Wales’ disastrous run with injuries continues with Liam Williams now ruled out for the rest of the tournament after limping out of yesterday’s pulsating clash at Twickenham where Australia claimed top seeding in the Group of Death with a 15-6 victory.
The Wallabies reward for topping Pool A is a quarter-final against Scotland at Twickenham on Sunday after the Scots finished runners-up in Pool B after securing a 36-33 win over Samoa at St James Park in Newcastle.
South Africa topped Pool B and will now face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday with head coach Warren Gatland running out of players to call up but if the Dragons show half the commitment they displayed against the Wallabies, then the Springboks could be in for a torrid afternoon.
England, after dismissing minnows Uruguay, salvaged third spot in Pool A to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2019 while Japan did likewise for their own event from Pool B.
New Zealand finish top of Pool C and will meet France in the second quarter-final in Cardiff on Saturday. The All Blacks, who haven’t hit top gear yet, will be gunning for revenge after the French knocked out the favourites in 2007 at the same ground.
Argentina have qualified as runners-up of Pool C after completing their programme with a thumping 64-19 win over Namibia at Leicester City Stadium and will face Pool D winners Ireland in the third quarter-final in Cardiff on Sunday.
Georgia finished in third place in Pool C and have qualified for RWC 2019 while Italy secured a spot at the same tournament courtesy of finishing third in Pool D.
Ireland will be sweating on the fitness of inspirational skipper Paul O’Connell and key play maker Jonathan Sexton along with forward Peter O’Mahony who all failed to go the distance against France in a brutal encounter in Cardiff.
Second-half tries from Rob Kearney and Conor Murray, plus 14 points from the boots of Sexton and his first-half replacement Ian Madigan were enough as Ireland overpowered France 24-9, in front of a sea of green in another classic match of this World Cup which just keeps on giving.
