Rugby World Cup: Seven things to know going into tonight

The All Blacks next play Namibia on Friday morning. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The first batch of Rugby World Cup games are done and dusted, and Scott Yeoman looks at seven things you need to know going into tonight.

1. Upcoming games

There are no games until Thursday morning (NZ time). After Sunday morning's stunner, I'm most excited about Scotland v. Japan at 1.30am. The Brave Blossoms will be looking to cause another upset, while the Scots will see this game as a chance to get one up on the Springboks and increase their chances of finishing first in Pool B. The sold-out match is being played at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester. The TAB has Scotland paying $1.16 for the win, while a Japanese win is paying $4.50. Could be worth a dabble.

2. The All Blacks post-match presser

The All Blacks will hold a press conference at 10.30pm tonight (NZ time) at their luxury London headquarters, The Lensbury. Follow all updates from the press conference online at: nzherald.co.nz.

3. The All Blacks' next game

After their 26-16 win over Argentina this morning, the All Blacks' next fixture is against Namibia on Friday morning at 7am at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Namibia is paying $41 for the win at the TAB. Chris Rattue has compiled his player ratings from this morning's game.

4. Welsh injuries

Wales suffered a spate of devastating injuries in their 54-9 victory against Uruguay this morning. Centre Cory Allen's World Cup is likely over after he sustained a hamstring injury, props Samson Lee and Paul James have calf concerns and Aaron Jarvis, who replaced James, popped a rib cartilage and played the last 20 minutes of the game in severe pain. Fullback Liam Williams also went off injured, adding to Wales' woes which included losing star backs Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb before the tournament began. Wales' next match is against a full-strength England side on Sunday morning at 8am (NZ time) at Twickenham.

5. The standings

6. The teams yet to play

Scotland's first pool game is against the Brave Blossoms on Thursday morning at 1.30am (NZ time). Meanwhile, the Wallabies' World Cup campaign kicks off a little later that morning against Fiji at 3.45am, and Romania has their first game against France at 7am. Namibia will face off against the All Blacks in their World Cup opener on Friday morning at 7am.

7. Weather

After a weekend of mostly fine weather for the opening World Cup games in England and Wales, this week's BBC weather forecast is a little grimmer. Bands of rain, with some heavy showers, are expected on Monday and Tuesday but that looks to be clearing in time for Wednesday night's game between Australia and Fiji in Cardiff. Not that it matters, however, as this game will be played under the Millennium Stadium roof. More rain and stronger winds are expected for Thursday, but are forecast to pass by the time the All Blacks and Namibia kick off at 8pm (local time) in London.

EXTRA TIME - Cartoons after South Africa's loss to Japan.

*NZ Herald: With cherries on top
*Jerm: Flying the flag at half-mast
*Zapiro: All Blacks Firm Favourites for RWC 2015