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England, Scotland survive tough WCup openers
Source: Agencies |
September 11, 2011, Sunday
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ARGENTINA'S Pumas, the Brave Blossoms of Japan and the Oaks of Romania challenged rugby's rigid pecking order yesterday, threatening to bring down major European powers England, France and Scotland, respectively, on the first full day of matches at the Rugby World Cup.
A day after an opening ceremony and curtain-raising match in Auckland, New Zealand, normal service resumed with matches which enlivened the tournament because they were not mismatches.
Tonga's sturdy performance against the All Blacks on opening night - its 10-41 loss was its smallest in four matches against the World No. 1 - set the tone.
England edged Argentina 13-9, France beat Japan 47-21, Scotland needed two late tries to hold off Romania 34-24 and Fiji held out Namibia 49-25.
Argentina furnished the first upset of the 2007 World Cup when it beat host France in its opening pool game and it came close to repeating that feat when it led 2003 champion England for 66 minutes.
In a game punctuated by 27 penalties, 16 against the Pumas, Argentina fashioned a 9-3 lead on goalkicks before England sunk them with the only try of the match to replacement scrumhalf Ben Youngs.
The match was notable for the failure of goalkickers on both sides to exploit numerous chances. Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked England to its 2003 Cup victory, managed three from eight, while Argentina's Felipe Contepomi and Martin Rodriguez jointly missed five shots at goal.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir expressed some relief after Japan stretched his squad to the limit before conceding 22 points in the last 10 minutes. "I'm quite happy that they did this because they made us understand that we need to play a different level at the World Cup," he said.
Winger Simon Danielli scored two late tries to lead Scotland's rally which avoided the first major upset of the Cup. Scotland trailed 21-24 before a late penalty leveled it and Danielli's tries in the 75th and 78th clinched the win.
A day after an opening ceremony and curtain-raising match in Auckland, New Zealand, normal service resumed with matches which enlivened the tournament because they were not mismatches.
Tonga's sturdy performance against the All Blacks on opening night - its 10-41 loss was its smallest in four matches against the World No. 1 - set the tone.
England edged Argentina 13-9, France beat Japan 47-21, Scotland needed two late tries to hold off Romania 34-24 and Fiji held out Namibia 49-25.
Argentina furnished the first upset of the 2007 World Cup when it beat host France in its opening pool game and it came close to repeating that feat when it led 2003 champion England for 66 minutes.
In a game punctuated by 27 penalties, 16 against the Pumas, Argentina fashioned a 9-3 lead on goalkicks before England sunk them with the only try of the match to replacement scrumhalf Ben Youngs.
The match was notable for the failure of goalkickers on both sides to exploit numerous chances. Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked England to its 2003 Cup victory, managed three from eight, while Argentina's Felipe Contepomi and Martin Rodriguez jointly missed five shots at goal.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir expressed some relief after Japan stretched his squad to the limit before conceding 22 points in the last 10 minutes. "I'm quite happy that they did this because they made us understand that we need to play a different level at the World Cup," he said.
Winger Simon Danielli scored two late tries to lead Scotland's rally which avoided the first major upset of the Cup. Scotland trailed 21-24 before a late penalty leveled it and Danielli's tries in the 75th and 78th clinched the win.
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