AP PHOTOS: Rugby World Cup reaches the halfway stage and Ireland confirms its status as favorite
Tonga’s players perform a dance prior to the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Tonga at the Stade de Nice, in Nice, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
PARIS (AP) — The Rugby World Cup is at its halfway stage, with 24 games done and dusted.
The top story of the third set of matches was Ireland’s epic 13-8 win over defending champion South Africa to confirm its status as favorite to win the title for the first time. Ireland was heroic in holding off a second-half surge from the Springboks at Stade de France, where the final will be on Oct. 28, and where top-ranked Ireland hopes to return with its army of boisterous green-shirted fans behind it.
It won’t be an easy road back to Paris as Ireland’s pool-stage victory over the Springboks only seems to have set it up for a meeting with another three-time champion in New Zealand as early as the quarterfinals.
Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli, top left, with Samoa’s Fritz Lee jumps for the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Argentina and Samoa at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Host France still believes it will have a say in where the trophy goes and improved to three wins from three in Pool A by routing Namibia 96-0 in the southern city of Marseille. There were 14 tries from the French, including a hat trick from flying right wing Damian Penaud.
The French victory was soured, though, by captain Antoine Dupont sustaining a facial fracture in an illegal tackle by Namibia’s Johan Deysel, who was red-carded for the head-on-head hit. Dupont needed surgery and there’s no news yet on how long he might be out and if France will see its best player again at his home World Cup.
Namibia wasn’t the only team to be routed as England racked up the fourth highest points tally of this tournament to beat debutant Chile 71-0. England captain Owen Farrell returned to action after a suspension for a red card in a World Cup warmup game.
France’s Damian Penaud dives over to score the his side’s fourth try in the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between France and Namibia at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
The European teams completed a trio of victories over southern hemisphere World Cup powers when Wales’ record 40-6 thumping of two-time champion Australia closed out the set of games. It followed Ireland’s win over South Africa a day earlier and France’s opening-game triumph over New Zealand three weeks ago.
Scotland’s backline impressed in a 45-17 win over Tonga that saw the tournament’s fifth red card. Tonga No. 8 Vaea Fifita was the recipient after charging into Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell’s head late in the game in Nice.
The last Rugby World Cup in Japan set a record with eight red cards. This one is well on course to beat that.
England’s Owen Farrell is tackled by Chile’s Matias Dittus during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Italy’s Montanna Ioane is tackled by Uruguay’s Gaston Mieres during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Italy and Uruguay at the Stade de Nice, in Nice, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
England’s David Ribbans catches the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
England’s Henry Arundell, right, scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
England’s Jack Willis celebrates after scoring a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Teams contest a scrum during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Georgia and Portugal at the Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)
Wales’ Gareth Davies, right, tackles Australia’s Andrew Kellaway during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Australia at the OL Stadium in Lyon, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Spectators try to catch a ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Jasper Wiese, center above, is tackled by Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne, center, Caelan Doris, right, Tadhg Furlong, left, during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
England’s Marcus Smith passes the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between England and Chile at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, outside Lille, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Faf de Klerk kicks the ball clear during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Ireland’s James Ryan takes a line out during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Wales’ Taulupe Faletau tackles Australia’s Carter Gordon during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Australia at the OL Stadium in Lyon, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Wales’ Nick Tompkins celebrates after scoring a try against Australia during a Rugby World Cup Pool C match at the Parc OL stadium in Lyon, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
South Africa’s Damian Willemse, right, and Ireland’s Mack Hansen fight for the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe, right, Tonga’s Malakai Fekitoa, left, and Salesi Piutau fight for the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Tonga at the Stade de Nice, in Nice, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Tonga’s Augustine Pulu prepares to pass the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Tonga at the Stade de Nice, in Nice, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Wales’ Jac Morgan passes the ball during a Rugby World Cup Pool C match against Australia at the Parc OL stadium in Lyon, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Australia’s Pone Fa’Amausili covers his face after his side’s 6-40 lost against Wales during a Rugby World Cup Pool C match at the Parc OL stadium in Lyon, France, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French rugby supporters kiss as they arrive for the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between France and Namibia at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
