South Africa outlasts Wales in semifinal thriller to reach Rugby World Cup final
Handre Pollard slotted a penalty with four minutes remaining to send South Africa into the Rugby World Cup final after a nail-biting 19-16 win over Wales on Sunday. Pollard and Wales' Dan Biggar exchanged penalty after penalty in an agonizingly tight game at International Stadium ...
Springboks will rely on pack against Wales
South Africa standoff Handre Pollard believes his team's backs have the pace and skill to trouble Wales in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal — if they can get the ball off their forward teammates for long enough. South Africa faces Wales at International Stadium Yokohama ...
Wales hopes to reach first final by matching Springboks' physicality
Wales hooker Ken Owens says his team is ready to stand up to South Africa's physical might and fight fire with fire when the two teams meet in Sunday's Rugby World Cup semifinal. Wales booked its place in the final four with a nerve-shredding 20-19 ...
Japan fell a win short of making the final four at the Rugby World Cup, but both those involved in the game and others watching from the outside said Sunday they are proud of what the team achieved. "Watching them beat Ireland, then Scotland (in ...
Brave Blossoms rue quarterfinal exit, but take pride in their Rugby World Cup heroics
Japan's Rugby World Cup players expressed mixed feelings as their incredible campaign came to an end with a quarterfinal defeat to South Africa on Sunday, with pride in their achievements largely crowding out the disappointment. "It was really emotional when the final whistle went," said ...
Brave Blossoms-Springboks match could boil down to battle of wits
Japan's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against South Africa on Sunday could well end up being determined by which coach is the better poker player. At first glance, it would appear Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made his intentions very clear by packing his bench with ...
South Africa bids to oust 'likable' host Japan from its Rugby World Cup
South Africa will have to shelve its affection for Japan and Japanese fans to spoil the hosts' party in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, according to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. The Springboks have been firm crowd favorites at the World Cup, with many Japanese fans ...
Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph says team is ready for physicality of Springboks
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has warned his players to expect a brutal onslaught from South Africa's forwards when they go head to head in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. But the New Zealander also hinted that the Brave Blossoms could have a trick up ...
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus names squad for RWC quarterfinal against Japan
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe has returned from an ankle injury to be named to the starting side for Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Japan. Kolbe scored twice against Italy but picked up an injury and was kept out of the Springboks' final Pool B ...
South Africa wing Cheslin Kolbe is hoping his experience against Kotaro Matsushima and Kenki Fukuoka will hold him in good stead when the Springboks play Japan in Tokyo on Sunday in their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. Kolbe faced Matsushima back in 2012 in South Africa's ...
Japan hooker Atsushi Sakate said coordination on defense will be key when the Brave Blossoms collide with South Africa in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. Sakate and lock Uwe Helu said Japan's preparation and fitness could be the difference, provided the ...
Japan captain Michael Leitch looking for All Blacks' help to beat Springboks
Japan captain Michael Leitch said Monday he would be asking for help from a trio of former All Blacks in the build-up to next weekend's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal with South Africa. "I am going to talk to Richard Kahui, Cory Jane and Stephen Donald ...
