2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa, Australia and New Zealand qualify
Monday, September 24, 2007
In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the three major southern hemisphere nations secured qualification to the quarter final stage of the competition. Meanwhile, defending champions England kept their hopes alive with a comfortable 44-22 victory against Samoa, while Argentina pushed for the quarter finals with a comprehensive victory against Namibia.
In Pool A, South Africa overcame Tonga 30-25 after falling behind early in the second half. Having led 7-3 at half time thanks to a Ruan Pienaar try, the Springboks stumbled when Kisi Pulu scored a try for Tonga. However Juan Smith, Bobby Skinstad and Ruan Pienaar all added tries in the second half to secure a bonus point for South Africa. Tonga made a late breakthrough with two tries in quick succession from Sukanaivalu Hufanga and Viliami Vaki but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
England defeated Samoa 44-22 to claim a vital bonus point and keep the defence of their title on track. Tries from Martin Corry and Paul Sackey helped England to a 23-12 lead at half time as Loki Crichton kept Samoa in the match with the boot. Junior Polu reduced the deficit to four points with a try for Samoa, but Corry and Sackey added tries for England while Jonny Wilkinson kicked 24 points to take England to victory.
Argentina scored nine tries in their 63-3 victory over Namibia. Morne Schreuder opened the scoring with a penalty for Namibia, but Argentina prevented them from scoring again. Argentina remain at the top of Pool D to stake a claim to a quarter final place.
Australia scored seven tries as they secured top spot in Pool B with a 55-12 victory over Fiji. Tries from Adam Ashley-Cooper and Stephen Hoiles, two from Matt Giteau and a hat trick from D Mitchell won the match for Australia. Fiji's only scores came from Isoa Neivua and Aca Ratuva but they never looked like threatening the Wallabies.
New Zealand did not concede any points as they defeated Scotland 40-0 to top Pool C. Scotland struggled against a dominant New Zealand side, who scored six tries. Richie McCaw, Doug Howlett (2), Byron Kelleher, Ali Williams and Daniel Carter were New Zealand's scorers.
September 22, 2007 14:00 (UTC+2) | |||
South Africa | 30 – 25 | Tonga | Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Tries: R Pienaar (2) 18' c, 65' m J Smith 59' c B Skinstad 62' m Con: A Pretorius (1/1) P Montgomery (1/3) Pen: F Steyn 54' P Montgomery 76' |
Tries: K Pulu 44' c S Hufanga 70' m V Vaki 72' c Con: P Hola (2/3) Pen: P Hola 9', 78' |
September 22, 2007 16:00 (UTC+2) | |||
England | 44 – 22 | Samoa | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Referee: Alan Lewis |
Tries: M Corry (2) 2' c, 76' c P Sackey (2) 32' c, 80+' m Con: J Wilkinson (3/4) Pen: J Wilkinson (4/6) 15', 22', 33', 72' Drop: J Wilkinson (2/3) 6', 69' |
Try: J Polu 47' c Con: L Crichton (1/1) Pen: L Crichton (5/5) 9', 12', 38', 40+, 42' |
September 22, 2007 21:00 (UTC+2) | |||
Argentina | 63 – 3 | Namibia | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Referee: Stuart Dickinson |
Tries: R Roncero 25' c J Leguizamón (2) 35' m, 52' c M Contepomi 38' c F Contepomi 45' c G Tiesi 55' m I Corleto 58' m Penalty try 63' c F Todeschini 71' c Con: F Contepomi (4/7) F Todeschini (2/2) Pen: F Contepomi (2/2) 10', 20' |
Pen: M Schreuder (1/1) 7' |
September 23, 2007 14:30 (UTC+2) | |||
Australia | 55 – 12 | Fiji | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Referee: Nigel Owens |
Tries: M Giteau (2) 17' c, 36' m D Mitchell (3) 31' c, 70' c, 79' m A Ashley-Cooper 57' c S Hoiles 74' m Con: M Giteau (4/6) Pen: M Giteau (3/3) 28', 42', 50' Drop: B Barnes (1/1) 44' |
Tries: I Neivua 40+' m A Ratuva 47' c Con: S Bai (1/1) |
September 23, 2007 16:00 (UTC+1) | |||
Scotland | 0 – 40 | New Zealand | Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland Referee: Marius Jonker |
Tries: R McCaw 5' c D Howlett (2) 15' c, 74' c B Kelleher 33' c A Williams 62' c D Carter 65' c Con: D Carter (2/5) Pen: D Carter (2/3) 26', 43' |
Related news
edit- "2007 Rugby World Cup: France 25 - 3 Ireland" — Wikinews, September 21, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Wales 72 - 18 Japan" — Wikinews, September 20, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Italy 31 - 5 Portugal" — Wikinews, September 19, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Scotland 42 - 0 Romania" — Wikinews, September 18, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Fiji, Tonga and France win" — Wikinews, September 16, 2007
Sources
edit- "Australia 55-12 Fiji" — BBC Sport, September 23, 2007
- "Australia seal top spot with match in hand" — Rugby World Cup, September 23, 2007
- "Scotland 0-40 New Zealand" — BBC Sport, September 23, 2007
- "All Blacks grab quarter-final berth" — Rugby World Cup, September 23, 2007
- "South Africa 30-25 Tonga" — BBC Sport, September 22, 2007
- "Springboks pushed to limit by Tonga" — Rugby World Cup, September 22, 2007
- "England 44-22 Samoa" — BBC Sport, September 22, 2007
- "England in comfortable win over Samoa" — Rugby World Cup, September 22, 2007
- "Argentina 63-3 Namibia" — BBC Sport, September 22, 2007
- "Pumas move a step closer to quarter-finals" — Rugby World Cup, September 22, 2007