Rugby World Cup: New Zealand overpowers Canada

Here’s a round-up of today’s action:

New Zealand 63-0 Canada

France 33-9 USA

Thanks for joining us!

There are two games coming up on Thursday as Georgia faces Fiji and Ireland takes on Russia. South Africa meets Italy Friday and then there are five games to enjoy over the weekend with Australia, England, New Zealand and host Japan all in action. Plenty more to come as the group stages start to hot up!

New Zealand racked up the biggest victory of the Rugby World Cup so far, defeating Canada 63-0. The All Blacks could have scored more, but the Canadians put in a spirited performance and were unlucky not to get a try of their own.

You can read our report from the match here.

In case you were wondering why the All Blacks made a few uncharacteristic errors, head coach Steve Hansen puts it down to the testing conditions.

France and New Zealand both scored a couple of tries after kicks from hand. It’s proving a popular tactic at the moment…

Canada head coach Kingsley Jones was pleased with the way his players got stuck in and put New Zealand under pressure, despite the one-sided scoreline.

Fans show their love for the All Blacks by putting all their post-match energy into a hearty haka.

Great haka, but the less said about some of those haircuts the better…

Here’s what New Zealand captain Kieran Read had to say after his team cruised to a nine-try victory.

To exemplify how dominant New Zealand has been at the Rugby World Cup – the All Blacks have never lost a pool game, winning 30/30, and their last defeat in the tournament came against France in the 2007 quarterfinal.

That’s some record.

What a bizarre ending to this game.

Beauden Barrett races towards the try line and looks certain to score New Zealand’s 10th. But he inexplicably loses control of the ball and – like his brother did earlier in the match – watches it fall out his grasp.

Not that it matters. As predicted, it’s an easy victory for the All Blacks who showed real class, in particular at the start of the second-half.

Ardie Savea comes on for New Zealand. He’s sporting goggles for the first time – the first player ever to do so at a Rugby World Cup.

Here’s Shannon Frizell bagging one of New Zealand’s five second-half tries.

He only scored his first All Blacks try a few moments ago but now Brad Weber has his second.

It’s a clever move off the back of a scrum that undoes Canada’s defense, giving Weber a 40-meter run to the line.

8/8 from the boot for Mo’unga as he adds the conversion. (The penalty try comes with an automatic conversion)

This is getting messy now.

New Zealand really starting to show its class as Brad Weber races under the posts. Mo’unga adds the extras.

New Zealand is going at a rate of one point-a-minute now. Shannon Frizzell has the All Blacks’ seventh and Richie Mo’unga continues his 100% success rate with the boot as he knocks over the conversion.

New Zealand has come out all guns blazing this half. A lovely offload from Richie Mo’unga finds Kieran Read in space. He has a simple two-on-one and this time Scott Barrett holds onto the ball as he crosses the line.

That means all three Barrett brothers – the first trio of siblings to star for New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup – have crossed for tries.

Mo’unga adds his seventh conversion.

Just 40 seconds into the second half and New Zealand has its fifth try. Sonny Bill Williams makes the break and he feeds Rieko Ioane who dives over in the corner. Richie Mo’unga’s conversion from out wide is a good one.

Four tries from New Zealand in that first half but some spectators were clearly hoping for more.

That’s the end to the first 40. The All Blacks could have – and should have – scored more but spilled the ball at crucial moments.

Canada also should have had a try of its own but failed to finish off a promising chance.

But with the bonus point already wrapped up, Steve Hansen will be happy with his side’s work so far.

Richie Mo’unga’s kicking does the damage again as New Zealand gets its bonus-point try on 36 minutes. A grubber-kick through is collected by Beauden Barrett who just has to dive over the line – something his younger brother failed to do moments earlier.

Mo’unga makes the easy conversion.

That should have been New Zealand’s bonus-point try!

Scott Barrett barges towards the line. He’s done the hard work but drops the ball as he dives to score. It remains 21-0 with eight minutes until halftime.

Out of nowhere!

Peter Nelson makes a clean break to the line and has Beauden Barrett racing after him. The fly-half goes close but is hauled down just short of the line by Barrett.

