Ireland brings down South African world champion

2023-09-23 23:03:00

Ireland, the world’s leading nation, beat South Africa, the reigning world champion, 13-8 and came out on top of Group B of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday at the Stade de France.

Victorious in the last Six Nations Tournament, Ireland now has 16 victories in a row before its last group match against Scotland on October 7. In this meeting where the defenses were put to the test, the two teams scored a try each, Ireland by Mack Hansen (33rd) and the Boks, who missed two penalties and a conversion, by Cheslin Kolbe (50th) .

The latter may regret the three penalties and the missed transformation, by Mannie Libbok and Faf de Klerk. Especially since opposite Johnny Sexton, the best scorer in the history of Irish rugby, scored a conversion and a penalty for his 116th selection at the age of 38.

England outclass Chile

At the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille, England, for their part, had a festival against weak Chile, crushed 71 to 0 with 11 tries including a quintuple from the only winger Henry Arundell. The return from suspension will have been smiling and worry-free for captain Owen Farrell who failed by one point to equal Jonny Wilkinson as the player who scored the most points for England (1,179).

The young (20 year old) prodigy Henry Arundell became the third player to score a quintuple in a World Cup match, behind the historic sextuptle of New Zealander Marc Ellis, in 1995. The XV de la Rose, almost in quarter-finals now after this third victory, will play their last group match on October 7 against Samoa.

READ ALSO Rugby World Cup: can the France team win without Dupont?

In a Toulouse Stadium won over to its cause, Portugal came within one penalty of its first victory in a World Cup, against Georgia who snatched a draw (18-18). The “Lobos” of French coach Patrice Lagisquet were caught on a Georgian try in the 78th minute, then missed the winning kick at the last second. In this group C, two of the favorites for the quarter-finals, Wales and Australia, face each other on Sunday in Lyon.