Samu Manoa will captain a largely reserve Eagles side to face South Africa at the Olympic Stadium in London on Wednesday. With the all-important Japan match on the horizon on Sunday, head coach Mike Tolkin has opted to rest the majority of his front line players, but has retained Manoa …

The Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. UP DTH van der Merwe Another game, another world class performance from Canada’s best player. The winger has hardly put a foot …

This past week I was able to fulfill a dream I have had since High School – I got to watch an international rugby match in possibly the greatest rugby stadium of them all, the Millennium Stadium. What an experience and what outstanding viewing angles for spectators. Inside the stadium …

Ireland booked their place in the quarterfinals of Rugby World Cup 2015 with a narrow 16-9 victory over Italy at Olympic Park in London. In a match that would turn out to be an arm-wrestle from beginning to end, Italy’s hopes for a surprise victory took a blow after just …

Fiji and Uruguay have named their teams for their Pool A match in Milton Keynes on Tuesday. Both sides are still in search of their first win of the tournament. Fijian tighthead Manasa Saulo has been suspended for 10 weeks for stamping against Wales, so Lee-Roy Atalifo will start in …

Kieran Crowley has named his team for Canada’s final match of the World Cup, against Romania in Leicester on Tuesday. Injuries have once again affected his selections, with captain Tyler Ardron and fullback Matt Evans each ruled out and several others nursing bumps and bruises after a tough schedule. Jamie Cudmore …

Romania have named their team for their third Pool D match-up against Canada, to be played in Leicester on Tuesday. Head coach Lynn Howells has selected his strongest squad, reverting to virtually the same lineup that took on France in their tournament opener. Powerhouse forward Valentin Ursache returns from a …

South Africa reminded everyone why they have to be taken seriously at the World Cup as the ground out a physical 34-16 win over a solid Scotland side. The Springboks dominated possession and territory throughout most of the match and survived an early second half comeback from the Scots before pulling …

After a stunning 33-13 defeat by Australia, England became the first host nation in the history of the Rugby World Cup to be eliminated before the quarterfinal stage. After losing to Wales, the home side was backed into a corner and needed a win to keep their World Cup hopes …

Japan kept their World Cup quarterfinal hopes alive with a clinical 26-5 win over an ill-disciplined Samoa. Expected to be a much closer affair, Samoa had three players sent to the sin bin and were penalized 17 times in a sloppy performance. Japan dimnated possession and territory in the match …

Into the big weekend with some games doubling as extra knock-outs. Can Japan pick themselves up again after the tough match against Scotland? Does Samoa have another gear? Will England dig themselves out of the abyss with the Wallabies ready to trample on their dreams? Paul is our token ‘South American’ with …

Sergio Parisse is back to provide a huge boost for Italy as they face Ireland in their Pool D match at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. If the Azzurri have any hopes of recreating their victory in 2013, the captain will have to be at his very best against a …

Argentina and Tonga have named their teams for their historic Pool C match in Leicester on Sunday. This will be the first ever meeting of the two in test rugby. Both sides are coming off a win, and field strong lineups for a match that will ensure automatic qualification for …

France overcame a defiant Canadian side by a score of 41-18, with two tries and a penalty goal in the final quarter stretching the score after Canada had clawed their way back to within six points. Frédéric Michalak contributed 14 points with the boot and orchestrated the attack with some …

Wales survived a Fijian onslaught to escape with 23-13 victory at the Millenium Stadium on Thursday in front of more than 70,000 thoroughly entertained fans. Fiji had more than enough possession to put points on the board, but missed opportunities and resolute Welsh defense earned the home side the win. The …

The teams have been named for the crucial Pool B match between Samoa and Japan. Both sides have one win thus far, and must earn a second of they are to progress to the quarter-finals. After a stunning upset over South Africa, the Brave Blossoms will be seen as favorites, …

Jonathan Joseph returns to bolster the England midfield in the critical Pool A match against Australia on Saturday, one of three changes to the side that lost to Wales last weekend. Despite speculation that he would play no further part in the pool stages, the Bath centre has shrugged off …

Michael Cheika has reverted to the identical starting lineup that faced Fiji for the massive Pool A match against England on Saturday. If Australia defeat England, it could spell curtains for the host side, having lost to Wales in dramatic fashion on the weekend. The Wallabies, meanwhile, enjoyed a cozy …

Duncan Weir will start in the no10 shirt for Scotland against the Springboks on Saturday. Finn Russell misses out, still recovering from an ankle injury suffered against the USA on Sunday, one of a handful of first choice players left out of the run-on side. Gordon Reid and Fraser Brown …

Fourie du Preez will lead the Springboks for the first time in a test match, taking over the captaincy from Jean de Villiers after the centre was forced to drop out of the tournament with a broken jaw. Heyneke Meyer has made only three changes from the side that beat …