David Pocock gives Nemani Nadolo a loving hug. Photo / Getty Images
David Pocock gives Nemani Nadolo a loving hug. Photo / Getty Images
All you need to know from the Rugby World Cup including the latest results and the All Blacks taking the easy travel route in London.
WHAT'S HAPPENED
Four days after producing the biggest upset in world rugby, Japan have failed to back it up with a disappointing second halfperformance against Scotland, going down 45-10. The five points puts Scotland top of pool B and moves South Africa down to fourth. Australia opened their campaign with a 25-13 win over Fiji but it wasn't easy. two first half tries from David Pocock put Australia in control but they failed to pile on the points scoring just three tries.
Meanwhile, South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has dropped eight players from the side that lost to Japan for their next clash with Samoa, picking a new halfback and first-five combination in Fourie du Preez and Handre Pollard.
Off the field, Argentine lock has been banned from the rest of the World Cup after being found guilty of eye gouging All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick late in Sunday's pool C clash. He's bit hit with a nine week ban.
But sport isn't about dirty tricks. Pocock showed you could win the day with his touching embrace of Fiji's Nemani Nadolo, which more than anything shows what the World Cup is all about: heart. Rugby fans, it's OK to shed a tear at this one.
David Pocock and Nemani Nadolo show sport's true heart. Photo / Getty Images
It's OK to cry, rugby fans. Photo / Getty Images
UPSETS?
A second Japan upset looked to be on after they took a 7-6 lead on the 15-minute mark when No. 8 Amanaki Mafi scored. Scotland led 12-7 at the halftime break before the Brave Blossoms wilted in the second half. Fiji also pushed Australia in the early stages but an upset never looked on as the Wallabies maintained at least a 10-point lead throughout.
AND THE ALL BLACKS?
In the final press conference before tomorrow's match against Namibia, coach Steve Hansen said it was important the All Blacks focused on improving their performance from a few days ago against Argentina at Wembley Stadium.
"Each team has to prepare in its own way. One of the things we pride ourselves on is trying to improve our performance from the previous one. We put a line in the sand as far as the World Cup goes against Argentina and the group going out on Thursday have to change that line to a higher performance level.
"We'll give Namibia total respect because that's what they deserve as another playing nation."
ON THE TUBE
Rugby fans on London's Underground would have been pleasantly surprised to find All Blacks aboard. Dan Carter tweeted a photo of himself in a carriage with Julian Savea, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, and Sonny Bill Williams.
"Better than sitting in traffic," Carter wrote.
Savea and Williams are in the starting lineup, and Read in the reserves, to play Namibia.
France look to make it two from two when the face Romania at the Olympic Stadium in a 7am kickoff. We have live updates. Tomorrow morning the younger version of the All Blacks face Namibia at the Olympic Stadium at 7am. We'll have a live blog.
