Real Men Play Rugby - Rugby World Cup Updates!

by Don, With Malice...

Well hell, if a title like that doesn't get some attention on a US-based, NFL-fanatic blog, what will?

So, the latest updates in France at the Rugby World Cup are:

1. Tonga 25 - USA 15. Damn good encounter, but rather than run it wide the Eagles just tried to blast through the Tongans. Note to US team: Tongans are big.

Still, the US team are playing with verve & nerve! I like it...

2.Fiji 35 - Japan 31. Match of the tournament thus far... not necessarily the best skillset shown, but a ripper of a match with Japan running out of time. A valiant effort from both teams. A see-sawing affair that had Japan camped out on the Fijian 22 for much of the closing minutes. Errors in skills cost both teams, but the Fijians held on to scrape through as victors.

3. Italy 24 - Romania 18. Scotland must be absolutely salivating over their September 29th encounter with Italy... With Italy only taking this game by less than a try, the Scots have a fantastic chance of making the Quarter-finals with a win over this second-rate Azzurri unit. And this pool is basically all about playing for second spot.

News:
Schalk Burger (South Africa) was suspended for 4 matches for the following hit on Junior Palu of Samoa...

This penalty was later reduced to 2 games.

Phil Vickery of England was suspended for 2 games for this trip of the US's Paul Emerick.

More rugby follow-ups later...