South Africa are unable to find any chinks in the armour of the world champions as they are swept aside in YokohamaQuickly recall the epitaphs. Those wondering aloud whether the All Blacks were vulnerable, whether they still hold the mantle, have their answer. With one absorbing performance that embodied resilience and rampant running rugby, New Zealand confirmed their status as favourites for a third consecutive World Cup title.Nothing is guaranteed and no trophy is claimed in any side’s first match, but the spectacular manner of this victory and the six-minute attacking raid that blew South Africa away should send tremors through the other hopefuls. Related: New Zealand stand firm against South Africa in heavyweight thriller • Fixtures, tables and results Related:...
The Australia wing caught Fiji’s Peceli Yato in the head with a shoulder and didn’t use his arms, World Rugby’s tackle directives could not be clearer – yet no action was takenFor 15 minutes the Sapporo Dome sounded as loud as any other ground in the game. And then the rugby started. The volume was ear-splitting in the minutes before kick-off, while the stadium PA was pumping out music, but it fell almost entirely silent in the very second the New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe blew his whistle.It was so quiet in the first half that you could clearly hear the players shouting to each other over the murmurs of the 40,000-odd people in the ground. It made it all feel...
Japan achieved their winning start and the host nation is enthused even if Saturday’s heavyweight encounters are going to provide a somewhat different spectacleFor all the gallantry and surprising stamina of Russia, this was the most underwhelming of openings to a World Cup. There was an air of before the Lord Mayor’s show. It explained why this weekend contains two top group billings, starting with the holders, New Zealand, against South Africa, when the tournament will really start.Japan, used to lurking in the shadows of the game, struggled in the glare of the headlights, losing sight of their strengths to the point where they aimlessly kicked away turnover ball, but it was a night when only the result mattered to...
Japanese cliches, popular victors and a confusing tackle ‘demonstration area’ made for interesting viewing on day oneClose your eyes and design, in the realm of your imagination, a Japan-themed TV studio. Come back whenever you’re ready. Of course you’re probably not a professional studio designer, and you almost certainly won’t spend more than a few seconds on the task, so you might have accepted a few lazy cliches and tired stereotypes. I’m wagering there was a lot of cherry blossom involved, a bonsai tree or two, perhaps some paper lanterns and a view of Mount Fuji. Well that image in your head is the ITV World Cup studio. They gave the Great Wave a wide berth and shirked the sushi,...
Eddie Jones’s team have the perfect schedule and can take the shackles off against France and Argentina in the pool stageEngland’s priorities against Tonga are simple. Four tries, maximum points, a clean bill of health and move on to Kobe. It may be the start of a World Cup campaign after three months building up to it but in reality it is an extension of their pre-season. No disrespect to Tonga but England will win the match. They are not looking to peak now and if the playbook was restricted in the warm-up matches it still will be on Sunday. Related: Ford, Farrell named as England go strong for World Cup opener Related: Rugby World Cup tactics: Nick Evans on...