World Cup Daily: September 23 Review

Total Sport looks back at the best of the action on day four of the Rugby World Cup...

The World Cup yesterday

Japan couldn’t back up their weekend salvo against South Africa with a second surprise in four days when they faced Scotland at Gloucester. Mark Bennett scored two tries and John Hardie, Tommy Seymour and Finn Russell one apiece as the Scots secured a bonus point victory, 45-10.

In the second game of the day, Australia were made to work hard for their 28-13 success against Fiji. Despite man of the match David Pocock’s two tries, the Wallabies were unable to grab a bonus point from the game, meaning they trail Wales and England, with each having played a single match in Pool A.

France enjoyed two purple scoring patches either side of half-time during their 38-11 success against Romania. The tier two side didn’t roll over against their elite level opponents and stood level at 3-3 after half-an-hour. However, tries from Sofiane Guitone, Yannick Nyanga, Wesley Fofana and Gael Fickou ensured the French took a bonus point.

The big talking point

Argentina’s lock forward, Mariano Galarza, will miss the rest of the World Cup after incurring a nine-week suspension for “making contact with the eye or eye area” of New Zealand’s Brodie Retallick during the Pumas’ 26-16 defeat by the All Blacks on Sunday.

The suspension was reduced from an initial 13 weeks given Galarza’s previously excellent disciplinary record, while the second row can appeal within 48 hours.

He is the second player to be handed a ban during the World Cup, with Fijian Dominiko Waqaniburotu currently serving a one-week suspension following a tip tackle on England winger Jonny May.

Around the RWC

ITV have backed commentator Nick Mullins after he came in for stick following a comment made during Fiji’s clash with England last week. Mullins, alluding to the words of Fiji coach John McKee, said: “In the smaller villages, they will all be gathering around the one TV, the one satellite dish, hoping the generator doesn’t let them down”. But the Pacific Islanders’ winger, Nemani Nadolo, didn’t take favourably to Mullins’ musings. He later tweeted: “There’s more than one TV in Fiji mate and power is running just fine. Nick Mullins disappointing call mate #muppetcall”.

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb could be out of action for as long as eight months with a foot injury sustained during a warm-up match in Cardiff. His club, Ospreys, released a statement confirming the extent of Webb’s knock. It read: “Rhys Webb has been ruled out of action until well into 2016 after undergoing surgery on his foot.”

South Africa have made eight changes to their side for the game against Samoa this weekend following defeat to Japan in their first fixture. Coach Heyneke Meyer said: “he last few days have been a time for retrospection and the team this week has been selected specifically with Samoa in mind, as we know we’ll have to be at our very best to succeed. They will pose a massive challenge and I think it’s fair to say that it’s the biggest game of the season for us. They have a very strong team with players plying their trade all over the world.”

Inside the England camp

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his starting XV for the clash with Wales on Saturday, with Sam Burgess and Owen Farrell coming into the backline in place of the injured Jonathan Joseph and George Ford. Billy Vunipola replaces Ben Morgan at eight, with Morgan suffering from a knee problem.

Lancaster said: “We have a lot of respect for the Wales coaching team and their players. They are a high quality side and I am sure it will be some occasion on Saturday evening.

"The support at Twickenham last week was incredible with the crowd really getting behind us. We will need them again this week to lift the players against a tough Wales team.”

And now for something a little different

Paddy Power opened up a store in Gloucester as a ‘bagpipes friendly zone’ for Scotland fans, with the traditional instrument not allowed into Kingsholm for their nation’s clash with Japan.

The Southgate Street branch of the Irish bookmaker provided safe haven for bagpipes on the day, however, with a spokesman saying: “"It’s no surprise the Scots got their kilts in a twist as quite frankly the ban blows – don’t get me wrong it’s bloody noisy in the shop, but we're just happy to have done our bit.”