3rd Test SA 55-6 SCO

South Africa (19) 55

• Tries: Coetzee (2), Le Roux, Mvovo (2), Pietersen, de Jager (2)
• Pens: Pollard
• Cons: Pollard, (5) Boshoff

Scotland (6) 6

• Tries: 0
• Pens: Weir, 2
• Cons: 0

Scotland suffered a crushing defeat in their final tour match as an inexperienced South Africa side ran in eight tries in Port Elizabeth.

Marcell Coetzee, Willie le Roux and Lwazi Mvovo crossed to give the hosts a 19-6 half-time lead, with Duncan Weir landing two penalties for the Scots.

Coetzee and Mvovo both completed braces and JP Pietersen and Lood de Jager, who crossed twice, added further tries.

Debutant Springbok fly-half Handre Pollard kicked 13 points.

The result was new Scotland head coach Vern Cotter's first defeat, following wins over the United States, Canada and Argentina during the summer tour.

Even with several new faces in the South Africa side this match always represented a huge step up in class for the Scots, who were also minus a number of regulars, and so it proved from the first whistle.

Winger Lwazi Mvovo was one of three players to score two tries for the Boks

An early offside handed the South Africans a line-out five metres from the Scotland line and despite some strong initial defence, Coetzee went over between the posts. Pollard added the extras for his first points in a Springboks jersey.

Weir got Scotland on the board a few minutes later with a brilliant penalty from almost 50 yards.

But the penalties were mounting up from the Scots and South Africa took full advantage on the 10 minute mark, using good field position to send the ball across the pitch to the right flank where Le Roux dived over, with Pollard again on target with an impressive conversion.

The hosts were bossing the line-out and turned the ball over from a Scotland throw to score their third try. Pietersen raced away and kicked on for Mvovo to cross for a 19-3 lead, with Pollard missing the conversion.

Full-back Stuart Hogg was looking busy for Cotter's side but they were unable to make any real inroads into home territory, and errors were all too frequent on the rare occasions the Scots managed to get near the try-line.

A Henry Pyrgos break through the middle earned the position for Weir to bang over a second penalty from 47 yards five minutes before the break, but those were the final points for the visitors.

The Scots could not stop Marcell Coetzee crossing the line for one of his brace of tries

They went down to 14 men after 50 minutes when Tim Swinson picked up a yellow card and the hosts cashed in immediately, with a driven maul taking Coetzee over for his second try of the match. Pollard, who had landed a penalty soon after the restart, made no mistake with the conversion.

There was no stopping the South Africans and Pietersen crossed in the right corner following a big switch from a line-out, before a poor pass from Scotland scrum-half Pyrgos on the hour was picked off by Mvovo, who ran unchallenged to score his second try.

Minutes later Pyrgos failed to collect a high ball and 6ft 10in lock forward De Jager galloped 40m to score, with Pollard converting two of the three score as the Boks stretched well clear.

The visitors battled on with Hogg and Tommy Seymour offering some encouragement, but the final word went to the Boks as the giant De Jager went over again, this time from just a few feet, before Marnitz Boshoff popped over the extras for the rampant hosts. 

3rd Test NZ 36-13 ENG

NZ

Tries: Savea 3, AL Smith 2
Cons: Barrett, Cruden 3
Pens: Cruden

ENG

Tries: Yarde
Cons: Burns
Pens: Burns 2

England imploded at the Waikato Stadium to conclude their series against New Zealand with an error-ridden 36-13 defeat as the All Blacks amassed a record-equalling 17th successive victory.

New Zealand wing Julian Savea plundered a hat-trick and scrum-half Aaron Smith added two tries in the win as England paid dearly for a first half that was possibly the worst of Stuart Lancaster's two and a half year reign as head coach.

Encouraged by England's inexplicably passive defence, the All Blacks ran amok in a 40-minute spell that will make for gruesome viewing when it is reviewed.

The decision to replace Kyle Eastmond at half-time with Luther Burrell told the story of the Bath centre's nightmarish ordeal as he repeatedly waved through New Zealand's midfield. 

But Eastmond was not alone with numerous tourists falling off tackles with Freddie Burns proving almost as fragile. Even powerful wing Marland Yarde was bumped off with ease at one point.

Trailing 29-6 at half-time, England at least fought back with Yarde's try offering a glimmer of hope of securing only a third victory in New Zealand until the continuous mistakes made that dream impossible.