The All Blacks win a penalty from a scrum near their own line and can clear kick clear. That could be the best chance Canada get…

There is the third try. Sonny Bill Williams shows great strength to power through a tackle and reach for the line to score. Mo’unga’s conversion is good.

Ominous signs for Canada…

It’s almost a third for New Zealand. TJ Perenara dives to the corner from the base of a ruck but he comes up just short and is bundled into touch.

Try number two for New Zealand. A cross-kick from Richie Mo’unga finds Jordie Barrett in acres of space out wide and the wing dots down with ease.

Mo’unga’s conversion flies straight through the middle of the posts.

As expected, it didn’t take long for New Zealand to get off the mark. The All Blacks have a scrum five meters out which trundles towards the try line. Captain Keiran Read controls the ball at the base but a penalty try is eventually given.

Anthems sung, haka performed by the All Blacks – we’re under way in Oita.

A striking sight playing for the All Blacks today will be Ardie Savea – not only because of the mop of black hair and abrasive athleticism he brings to the pitch, but also because of his eyewear.

The back-row forward has been testing out goggles in training due to deteriorating vision in his left eye and has decided to go ahead and wear a pair in the match against Canada. Earlier this year, World Rugby approved use of goggles at all levels of the game, while Ian McKinley became the first international to sport them during a test match in February.?

Attention now turns to New Zealand’s game against Canada, where you might spot a theme in the All Blacks’ starting lineup.

We’ve become accustomed to seeing three Barrett brothers – Beauden, Jordie, and Scott – turn out for the All Blacks, but having all three in the same starting lineup is more unusual. It’s just the second time that a trio of siblings have started a Rugby World Cup game after Manu, Elisi and Fe’ao Vunipola represented Tonga in 1995.

You can read more about the Barrett brothers and their journey from a farm in rural New Zealand here.

The Barrett brothers: Jordie (left), Scott (center), Beauden (right)

It was messy and disjointed from France at times and a much better performance will be needed when it comes up against tougher opposition – namely England – later in the tournament.

You can read our match report from the game in Fukuoka here.

Maxime Medard celebrates the win with his daughter.

It wasn’t the result USA wanted, but coach Gary Gold is nevertheless very proud of his players’ showing against France.

French second-row Bernard Le Roux has given his thoughts after game, admitting it was much closer than expected at times.

Will Magie was a late change at fly-half for the USA. His great, great aunt supposedly invented Monopoly, which is a nice claim to fame.

Unfortunately, no passing go and no collecting $200 today as his side was put to the sword by three French tries in the second half.

For 65 minutes, this game was much closer than the final scoreline suggests. France was sloppy for large parts while the US showed plenty of grit and determination in defense.

Three late tries ultimately decided the contest as France wrapped up the bonus point and now looks well-placed to reach the knockout stages.

Like buses, France waited and waited for a try in the second half and suddenly three come at once. Jefferson Poirot scores after a driving maul and that wraps up the result. Camille Lopez’s conversion is the final act of the game.

Here’s Gael Fickou dotting down for France’s third try – a huge sigh of relief for Les Bleus after the gap between the two sides had been cut to three points.

Another try for France which wraps up the bonus point. It’s yet again a chip that creates the score as Alivereti Raka gathers on the wing, shrugs off a high tackle, and feeds Baptiste Serin. The replacement scrum-half has an easy run to the line and the successful conversion stretches the lead.

Just when there’s a whiff of an upset, France turns it on. Gael Fickou gets the try and Camille Lopez adds the conversion, stretching his side’s lead to 10 points.

France has most of the ball but can’t conjure anything with it as handling errors prove costly and halt any kind of momentum. The US defense has been good in the second half and draws a penalty, which AJ MacGinty slots through the posts.

Is a shock on the cards here?

France fans try to lift their team as La Marseillaise rings around the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium.

France almost gets its third try. Sofiane Guitone makes a great break and tries to unleash Alivereti Raka who has a clear run to the line. But the pass is forward and USA gets the scrum. Let off.

Early pressure from France almost brings a try but the US defense close to its own line is good. Hooker Joe Taufete’e won a smart turnover from a dangerous French lineout.

Can France hold onto its slender lead?

Can the USA get its first win of the Rugby World Cup?

