Day 22 at the Rugby World Cup: Springboks clinch quarter-final berth

South Africa secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with an emphatic 66-7 victory over 14-man Canada in Kobe.

Tuesday’s only game was a predictably one-sided affair with Canada, who conceded 48 points to Italy and 63 to New Zealand in their opening matches, again finding the going tough in Pool B as they shipped 10 tries to the dominant Springboks.

Here, the PA news agency reviews the action in Kobe and looks ahead to Wednesday’s fixtures in Japan.

Springboks cruise

A rampant South Africa ran in 10 tries to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with an emphatic bonus-point victory over 14-man Canada in Kobe.

Northampton’s Cobus Reinach helped himself to a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes while influential fly-half Elton Jantjies kicked his way to 16 points.

Canada, who trailed 47-0 at the break, also had to play more than half the game with a man less after Josh Larsen was sent off for a shoulder-charge into the head of Thomas Du Toit.

Wales raring to go

Robin McBryde says Wales are recharged and ready to go as they target a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Ten days after Wales toppled Australia and took charge of Pool D, the Six Nations champions tackle Fiji in Oita.

Victory over a team they have beaten at the last two World Cup tournaments will secure a last-eight spot before their final group game against Uruguay next Sunday.

“We are in a good place,” assistant coach and forwards specialist McBryde said. “We’ve obviously had a 10-day break, and we’ve been able to get recharged.”

Scots ready for crunch clash

John Barclay found himself relegated to Scotland’s second string after his Ireland horror show but hopes a stormer in Shizuoka could seal a return to Gregor Townsend’s top team for Sunday’s crucial World Cup showdown with Japan.

The Edinburgh flanker paid for a sloppy display in Scotland’s dismal Pool A opener against the Irish with his place as he, and Ryan Wilson, were dropped for the clash with Samoa.

With Hamish Watson also ruled out injured, that opened the door for Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury and Blade Thomson to form a new-look back three against the Pacific Islanders and they took their chance with a display brimming with energy during the 34-0 drubbing.

Townsend’s men now face the gruelling prospect of facing both Russia and the Brave Blossoms just four days apart and must take at least nine points to have any chance of reaching the last eight.

USA upbeat

United States forward Nate Brakeley believes his side still have plenty to play for despite being unable to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

England and France have already sealed their place in the last eight from Pool C and the Six Nations rivals will meet on Saturday to determine who will advance as group winners.

However, third place is still up for grabs and guarantees a berth in the 2023 competition in France, a significant carrot for the United States as they prepare to face Argentina on Wednesday and Tonga on Sunday.

“It’s hard to build a programme when you’re always looking for qualification so having that in our back pocket allows us to take a much more holistic look at planning for the next four years,” Brakeley told a pre-match press conference. “It’s a massive goal of ours.”

Coming up

• Pool C, Argentina v United States (0545BST, ITV4)

• Pool A, Scotland v Russia (0815BST, ITV)

• Pool D, Wales v Fiji (1045BST, ITV)