Ian JohnThe second week of the 2023 Rugby World Cup is over and with it came one of the biggest surprise results in the tournament’s history.
Fiji, who had narrowly lost to Wales on the first weekend of action, produced a stunning upset by beating Australia for the first time since 1954 to put themselves in with an unexpected chance of progressing from Pool C.
That win also makes this weekend’s RWC 2023 clash between Wales and Australia all the more important, with the Aussies facing elimination if they fail to win the game.
We have also had our share of big wins for the usual suspects against the emerging nations and as you would expect, the betting action at bet365 Sport is heating up as we progress through the tournament.
Remember too you can bet in play on the action with bet365 once the games are underway.
So let’s now take a closer look at how the second set of games turned out in what was an interesting series of games last weekend.
Rugby World Cup – Week 2 Results
- France 27-12 Uruguay
Despite falling behind to an early try from Freitas, France bounced back to claim another important win to maintain their place at the top of Pool A. Two penalties from Jaminet gave the French a slender half time lead and it took a strong second half showing with two tries from Mauvaka and Bielle-Biarrey to finally put the tenacious Uruguayans away.
- New Zealand 71-3 Namibia
The All Blacks got back to winning ways with a predicatble 71-3 rout of Namibia. Nine different players scored for the New Zealanders who saw Damian McKenzie convert eight of the 11 tries on the night. Tiaan Swanepoel scored Namibia’s only points with an 11th minute penalty.
- Samoa 43-10 Chile
Chile’s first Rugby World Cup has been a tough one for the team and it didn’t get any better against an impressive Samoa who won their opening game comfortably. The Polynesian side scored four of those tries in the second half to run away with the game and claim a bonus point win.
- Wales 28-8 Portugal
It wasn’t a vintage Wales display against Portugal, but the Dragons did enough to claim the win which cements them in top spot in Pool C. Four tries, all converted, three of them coming in the second half, saw the game liven up after the break after the Welsh went in at the half just 7-3 ahead.
- Ireland 59-16 Tonga
Ireland continued their impressive start to the World Cup with another impressive and comprehensive win, this time over Tonga. The Irish ran in eight tries, all of them converted and added a Johnny Sexton penalty as they stormed into a first half lead and then dominated the second half of the game.
- South Africa 76-0 Romania
After their tight encounter with Scotland last week, the South African defence shut out Romania as they ran in 11 tries plus a penalty try against the Carpathians. Seven of those tries were converted while Reinach and Mapimpi both landed a trio of tries for the impressive Springboks.
- Australia 15-22 Fiji
Fiji produced the shock of the tournament so far in securing a 22-15 victory over Australia in Saint-Etienne. Four first half penalties kept the Fijians in contact with Australia who scored a try and kicked a penalty to trail 8-12 at the interval. Fiji then scored another try, which was converted and then added a fifth penalty before Australia scored a try of their own, but Fiji hung on to record a sensational win that throws Pool C wide open.
- England 34-12 Japan
Three second half tries eventually gave a somewhat lacklustre England the win against a stubbon Japan in Nice. Four penalties from Matsuda saw him grab all Japan’s points but England’s extra physicality and quality told in the second half and saw then claim a bonus point win.
Current Group Standings (after Week 2)
| Pool A | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Bonus |
| 1 | France | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 98 | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 123 | 0 | 0 |
| Pool B | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Bonus |
| 1 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 26 | 10 | 2 |
| 2 | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 3 | Scotland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Tonga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Romania | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 158 | 0 | 0 |
| Pool C | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Bonus |
| 1 | Wales | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 34 | 10 | 2 |
| 2 | Fiji | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 47 | 6 | 2 |
| 3 | Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 37 | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Pool D | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Bonus |
| 1 | England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 22 | 9 | 1 |
| 2 | Samoa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 46 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | Argentina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Chile | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 85 | 0 | 0 |
Rugby World Cup 2023 – Week 3 Fixtures
There are some outstanding contests that grace the third week of action at the Rugby World Cup in France. That includes some massive Southern v Northern hemisphere clashes, including a showdown between the teams ranked first and third in the world rankings.
20th September
- Italy v Uruguay (Nice) – 4.45pm
Tip – A very interesting game to kick things off. Italy began the tournament well but Uruguay are no pushovers, but I am backing Italy to land a narrow win here (1/25)
21st September
- France v Namibia (Marseille) – 8.00pm
Tip – Namibia have been thrashed in their two games so far in this tournament. It is not going to get any better for them here. France to win (1/1000).
22nd September
- Argentina v Samoa (St.Etienne) – 4.45pm
Tip – A hugely important game for both teams. Argentina must win. Samoa know a win could put them in with a great chance of qualifying from this group. I expect the more experienced Argentinean team to take the win here (1/7).
23rd September
- Georgia v Portugal (Toulouse) – 1.00pm
Tip – Portugal have done better than I expected in this tournament, but Georgia do have a much longer Rugby pedigree and I’d expect them to be the narrow winners here (1/9).
- England v Chile (Lille) – 4.45pm
Tip – It would be nothing short of a Rugby miracle if Chile were to beat England. The South Americans have been well beaten so far in this tournament and the odds are that will happen again here with a big England win (1/500)
- South Africa v Ireland (Paris) – 8.00pm
Tip – What a fantastic game for Saturday night Rugby fans. South Africa come into this game as the 8/11 favourites, but Ireland are number one in the world for a reason and I am backing them to beat the Springboks here at odds of (5/4).
24th September
- Scotland v Tonga (Nice) – 4.45pm
Tip – No team has scored fewer points at the World Cup than Scotland, but the Scots should put that right here against Tonga. They won’t run in a massive score as Tonga are too strong for that, but they should do enough to secure a key win (1/40).
- Wales v Australia (Lyon) – 8pm
Tip – The game that could decide the future in this competition of both these teams. It is a game Australia must not lose after the loss to Fiji and one if Wales win, or draw, they will feel that they got the job done. I was very tempted by the tie here at 18/1, but I am going to back the Aussies here to bounce back at even money.
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