Check out our talking points from the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup action.
South Africa off to encouraging start
South Africa saw off Scotland 18-3 in Marseille to get the defence of their world title underway in solid fashion. While it was far from a perfect performance, the men in green and gold were just too strong for Gregor Townsend’s men, whose talisman, Finn Russell, was clearly targeted and subsequently produced something of a mixed bag at flyhalf.
Injury to Eben Etzebeth aside, things are going swimmingly for South Africa at the minute.
Hosts cope with pressure to punish All Blacks
Despite the fact that neither side was particularly good on the night, hosts France ultimately took their chances when it mattered to condemn the All Blacks to a 27-13 defeat in the tournament opener at the Stade de France.
Ian Foster’s men will have to show some proper resilience from here on after a tough few weeks while France are only bound to grow in confidence after Friday’s result.
Ford punishes Argentina ill-discipline
Los Pumas‘ ill-discipline cost them dearly as they succumbed to 14-man England 10-27 in a hugely disappointing defeat in Marseille. While the South Americans were undone in large part thanks to George Ford’s immaculate performance at pivot, with the 30-year-old veteran scoring all of England’s points (including three drop goals), the Argentines only have themselves to blame after conceding a massive 13 penalties.
More refereeing inconsistency
The most exasperating aspect of the game reared it’s godawful head again on the weekend. A day after England’s Tom Curry saw red for a high shot on Argentina fullback Juan Mallia Cruz, blatant high hits from Chile’s Martín Sigren (yellow card) and South Africa’s Jesse Kriel (no penalty) in their respective Tests have shone the spotlight on the game’s chronic officiating inconsistencies once more.
Will it improve as the tournament progresses? Don’t count on it.