Successive defeats in Auckland and Dunedin may have placed England on the brink of a whitewash, but there was little sign of the carnage waiting in the final Test. The combined losing margin of both games was only six points, yet the fighting spirit evident for most of Lancaster's stewardship was absent from the first half at the Waikato Stadium.

It took just three minutes for Savea to expose England's defensive frailty after profiting from a strong break by Ma'a Nonu and Cory Jane's skill at keeping the move going. And Savea quickly added his second and seventh in four Tests against England after Aaron Cruden had sped between Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi far too easily. 

 England's splintering three-quarter line was in disarray and Savea did not need a second invitation as he weaved over the whitewash.

Eastmond's defence continued to be exploited but Ben Smith's pass to Savea was forward as the All Blacks failed to capitalise on a large overlap. And their problems continued to mount as Billy Vunipola was sin-binned for a high tackle on Cruden, although a Burns penalty had at least narrowed the deficit to 15-6.

It was all too easy as the All Blacks continued to create openings at will, aided by some feeble defending as Burns and Eastmond allowed debutant Malakai Fekitoa through. Another lapse was responsible for New Zealand's third try and this time it was Yarde who slipped off the tackle, enabling Jane to dash clear before sending Aaron Smith over.

It looked ominous when New Zealand attacked from a penalty instead of taking the points and while they were foiled on that occasion, they did not have to wait long for the fourth try to come. Ben Smith, assisted by another failed tackle from Burns, dummied his way clear of a crumbling wall of white shirts and found Aaron Smith running the perfect support line.

England had lost patience with Eastmond and replaced him with Burrell at the interval. It was a different side that appeared for the second half as they attacked the All Blacks with vigour and were rewarded with a fine 43rd-minute try. 

Joe Launchbury, Ben Youngs and Tuilagi combined brilliantly to sweep England within inches of the whitewash and Yarde was on hand to finish the move.

Only a try-saving tackle by Jane prevented Yarde from crossing a second time and it looked promising when a five-metre scrum was won. 

But England imploded once more, losing the scrum and then coming under renewed pressure with Savea butchering a chance before Chris Ashton booted the ball out to end a comically inept passage of play.

Yarde was becoming increasingly influential and only a double tackle prevented him from touching down as England relaunched their offensive.

All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett was sent to the sin-bin for dragging down the maul, but his team-mates expertly repelled the driving wedge then launched by the tourists.

Predictably, Savea completed the rout with his third try in injury time and finally the ordeal was over for England.

3rd Test AUS 39-13 FRA

AUS: Tries: Folau 2, Hooper, Phipps, Skelton

Cons: Foley 4
Pens: Foley 2

FRA: Tries: Guirado

Cons: Machenaud
Pens: Dulin, Machenaud

Australia completed a 3-0 series sweep against France in facile fashion at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, scoring five tries in recording their 11th consecutive home victory over Les Bleus. The victory, their seventh in succession, also marks the longest winning streak for an Australia side since 1999-2000 - when they were last world champions.

The Wallabies were untroubled by France after claiming an early lead through a penalty through Bernard Foley, slicing their opponents in front of a record 43,188-strong crowd with a combination of strength at the set-piece and breakdown, heavy defence and lightning attacks involving sublime interplay between the backs and the forwards.

Wycliff Palu was deservedly named man of the match for his strength with ball in hand and at the breakdown, but he must have been pressed hard for the award by Israel Folau, who scored another two tries and threatened the French line at will, and debutant Will Skelton. 

The 140kg second-rower powered over for the opening try and showed wonderful skills in tight and with ball in hand, dishing a lovely short ball to put Folau into space to canter to the posts for his second try of the game.

Australia's Will Skelton scored a try during his barnstorming Test debut © Getty Images

Enlarge

Michael Hooper swan-dived over for a try in the 61st minute, after wonderful work from replacement centre Kurtley Beale, and reserve scrum-half Nick Phipps crossed for his first Test try inside the final five minutes.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie enjoyed his 49th birthday present, but he still has plenty to consider about before he gets his players back in camp for their Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship preparations. 

Execution in attack was poor at times, and there slip-ups at the set-piece, but the Wallabies played with intent and shape in their attack to suggest last week's tryless Test was an aberration.

