#RWC2019 Quarter Final Knock Outs – Round Up

A cracking weekend of knock-out rugby where eight teams battled for a place in the Semi Finals.

Saturday 19th October

#ENGvAUS FT40-16

KO 8:15am (Oita Stadium)

#CRUSHED

England Rugby smash the Wallabies in an epic Quarter Final in #RWCOita !

England progress to their first semi final since 2007. Well done England!! Congrats to Kyle Sinkler who gets his first RWC try and to Jonny May on scoring two tries on his fiftieth cap.

Good luck to Ireland who are up next against the All Blacks…

#WearTheRose #CarryThemHome

#NZLvIRE FT46-14

KO 11:15am (Tokyo Stadium)

It was ultimately a heavy defeat for IRE as they failed to conjure the magic of their two previous performances against the All Blacks. The RWC Semi Finals continue to elude them. There was no question that the better team won, and the All Blacks were ruthlessly clinical. We have probably seen the tournament’s best team, and it will take a monumental performance to beat the New Zealand rugby wizards.

It would have been incredible had the result been different, as today we say goodbye to Rory Best and Joe Schmidt. Two great figures of World Rugby who have achieved so much for IrishRugby whatever the result today. Really pleased to see them appreciated by the Tokyo crowd.

We now have our first RWC2019 semi final contenders confirmed for next weekend… #ENGvNZL

Sunday 20th October

#WALvFRA FT 20-19

KO 8:15am (Oita Stadium)

Phew! Never in my life have I been so relieved to hear the final gong sounding! Wales have, by the skin of their teeth, held off a tenacious French team to secure a place in the #RWC2019 semi finals!

Unfortunately, the cliche rang true, as France decided to show up and play the rugby we all know they can. It was looking like Wales could be having a de ja vu moment in the first half where Moriarty was left off with a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. But Wales were thrown a lifeline early in the second, as, in a moment of madness, Vahaamahina launched a reckless elbow into Wainwright’s head, which saw him exiled, quite rightly, from the field, and has since announced his retirement from the game.

But even with a weakened opposition, Wales felt the pressure and only just managed to limp over the line. Like the Semi Final in 2011, the best team probably lost today, but Wales will be pleased they shook off that 2011 loss with a result today.

It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t inspiring rugby, and there’s a lot to do if Wales want a shot in the final.

#JPNvRSA FT

KO 11:15am (Tokyo Stadium)

It was not the fairy tale ending we were all hoping for, and Japan couldn’t break the Boks to reproduce that miraculous 2015 win. Japan gave it their all against a monstrous South African side who didn’t give the hosts any space to score the spectacular tries we have all grown accustomed to.

RSA progress to face WAL next weekend & will be a tough opposition.

Japan have played with such passion & integrity over the past 21 days & we can look forward to plenty more from them on the World Rugby stage.

Arigatou Japan, you have been amazing!

Semi Finals

And then there were four…

For the first time since 1991, we have two home nations in the Semi Finals, so plenty to cheer for next weekend. Don’t miss the Wales game on Sunday as the clocks go forward an hour to GMT.