Rugby World Cup: New Zealand wins duel of co

Defending champion New Zealand has started in the Japanese rugby championship with a competitive opening win. In the duel of the champions of the past three tournaments defeated the All Blacks in the first game of Group B South Africa 23:13 (17: 3).

For 20 minutes, South Africa seemed to be in control of the New Zealanders, but more than a 3-0 lead did not break. New Zealand then shot the game in four brilliant minutes. After the break, the springboks from South Africa were able to shorten to 13:17. But two penalties in the final quarter hour paved the way for the defending champion. For South Africa it was the first defeat in 2019.

The All Blacks, with three titles record world champion, now have eleven days break before they compete against Canada. South Africa, world champion in 1995 and 2007, gets involved with Namibia. In addition, Italy is in Group B.

Prior to that, Group D won Australia 39:21 against Fiji. At the beginning of the second half Australia's deficit was nine points, only in the 61st minute took over the Aussies at 25:21 the lead and extended the lead to the end.

Even closer was the group C in the 23:21 (20: 3) between France and Argentina. France seemed to make a small victory after the first 40 minutes, but were overrun in the second leg by the South Americans, who took the lead of 21:20. Camille Lopez put France back in the lead 11 minutes before the end with a drop kick, Argentina missing out on a possible victory in the last minute with a long-range shot narrowly missed.

A total of 20 teams participate in the final round. After the preliminary round with four groups of five qualify each of the top two finishers for the quarter-finals. There it goes from 19 October in co-mode for the title. The final will take place on November 2nd in Yokohama. Further information about the tournament can be found here.