Tour Match Argentina 19-21 Scotland

Duncan Weir scored a late penalty to see off Argentina as Scotland secured their third Test win on the spin under new head coach Vern Cotter.

Stuart Hogg scored a first-half try before Javier Ortega Desio ran over to give the Pumas a half time lead.

The hosts took charge after the break through the boot of Nicolas Sanchez's kicking and Joaquin Tuculet's try.

But Henry Pyrgos crossed late on and Weir held his nerve to win it with his third successful penalty.

Scotland had already beaten USA and Canada on the four-match tour and they take on South Africa next Saturday.

Cotter's inexperienced side, captained for the first time by Grant Gilchrist, were shaky in the opening stages but began to push the Pumas back, with Hogg looking lively.

Nicolas Sanchez was in great form for the Pumas

And they grabbed the lead in the 6th minute, Nick De Luca's excellent pass sent Tommy Seymour scampering down the left and he fed Hogg to go over in the corner, with Weir converting.

Seymour went close again soon after, following his own kick down the left only to be denied by a bad bounce.

The hosts went straight up the pitch and scored a try of their own. Santiago Iglesias sparked the initial counter on the right and after a great spell of possession Desio dived over on the left. Sanchez was unable to add the extras from out wide.

Argentina were having all sorts of problems at their own line-outs, gifting possession back to the visitors, who were attacking with real promise but falling short in the final third.

And they fell behind in the 27th minute when Sanchez banged over a delightful drop goal.

The fly-half began to boss proceedings with some pin-point work with the boot, paving the way for a period of dominance for the hosts. He was, however, just off target with another drop goal attempt.

Ross Ford, on the night he became Scotland's most capped hooker, helped steady the ship for Cotter's side but they passed up the chance to take a lead into the break when Weir's penalty drifted narrowly wide.

It was 11-7 after two minutes of the second half when Sanchez knocked over a penalty.

Cotter's troops enjoyed another spell of decent possession but were unable to break through and had to settle for a penalty, scored by Weir to take his side within a point of the Pumas.

Scotland gave away another penalty for failing to release at the breakdown and Sanchez scored from the half-way line with a superb kick.

Grant Gilchrist captained the Scots for the first time in Cordoba

The hosts quickly built on that advantage when substitute Tuculet showed a great turn of pace to cross on the left but Sanchez could not convert.

Seymour, so impressive in spells the first half, got going again in the 63rd minute on the left to earn good field position but the home defence stood solid and turned the ball over.

The Scots were struggling to put phases together but a monster penalty from Weir brought them within six points with just under 10 minutes to play.

And sub Pyrgos reduced their arrears to a 19-18 when he ran over following fine work by De Luca and Seymour down the left. Weir, however, missed the chance to give his side the lead.

The Glasgow Warriors fly-half had the chance to make amends with a 78th minute penalty and he made no mistake, crashing the ball straight over the posts, amid a chorus of boos from the home fans, for a 21-19 lead.

Sanchez then missed a last-gasp drop goal as the Scots snatched the win.

And they now head to Port Elizabeth next Saturday to take on the Springboks. 

Hockey World Cup Final Day

Sunday 15 June

Place 7-8
Men, Spain 1-1 New Zealand
(New Zealand won 4-1 on penalties)

Place 5-6
Men, Belgium 4-2 Germany

Place 3-4
Men, England 0-2 Argentina

Final
Men, Netherlands 1-6 Australia 

Test Match CAN 17-19 SCO

CAN

Tries: Hassler
Pens: Jones, Pritchard 3

SCO
Tries: Gilchrist
Cons: Laidlaw
Pens: Hogg, Laidlaw 3

A Greig Laidlaw penalty eight minutes from time helped Scotland to a 19-17 victory over Canada in Toronto, but it was a fairly turgid game which by the end had become a battle between the kickers. 

The final minutes were overshadowed by the controversial red carding of Canadian flanker Jeb Sinclair for a late tackle.

Vern Cotter, in his second match in charge of the Scots, would have been a relived man at the final whistle as his side were never really in command of a game they would have hoped to have won well. In fact, it was Canada who often played the more inventive rugby.

Jeff Hassler scored Canada's only try after 22 minutes to put them 8-3 up but the lead lasted five minutes before Grant Gilchrist replied for Scotland after good work from the pack from the lineout. From thereon in the sides exchanged kicks, Stuart Hogg's penalty from halfway the pick of the bunch.

