The 2015 Rugby World Cup has reached the final match, with New Zealand to defend its title against arch-rival Australia.
Title time —
The 2015 Rugby World Cup has reached the final match, with New Zealand to defend its title against arch-rival Australia.
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The All Blacks will seek to become the first team to defend its title after <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2015/10/24/sport/rugby-world-cup-new-zealand-south-africa/index.html" target="_blank">edging South Africa in a titanic semifinal,</a> having thrashed bogey team France <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2015/10/17/sport/rugby-world-cup-2015-france-new-zealand-wales-south-africa/index.html" target="_blank">62-13 in the quarters</a> after winning all four Pool C matches.
New Zealand —
The All Blacks will seek to become the first team to defend its title after edging South Africa in a titanic semifinal, having thrashed bogey team France 62-13 in the quarters after winning all four Pool C matches.
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The southern hemisphere rivals will meet in a final for the first time, with both aiming to be the first nation to win three World Cups. The Wallabies overcame Argentina in the second semifinal, having snatched a controversial <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2015/10/18/sport/rugby-argentina-ireland-australia/index.html">35-34 win over Scotland in the quarters</a> after topping Pool A with four wins from four.
Australia —
The southern hemisphere rivals will meet in a final for the first time, with both aiming to be the first nation to win three World Cups. The Wallabies overcame Argentina in the second semifinal, having snatched a controversial 35-34 win over Scotland in the quarters after topping Pool A with four wins from four.
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The Springboks, also seeking a third title, bounced back from defeat by Japan to top Pool B before a late try from captain Fourie Du Preez<a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2015/10/17/sport/rugby-world-cup-2015-france-new-zealand-wales-south-africa/index.html"> sealed a narrow 23-19 victory over Wales</a> in the quarterfinals. Heyneke Meyer's team will contest the third-place playoff against Argentina on Friday.
South Africa —
The Springboks, also seeking a third title, bounced back from defeat by Japan to top Pool B before a late try from captain Fourie Du Preez sealed a narrow 23-19 victory over Wales in the quarterfinals. Heyneke Meyer's team will contest the third-place playoff against Argentina on Friday.
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The Pumas, who had won three of four Pool C games, are clearly showing the benefits of having entered the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship in 2012. It's the second time in its history Argentina has reached semifinals, finishing third in 2007.
Argentina —
The Pumas, who had won three of four Pool C games, are clearly showing the benefits of having entered the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship in 2012. It's the second time in its history Argentina has reached semifinals, finishing third in 2007.
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The Welsh Dragons had escaped the tournament's toughest group by beating host England, which also lost to Australia. In the quarterfinal against South Africa, Wales had led 19-18 with five minutes remaining when veteran scrumhalf Du Preez took advantage of a magnificent offload from No 8. Duane Vermeulen to squeeze over in the corner.
Wales —
The Welsh Dragons had escaped the tournament's toughest group by beating host England, which also lost to Australia. In the quarterfinal against South Africa, Wales had led 19-18 with five minutes remaining when veteran scrumhalf Du Preez took advantage of a magnificent offload from No 8. Duane Vermeulen to squeeze over in the corner.
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The sheer scale of France's defeat came as a surprise given "Les Bleus" lost the 2011 final in New Zealand by just one point, and shocked the All Blacks in the 2007 quarterfinals in Cardiff and the 1999 semis at Twickenham. This year France qualified for the last eight as Pool D runner-up, losing the decider against Ireland.
France —
The sheer scale of France's defeat came as a surprise given "Les Bleus" lost the 2011 final in New Zealand by just one point, and shocked the All Blacks in the 2007 quarterfinals in Cardiff and the 1999 semis at Twickenham. This year France qualified for the last eight as Pool D runner-up, losing the decider against Ireland.
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Irish eyes were smiling after Joe Schmidt's team topped Pool D, thus avoiding a showdown against the coach's native New Zealand -- which it has never beaten, going back to 1905. But for many Irish fans those eyes were filled with tears after Argentina secured a deserved 43-20 win at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Ireland —
Irish eyes were smiling after Joe Schmidt's team topped Pool D, thus avoiding a showdown against the coach's native New Zealand -- which it has never beaten, going back to 1905. But for many Irish fans those eyes were filled with tears after Argentina secured a deserved 43-20 win at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
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The Scots edged out Japan to secure a quarterfinal place for the seventh time in eight World Cups, having missed out four years ago. Scotland went out of the tournament with heads held high after a never-say-die performance against Australia, leading 34-32 with seven minutes remaining after Mark Bennett's try.
