Rugby World Cup – highlights from day 21
The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals are now just a few days away, as the likes of England, Wales and Ireland all in action this weekend and could all reach the final four of the tournament in France. Despite the break in action, rugby fans have not been short of drama as one team can still be banned from flying their flag while there has reportedly been a bust-up between Steve Borthwick’s side.
England face Fiji on Saturday but their preparations have been marred by an alleged training ground incident between captain Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell. Arundell scored five tries on his tournament debut but curiously has not played again, with former star Andy Goode claiming that is due to a bust-up that the pair had behind the scenes.
Farrell’s place in the team has been questioned also, after a dispirited final pool stage victory over Samoa in which he played alongside George Ford – but there have been calls for the skipper to be axed and Ford to return to fly-half instead.
While the tournament has faced complaints over the scheduling, the Daily Mail claim that there could be an overhaul as an expanded 24-team tournament in 2027 could see six pools of four – eliminating bye weeks.
Latest news and updates from the Rugby World Cup can be found below.
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South Africa chief calls out France
South Africa chief Rassie Erasmus has accused their quarter-final opponents of “play-acting” in their efforts to dupe referees.
Erasmus has tactically delayed the naming of his team until he can see the French lineup, while also commenting on their quarter-final foes ahead of Sunday’s tie.
“What they do well is that when they get close to the high hits [on them], they really show that to the referee,” Erasmus said.
“I think they do simulate sometimes a little bit, which is clever … sometimes when the referee comms goes down, or the TV doesn’t work at that specific time. I think they’re very clever at that but they’re not a team that live on the dangerous edge.
“I think they’re straight up forward, they don’t play with tricks … they just physically man up, and that’s the kind of team that we respect.”
World Cup overhaul
The Rugby World Cup chiefs have held talks over expanding the competition to 24 teams, which would eliminate bye weeks.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that complaints over the current schedule has left teams bemoaning an inability to maintain momentum.
The new tournament, which would feature six pools of four teams, comes after World Rugby’s commitment to ‘Tier 2’ nations that their calls would be answered to play higher-quality fixtures.
England bust-up
England stars Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell were accused of having a bust-up during training that has left the winger playing just one game at the World Cup.
Former England star Andy Goode opened up on how that could be the reason why Arundell has not been selected – after scoring five tries in his tournament debut.
“I have heard through the grapevine and through my sources that Henry Arundell and Owen Farrell had a bit of a set two and a scrap at training,” he said.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the Rugby World Cup. You can get up to date with all of yesterday’s action in our previous live blog.
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