As Canada pressurised four minutes from time they won a penalty in James Pritchard's range but the decision was reversed and Sinclair sent off for what the referee ruled to be a dangerous and late challenge on Scotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson.

2nd Test ARG 17-23 IRE

ARG

Tries: Gonzalez Amorosino, Tuculet
Cons: Gonzalez Iglesias, Sanchez
Pens: Sanchez

IRE
Tries: Madigan, Zebo
Cons: Madigan, Sexton
Pens: Sexton 3

Ireland claimed their first Test series victory in Argentina after overcoming some first-half jitters to seal a 23-17 victory over the Pumas in Tucuman.

Ireland, who won the opening match 29-17 last weekend, trailed 10-9 at the break in the second Test at the Estadio Jose Fierro but second-half tries from Simon Zebo and replacement Ian Madigan helped them claim the spoils. Jonny Sexton also slotted over three penalties and a conversion for the Six Nations champions, with Madigan adding the extras for his try.

Ireland started brightly and took the lead in the fifth minute when Argentina No.8 Antonio Ahualli de Chazal was penalised, and Sexton made no mistake with the straightforward penalty. 

A minute later the tourists looked like they had increased their lead further when Sexton's kick picked out Zebo in space on the left wing, only for the Munster flyer to run out of space and a toe in touch denied him a third international try.

Ireland's hopes of a second win of their summer tour were boosted in the ninth minute when Argentina hooker Matias Cortese was sin-binned for an illegal chop tackle on the rampaging Dave Kilcoyne, and once again Sexton had an easy job to convert the penalty to give Ireland a 6-0 advantage.

But Argentina coped easily with Ireland's numerical advantage and two minutes before Cortese's return, the numbers were evened up when Andrew Trimble was also sin-binned when he took out Argentina winger Manuel Montero without the ball.

Nicolas Sanchez slotted the resultant penalty to halve Ireland's lead, but after 21 minutes the Sexton-Zebo link almost produced dividends once again, only for a saving tackle from Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino to deny Rob Kearney.

Joe Schmidt's side looked certain to score the game's opening try, and only a forward pass from Jamie Heaslip stopped Chris Henry's drive to the tryline in the 21st minute. And from the resultant defensive scrum, Argentina would end up scoring a try of their own.

Home skipper Martin Landajo broke easily through the porous Irish defensive line, and although Zebo's covering tackle denied Amorosino a certain score, quick ball was presented to Landajo and his skip pass sent Joaquin Tuculet in for a simple try.

That try gave the home side a four-point lead, but eight minutes before the break Sexton landed a third penalty of the half when Lucas Noguera Paz flew off his feet after strong carries from Kilcoyne and Heaslip. Despite that effort though, Ireland still trailed at the break as Argentina looked to level up the series.

Sexton missed a slightly awkward penalty three minutes after the restart, but Ireland recaptured the lead in the 51st minute when Eoin Reddan broke smartly off a rolling maul and sent Zebo in for his try with a fine inside pass.

Sexton's conversion made it 16-10 to Ireland but the Racing Metro fly-half left the action following a clash of heads 15 minutes from time, with his former Leinster team-mate Madigan taking over the kicking duties.

He missed the target with his first effort but he made amends when he converted his own try, which he made with a neat sidestep to score under the posts seven minutes from time to put Ireland 23-10 ahead.

Ireland, who sent on James Cronin, Noel Reid and Rob Herring for their debuts in the closing stages, conceded a second Argentina try right at the end when Amarasino went over but the match - and the series - were already safely in the bag for the tourists.

1st Test SA 38-16 WAL

SA

Tries: Habana 2, Hendricks, le Roux, Vermeulen Cons: Steyn 5 Pens: Steyn

WAL

Tries: Cuthbert
Cons: Hook
Pens: Biggar
Drops: Biggar 2

Wales lost their opening Test in South Africa 38-16 after they were blown away by a rampant first-half display by the Springboks.

Bryan Habana crossed twice while Duane Vermulen and Willie le Roux also scored as South Africa hit Wales with four tries before half-time. Cornal Hendricks followed in the second half before Alex Cuthbert lit up King's Park with a blistering solo score to grab some consolation for a well-beaten Wales team. Earlier Gareth Davies had seen his try ruled out for a forward pass as Wales at least made a fist of the second period.