Scotland —
The Scots edged out Japan to secure a quarterfinal place for the seventh time in eight World Cups, having missed out four years ago. Scotland went out of the tournament with heads held high after a never-say-die performance against Australia, leading 34-32 with seven minutes remaining after Mark Bennett's try.
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After much expectation and hype surrounding the so-called "Group of Death," England became the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout stage.
England —
After much expectation and hype surrounding the so-called "Group of Death," England became the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout stage.
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The "Flying Fijians" impressed in spells against Pool A's heavyweight teams but fell short at the vital moments, before a consolation win against Uruguay.
Fiji —
The "Flying Fijians" impressed in spells against Pool A's heavyweight teams but fell short at the vital moments, before a consolation win against Uruguay.
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The South American side returned to the World Cup for the first time since 2003, but was not able to match the single victories earned on its two previous appearances, finishing bottom of Pool A.
Uruguay —
The South American side returned to the World Cup for the first time since 2003, but was not able to match the single victories earned on its two previous appearances, finishing bottom of Pool A.
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The "Brave Blossoms" lived up to their name, shocking South Africa in the opening game and also beating Samoa and the U.S. Japan will hope to build on this impressive showing when it hosts the RWC in four years' time.
Japan —
The "Brave Blossoms" lived up to their name, shocking South Africa in the opening game and also beating Samoa and the U.S. Japan will hope to build on this impressive showing when it hosts the RWC in four years' time.
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The Pacific Islanders have not reached the knockout stages since 1999, and will have to qualify for 2019 after winning just one of three matches.
Samoa —
The Pacific Islanders have not reached the knockout stages since 1999, and will have to qualify for 2019 after winning just one of three matches.
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The Eagles could have done with the help of Captain America, losing all four games to prop up Pool B.
United States —
The Eagles could have done with the help of Captain America, losing all four games to prop up Pool B.
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Playing at its third World Cup after topping the European qualifiers, Georgia secured an automatic spot for 2019 with wins over Tonga and Namibia.
Georgia —
Playing at its third World Cup after topping the European qualifiers, Georgia secured an automatic spot for 2019 with wins over Tonga and Namibia.
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The "Friendly Islanders" failed to get out of the group stage yet again and will need to qualify for 2019 after placing fourth in Pool C.
Tonga —
The "Friendly Islanders" failed to get out of the group stage yet again and will need to qualify for 2019 after placing fourth in Pool C.
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The African team, made up mostly of semi-pros, won plenty of new fans despite finishing bottom of Pool C. Namibia <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2015/09/24/sport/rugby-world-cup-new-zealand-namibia/index.html" target="_blank">tested the mighty All Blacks </a>and had an agonizingly close 17-16 defeat against Georgia.
Namibia —
The African team, made up mostly of semi-pros, won plenty of new fans despite finishing bottom of Pool C. Namibia tested the mighty All Blacks and had an agonizingly close 17-16 defeat against Georgia.
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The Azzurri are nothing if not consistent -- for the fourth successive World Cup, Italy won two matches but failed to get out of the group stage. However, Jacques Brunel's team qualified for the 2019 tournament by finishing third in Pool D.
Italy —
The Azzurri are nothing if not consistent -- for the fourth successive World Cup, Italy won two matches but failed to get out of the group stage. However, Jacques Brunel's team qualified for the 2019 tournament by finishing third in Pool D.
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The East European side lost all its pool matches in 2011, but this time managed one victory to place fourth in Pool D.
Romania —
The East European side lost all its pool matches in 2011, but this time managed one victory to place fourth in Pool D.
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It was a disappointing tournament for the North American teams, with Canada finishing bottom of Pool D after four successive defeats.
Canada —
It was a disappointing tournament for the North American teams, with Canada finishing bottom of Pool D after four successive defeats.
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