Ireland shock Australia in Rugby WC

South Africa flatten Fiji, Pumas demolish Romania.

WELLINGTON:

Ireland won the high-stakes battle with Australia to close in on a quarter-final berth with a 15-6 upset in the Rugby World Cup.

Ireland won the tactical battle and hustled the world number two Wallabies out of their rhythm with determined defence and judicious kicking.

Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa made it two wins out of two with a comfortable 49-3 victory over Fiji. The Springboks showed steely grit, and no little flair, in dispatching a Fijian side that started well but whose ball-in-hand game crumbled badly as the match went on.

South Africa captain John Smit was satisfied with the victory.

“It was a game we wanted to do well in,” he said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Earlier, Argentina got their campaign back on track with a 43-8 win over Romania. The win sets up Pumas’ showdown with Scotland with the winner in pole position to ensure a quarter-final spot.





Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2011.