But the damage had been done in the opening 40 minutes as South Africa built a 28-9 lead at half-time in Durban. It had looked set to be a different story from the opening exchanges when Wales got off to a flying start. Outside-half Dan Biggar kicked the tourists ahead with a third-minute drop-goal and they managed to move the ball wide to danger wings Cuthbert and George North in the opening exchanges.

At the other end of the field, Wales managed to repel the first raid from the Springboks, but there was no stopping Habana, when he raced on to a chip ahead by outstanding full-back Le Roux, to notch his score. Morne Steyn added the conversion from close to the touchline to open a faultless display with the boot, kicking six from six in a 13-point haul.

Welsh woes continued when Jamie Roberts was sent to the sin-bin after 13 minutes for taking out Le Roux in the air with a clumsy tackle after a Biggar up and under from a penalty. While the Racing Metro 92 centre was off the field the Boks added two more tries as they extended their lead to 21-6. Number eight Vermulen crashed over from close range in the 16th minute after a dynamic line-out peel five metres out.

Steyn added the extras and did the same when Habana responded immediately to Biggar's second drop goal of the game midway through the first half. The magnificent Le Roux spotted a mismatch in midfield against Aaron Shingler to create the overlap for his wing who raced over for his 55th Test touchdown.

That man Le Roux turned from provider to scorer just before the break as he chipped over the Welsh defensive line before re-gathering and riding North's tackle to reach the line. Steyn added a fourth conversion.

Biggar ensured he had the first and last word of the half as he kicked a penalty to cut the gap to 19 points at the break after Bismarck du Plessis had been penalised.

That was cancelled out early in the second half by Steyn before man of the match Le Roux set up the Springbok's fifth try on 52 minutes. JP Peterson went close before Le Roux switched direction, exploiting the lack of Welsh jerseys and new cap Hendricks stepped inside North to touch down on his Test debut.

Trailing 38-6, Warren Gatland threw on his replacements who at least stemmed the tide. Ian Evans spilled an attacking lineout five metres from the line but replacement scrum-half Davies showed his potential, turning poor ball into attack.

Davies darted through before off-loading to Biggar only for the return pass to be judged forward. Wales looked to have wasted their best chance before Cuthbert set off from his own 22-yard line, battling through three defenders before out-pacing three more, including Habana, for a stunning try that James Hook converted.

A resilient try-line stand prevented a further score at the final whistle.

Hockey World Cup knock-out stages

Saturday 14 June

Final
Women, Australia 0-2 Netherlands
Place 9-10
Men, India 3-0 South Korea
Place 5-6
Women, New Zealand 4-0 China
Place 3-4
Women, United States 1-2 Argentina 

2nd Test AUS 6-0 FRA

Pens: Foley, White

Australia have ground to their sixth successive Test victory in an arm-wrestle at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, starting halves Bernard Foley and Nic White each kicking a penalty. 

The Wallabies now head to Sydney with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series having extended their winning run against France in Australia to 10 matches in 24 years.

France brought their passion and muscle as they attempted to "overcome the insult" of their 50-23 thumping in Brisbane last week, but their famed flair was lacking, as was the Wallabies' attacking precision, and the Australian Rugby Union will have been bitterly disappointed with the fare provided to the small crowd of 27,189 looking for tries rather than raking drop punts after Australia had scored 23 tries in their previous five victories.

The victory, instead, was reward for the Wallabies' muscle and composure in the face of revenge mission.

Foley put the first points on the board in the 53rd minute following a penalty at the breakdown, while White put them six ahead 11 minutes later. White could have ensured coach Ewen McKenzie breathed easier, but he missed three penalty attempts in the second half.

France's defence, breakdown effort and general intensity were much improved on their first Test effort, when they were torn apart in a seven-try blitz, and hence the Wallabies chose not to chance their arm in their own territory.

France had opportunities to claim an early lead, but their lack of precision in attack, goal-kicking and the set-piece cost them dearly. Brice Dulin and Morgan Parra both missed penalty attempts while flanker Yannick Nyanga botched a try-scoring chance by failing to pick up his chargedown on Matt Toomua.

