roles with Brodie Retallick in the other alteration to Ian Foster’s starting XV to win his 152nd cap. Retallick is on the bench.

Samisoni Taukei’aho takes the spot of fellow hooker Dane Coles among the replacements.

New Zealand players celebrate after beating No 1 side Ireland last weekend

Head coach Foster has warned his players “not to get softened” by the acclaim which followed their thrilling win over Ireland.

“The best way to recover is to refocus really quickly on what the next challenge is and not to listen too much to any praise you’re given as a group for a performance,” said Foster, who was assistant to Steve Hansen four years ago when New Zealand lost to England in the semi-finals.

“Not to go down that path, not to get softened because everyone’s patting you on the back saying you played well.

“That’s not a good place to be as a team.

“I love the way the team has buckled down, we’ve redefined the challenge for us as a group, we’re not satisfied with where we are now and when you’re clear about your goal for the week the recovery comes along pretty quickly.

“You know that if we’re not right on Friday night at Stade de France, it’s going to be a sad old night and we don’t want it to be like that.

“You get people talking to you about tomorrow and trying to take your eyes off today.

“In 2019 we probably didn’t stop being patted on the back after the quarter-final, hence some of my language today and we’re just trying to dial this back, keep things simple and let’s just worry about Friday.”

Argentina have shaken off a dismal opening-game loss to England to advance to the semi-finals

The Pumas have swapped Gonzalo Bertranou to start ahead of Tomas Cubelli in anticipation of a much faster game than when they overcame Wales 29-17 in Marseille.

There are seven survivors from their last World Cup semi-final in 2015, a loss to an Australia team coached by current Pumas mentor Michael Cheika.

The list includes Matias Alemanno, Agustin Creevy, Tomas Lavanini, Nicolas Sanchez, Guido Petti, captain Julian Montoya and No 8 Facundo Isa, who will play his 50th Test.

Another sell-out crowd of 80,000 fans is expected in Paris for what will be the third World Cup encounter between the two sides, and their second in the knockout stages.

The teams met earlier this year in Mendoza, where the All Blacks opened the Test season with a 41-12 win.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (c), 8 Ardie Savea.

Replacements: 16 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou; 1 Facundo Isa; 2 Marcos Kremer, 3 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 5 Guido Petti, 6 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 7 Julian Montoya (c), 8 Thomas Gallo.

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni.

Rugby World Cup – remaining fixtures

Friday October 20

SEMI-FINAL – Argentina vs New Zealand (8pm, Paris)

Saturday October 21

SEMI-FINAL – England vs South Africa (8pm, Paris)

Friday October 27

3rd Place Play-off – Semi-Final 1 Runner-Up vs Semi-Final 2 Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)

Saturday October 28

FINAL – Semi-Final 1 Winner vs Semi-Final 2 Winner (8pm, Paris)

France captain Antoine Dupont has been named to start vs South Africa in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday, a little over three weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Thibaud Flament, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana

More to follow…

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Rugby World Cup – Pool B: Scotland’s last chance; Ireland under pressure? Pool C: Fiji to formally dump Wallabies out? Wales already through; Pool A: Italy’s unlikely shot vs Les Bleus; All Blacks well placed; Pool D: England assured of top spot; Argentina, Japan fight it out for QF

We look ahead to a crucial week of Rugby World Cup action, as Scotland and Italy face last chances, while Ireland, hosts France and Fiji may be feeling a bit of pressure…

Pool B: Scotland’s last chance; Ireland under pressure?

Only one place to start with ahead of the final weekend of pool stage fixtures, and that’s the group of death in Pool B, where one of Scotland, Ireland or South Africa will exit the tournament on Saturday.

The trio came into the World Cup all inside the world’s top five in terms of rankings (Ireland No 1, South Africa No 2, Scotland No 5), but a brute of a draw has been handed their way.

With the Springboks having completed their pool fixture schedule last Sunday with a 49-18 win over Tonga in Marseille, they must watch on as Ireland and Scotland face off at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday (8pm kick off BST).

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Watch as Australia and South Africa responded to defeats with wins over Portugal and Tonga

With South Africa having already beaten Scotland 18-3 during the first weekend, Gregor Townsend’s Scots must beat Ireland to stand any hope of reaching the quarter-finals, but owing to the fact Ireland beat South Africa 13-8 two weeks ago, Scotland must beat Ireland and also deny them a losing bonus point.

The odds are on Scotland exiting, therefore, but a win of eight points or more will see Scotland leapfrog Ireland and leave Andy Farrell’s side stranded and out of the World Cup.

There is also one highly unlikely scenario where Ireland and Scotland may both progress at South Africa’s expense, and that is if the Scots beat Ireland by at least 21 points, achieve a try bonus-point in doing so (at least four tries), and Ireland also pick up a try bonus-point of their own in defeat.

Ireland recorded a superb victory over South Africa in their last match

An Ireland victory of any kind will see them top Pool B, and face a likely quarter-final against New Zealand. The runner-up in this pool is likely to face hosts France in the quarters…

Pool C: Fiji need a point to formally dump Wallabies out; Wales already through

After stellar performances in defeat against Wales and victory vs Australia, Fiji looked like a side inhibited by the pressure of expectation last week against Georgia.

