9:47 AM BST TOKYO — Anyone still doubting the improvement and value of Tier 2 nations at the Rugby World Cup need look no further than Namibia’s brave showing against the All Blacks on Sunday. The Africans trailed by just one point after 30 minutes having taken the game right up to the two-time defending

2:44 AM ET Defending champions New Zealand racked up the biggest points tally of the Rugby World Cup so far by running in 11 tries to hammer a spirited Namibia side 71-9 and charge back to the top of Pool B on Sunday. The bonus point was secured before half time and although there might

7:55 AM BST KOBE, Japan — Newly-arrived Damian Willemse will start at full-back after South Africa made 13 changes for their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash against Canada in Kobe on Tuesday, where victory will seal a quarterfinal place for the Springboks. Willemse was an injury replacement for centre Jesse Kriel, but has been

5:28 PM BST Samoa coach Steve Jackson said he was left bewildered by some of the refereeing decisions during his side’s 38-19 loss to Japan in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup Saturday and called for more consistency from match officials. Jackson had no qualms with a yellow card for flanker TJ Ioane, the

8:18 AM ET Kotaro Matsushima scored a bonus-point try deep into injury time as Japan moved to the brink of their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final with a 38-19 Pool A victory over Samoa at the City of Toyota Stadium on Saturday. The hosts, who turned the tournament upside down when they beat Ireland last

9:26 AM BST Euan Reedie While the physical challenge of seven weeks of fierce competition at the Rugby World Cup sets it apart as the sport’s ultimate test, it is mental strength that can prove the difference by the time of the final. 2 Related So says Dan Carter, the legendary former All Blacks fly-half,

2:45 PM BST SHINJUOKA, Japan — A Springboks pack intent on dishing out as much physical aggression as possible awaits the winners of Rugby World Cup Pool A in the quarterfinals, though South Africa must find some serious attacking improvement if they’re to be genuine contenders to win the Webb Ellis Cup for the third

5:14 AM ET South Africa ramped up the physicality to defeat Italy 49-3 in Shizuoka on Friday, crushing opponents reduced to 14 men for most of the second half and moving above them and New Zealand to the top of Rugby World Cup Pool B in the process. The Springboks have never failed to reach

10:20 AM BST The Wallabies will make history on Saturday when they wear their indigenous jersey for the first time at the Rugby World Cup. They have only worn an indigenous strip twice before but the Wallabies insist the jersey’s meaning has already evolved from its first wear, against the All Blacks in Brisbane in

8:15 AM ET Ireland began to put their World Cup back on track after the shock loss to Japan but it took them over an hour to secure a bonus point and strengthen their quarter-final chances in an unconvincing 35-0 win over a stubborn Russia on Thursday. Ireland just need to beat Samoa to reach