We will find out in the next 40 minutes…

The match stats show just how close of a game it has been between France and the US:

Possession: France 45%-55% USA

Territory: 44%-56%

Meters made: 162-79

Clean breaks: 4-1

Handling errors, cheap penalties and easy turnovers have littered much of the first half. Let’s hope for an improved second half when the two teams reappear.

Gael Fickou coughs up the ball

The first 40 comes to a close and there are only six points in it.

It’s been the sort of performance we’ve come to expect from France. Flashes of brilliance have produced two lovely tries in this first half but ill discipline and sloppy errors mean USA remains in touching distance. This match is closer than most will have anticipated.

France concedes another penalty close to its line. Referee Ben O’Keeffe warns captain Louis Picamoles about his side’s discipline and AJ MacGinty knocks over the conversion.

Camille Lopez’s pinpoint cross-field kick meant Raka had the simple task of collecting and touching down for France’s second try.

That’s just a delightful try from France. It’s Lopez again who undoes the US defence with his boot. He had the advantage and lands a pinpoint kick into the hands of Alivereti Raka. The wing hardly breaks stride and dots down in the corner. The conversion misses so the gap stays at nine points.

Here’s Huget going over for France, ensuring Les Bleus take an early lead.

First points of the day for the United States as AJ MacGinty’s simple penalty kick sails between the posts.

The Eagles respond well to that early try and find themselves a few meters out from the French line. A lineout goes awry, though, and France can clear.

It’s a lovely try from France but it’s all a bit too easy. Les Bleus run the ball out from their own half and a series of offloads see them gallop into the USA 22. Camille Lopez chips over the top of the American defence where no one is covering. Yoann Huget collects the kick and goes over for the try. Thomas Ramos slots the easy conversion.

Before kickoff, players and fans alike paid their respects to former French president Jacques Chirac, a huge rugby fan who passed away last week.

Plenty of French cockerels dotted around the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, where action has just got underway.

The USA, meanwhile, makes eight changes after defeat by England. ?David Ainu’u, Will Hooley and Paul Lasike have all been ruled out with injuries, and John Quill’s red card means he’s serving a three-game ban. The Eagles only try-scorer from the opening game, Bryce Campbell, gets his first start this tournament.

1. Eric Fry

2. Joe Taufete’e

3. Titi Lamositele

4. Nate Brakeley

5. Nick Civetta

6. Tony Lamborn

7. Hanco Germishuys

8. Cam Dolan

9. Shaun Davies

10. AJ MacGinty

11. Martin Iosefo

12. Bryce Campbell

13. Marcel Brache

14. Blaine Scully (c)

15. Mike Te’o

Replacements:

16. Dylan Fawsitt

17. Olive Kilifi

18. Paul Mullen

19. Greg Peterson

20. Ben Pinkelman

21. Ruben de Haas

22. Will Magie

23. Thretton Palamo

These fans are enjoying themselves.

Here’s how France lines up today. Just the 12 changes to the side that beat Argentina over a week ago.

Typhoon Mitag has been a big talking point ahead of this clash. There were fears that it would be a total washout, forcing the game to be canceled altogether. That would have resulted in a 0-0 draw on the official results – a disastrous outcome for France which is well-placed to reach the knockout rounds. But organizers have been studying forecasts and announced Monday the game would go ahead.?Here’s the statement in part:

The USA, with its population of 330 million and a rich sporting pedigree, is considered something of a sleeping giant when it comes to rugby. We spoke to captain Blaine Scully and coach Gary Gold ahead of the tournament about what those at the “coalface” of the game in the States have been doing to grow its profile. You can read more about that here.

Center Bryce Campbell, the Eagles’ sole try scorer against England, has been speaking to reporters before today’s game about the importance of inspiring the next generation of Americans back home.

There’s been no shortage of drama when it comes to high tackles so far this tournament, but no incident has been as unanimously agreed upon as John Quill’s high shot on England’s Owen Farrell in the USA’s opening game. As well as receiving a red card, the flanker was handed a three-match ban and sent home from the World Cup.

Farrell was floored by the challenge, but coach Eddie Jones was quick to silence fears that his captain would suffer any long-standing damage.