Indeed, the Flying Fijians could easily have lost the Test on the day, but did recover in the end to crucially win 17-12 in Bordeaux.

The fact Fiji failed to pick up a bonus-point in victory means there is still work for them to do heading into the final weekend, despite Australia losing twice already to Fiji and Wales.

Fiji eventually picked up a crucial victory over Georgia last weekend, but it was a nervy display

Fiji face Portugal on Sunday in Toulouse (8pm kick off BST), and need a solitary point – either a victory, try bonus point or losing bonus point – to make sure of their quarter-final place and Australia’s first ever pool stage exit from a Rugby World Cup.

Portugal have given Wales and Australia scares already in this World Cup, and so Fiji will hope to put on a show and gain some confidence ahead of a likely quarter-final meeting with England, which would represent a first knock-out appearance since 2007.

Fiji could still overtake Wales and top the pool, if Warren Gatland’s charges – who are already qualified – lose to Georgia on Saturday (2pm kick off BST) in Nantes, and Fiji pick up a bonus-point success.

Pool A: Italy’s unlikely shot vs Les Bleus; All Blacks well-placed

And what of Pool A? Italy were always going to have two chances to progress to the quarter-finals once they won their initial two fixtures against Namibia and Uruguay with bonus points, but the first of those was obliterated in embarrassing fashion last week, as the Azzurri suffered a 96-17 defeat to New Zealand.

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The best of the action from New Zealand’s huge win against Italy at the Rugby World Cup

Italy remain just three points behind France in the Pool A table, however, as Les Bleus failed to beat Uruguay with a bonus point, and the Azzurri face France on Friday in Lyon (8pm kick off BST) knowing victory will dump the hosts and favourites out of their home World Cup.

Les Bleus are likely to be without skipper Antoine Dupont for that clash, and may well be a little nervous heading into the contest, albeit they will still heavily back themselves to pick up the victory required to progress.

The All Blacks face Uruguay on Thursday in Lyon (8pm kick off BST), where victory will guarantee them a quarter-final place.

Pool D: England assured of top spot; Argentina and Japan fight it out for last-eight place

Lastly to Pool D, where England are assured of top spot and progression to the quarters already ahead of their final pool fixture against Samoa on Saturday in Lille (4.45pm kick off BST).

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Highlights of Japan against Samoa at the Rugby World Cup – a result which sent England into the quarter-finals

Argentina and Japan are both locked on nine points, five below England, meaning even an England defeat and bonus-point wins for either will see them finish beneath Steve Borthwick’s men owing to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The final game of the pool sees the Pumas face the Brave Blossoms on Sunday in Nantes (12pm kick off BST) in a winner-takes-all clash for the final quarter-final slot and a likely meeting with Wales.

England are now through to the quarter-finals after Japan beat Samoa; Japan are now in second place in Pool D after the 28-22 victory; Samoa’s Ben Lam was handed a red card in the second half for a dangerous tackle

England qualified for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup after Japan saw off 14-man Samoa 28-22 in Toulouse to keep alive their own hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.

The Brave Blossoms go on to face Argentina in the final round of Pool D matches – and only one of them will join Steve Borthwick’s side, who are confirmed as group winners ahead of their clash with Samoa due to their superior head-to-head record, in the knockout phase.

Japan, who reached the last eight for the first time four years ago as hosts, opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Pieter Labuschagne stretched over in the corner and Rikiya Matsuda converted.

A penalty from D’Angelo Leuila got Samoa, without captain Chris Vui through a late change, on the board, but Matsuda’s kick soon restored Japan’s advantage.

Michael Leitch added another try in the corner before Samoa’s Jonathan Taumateine was sent to the sin bin after a shoulder barge in the build-up.

Michael Leitch was on the list of try scorers for Japan that helped Japan hold off a fightback from Samoa

Japan hooker Shota Horie was then shown a yellow card for making head-on-head contact as he stood up in a challenge with Seilala Lam, which went to the TMO for a bunker review but was not upgraded.

Samoa – whose final pool match with England is in Lille on October 7 – made the most of their man advantage, Lam touching down following a driving maul to go into the break trailing 17-8.

Samoa soon found themselves a man down when Ben Lam was sent to the sin bin after the TMO spotted a high tackle into the side of Labuschagne’s head.

Japan extended their lead as Kazuki Himeno was driven over in the corner, but the usually reliable Matsuda failed to convert.

Things then got worse for Samoa when Lam’s card was upgraded to a red before Matsuda again found his range to push Japan further in front at 25-8.

Kotaro Matsushima sprinted clear for what Japan thought was a bonus-point try, but it was ruled out for the slightest of knock-ons from Dylan Riley in the build-up.

Rikiya Matsuda converted three of his side’s tries as they took another step closer to progression

Samoa, though, kept themselves in touch as Duncan Paia’aua went over in the corner, which Leuila converted from a tight angle only for fly-half Matsuda to push Japan clear again with another long-range penalty.

The 14 men battled on and pulled the deficit back again when Christian Leali’ifano dived over and then converted his own try, but Japan held out to set up a potential winner-takes-all showdown with Argentina in Nantes.

What’s Next?

Next up for Samoa is a clash with England on October 7 in Lille, with kick-off at 4.45pm BST.

For Japan, a big clash with Argentina awaits on Sunday October 8 in Nantes, with kick-off at 12pm BST.