South Africa’s win to clinch first place in Group A has now placed the three traditional Southern Hemisphere powers to stand five points ahead in their groups. It’s no surprise that the powerhouse Tri-Nations teams have reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with a game to spare.
Tournament favorites, ‘All Blacks’ eying to seek its first title in 20 years, handed the Scotts the anticipated thrashing of 40-0 as two-time champion Wallabies beat Fiji 55-12 to book a quarter-final berth at Rugby Worlds.
The ‘All Blacks’ scored six tries as the Scots were blanked for the first time since 2004. Amid Scott key players being rested for the crucial tie against Italy, the backup players produced a spirited effort but had no answer to the New Zealand onslaught.
All Blacks went to a 20-0 lead at halftime, through tries by McCaw, Howlett and scrum-half Byron Kelleher, while Carter added five points in each half with the boot.
It took 17 minutes for the Wallabies to get their first points against a second-string Fiji team which fell to its first loss. Giteau scored 17 of his team’s 22 points at halftime with Mitchell’s try adding the others.
Inside-center Giteau, playing in his 50th Test, scored two tries and kicked three penalties and four conversions. Winger Drew Mitchell touched down three times as Australia ran in seven tries to Fiji’s two.
Via: Bloomberg