2nd Test NZ 28-27 ENG

New Zealand 28

Tries: Nonu, Savea, BR Smith
Cons: Barrett, Cruden
Pens: Barrett, Cruden 2

England 27
Tries: Ashton, Brown, Yarde
Cons: Farrell 3
Pens: Farrell 2

England slumped to a series defeat to New Zealand after being picked apart with clinical efficiency in a devastating second-half spell at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

A 10-6 interval lead turned into a three-try victory for the All Blacks that was far more emphatic than the scoreline suggests with Mike Brown and Chris Ashton crossing late on to sugar-coat the loss.

Tries from Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Ma'a Nonu took the match beyond England's reach, even if Brown's 72nd-minute score offered brief hope of a fightback.

Manu Tuilagi made his first international appearance on the wing as England targeted victory at the Forsyth Barr Stadium to level their series against New Zealand.

Tuilagi was moved from outside centre to accommodate the return of Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell, with Tom Wood, Danny Care and Owen Farrell also reinforcing the assault on the second Test.

The All Blacks were strengthened by the addition of prolific wing Julian Savea following a knee injury as they sought a 16th successive victory.

New Zealand suffered at the hands of referee Jaco Peyper in the opening minutes, conceding two penalties with Owen Farrell sending the second between the posts.

The promising England start continued as Care crept into space and fed Burrell on the charge before Rob Webber fell inches short of crossing.

Aaron Smith's clearance was charged down by Joe Launchbury, Wood leapt on the loose ball and Webber attempted to burrow over but was held up in the nick of time.

It looked all too easy for England and the eighth minute Marland Yarde was delivered the ball from a rolling maul, shrugged off a tackle from Richie McCaw and forced his body over the whitewash.

Remarkably, when Farrell kicked the conversion the tourists led 10-0 and having conceded three points to the boot of Cruden they resumed their offensive.

The influential Twelvetrees cantered into space and Yarde continued to look for work off the left wing as New Zealand came under sustained pressure.

Geoff Parling forced a turnover but England squandered the chance to renew their attack because of the most recent in a series of unforced errors that had crept into their game.

The All Blacks looked typically lethal when on the ball, but one move that sent Savea sprinting into space was brought back for crossing with Ma'a Nonu the guilty culprit.

Yarde continued to roam off his wing to superb effect and when Chris Robshaw pinched a New Zealand line-out throw they were off again only for Peyper to miss an obvious offside from Ben Smith.

For all England's dominance, they were failing to make the necessary impression on the scoreboard.

A frantic and at times comical passage of play unfolded with Tuilagi showing a deft touch in defence, Dane Coles almost putting Ben Smith clear, Farrell strolling out of his own 22 virtually unchallenged and prop David Wilson kicking for touch.

The 28,400-capacity crowd remained gripped as wing Cory Jane dropped the ball when the line was at his mercy and Tuilagi picked it up, ran most of the pitch before succumbing to a try-saving tackle by Ben Smith.

New Zealand had the final say in a roller-coaster first half when Cruden sent a second penalty between the uprights.

The high-octane pace continued into the second half with England probing once again until Twelvetrees gave the ball away and New Zealand pounced for a brilliantly-executed try.

Cruden found Savea with a perfectly-timed pass and the All Blacks wing sped forward before sending Ben Smith over under thee posts, making it a simple conversion for Cruden.

A Farrell penalty levelled the score and New Zealand should have added a second try but Aaron Smith chose to go it alone instead of sending an unmarked Liam Messam over.

The move continued and this time the All Blacks struck by exploiting an overlap on the left as Savea strolled over for his 20th try in 21 caps.

The ominous sight of New Zealand moving through the gears and breaking the gainline at will was compounded by Farrell disappearing into the sin-bin for not releasing in the tackle.

When substitute fly-half Beauden Barrett kicked a penalty and Nonu crossed in the left corner following intelligent thinking from Conrad Smith, England's encouraging first half seemed a distant memory.

Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola arrived off the bench and threw themselves into the fray, but it was a 72nd-minute try from Mike Brown that offered hope of a comeback.

Brown cut in off the angle to cross and in the final play of the game, when the result was beyond doubt, Chris Ashton took Tuilagi's pass to narrow the defeat to one point.

Hockey World Cup Knock-out stages

Friday 13 June

Place 9-10
Women, Japan 0-2 South Africa

Place 7-8
Women, South Korea 4-2 Germany

Semi-finals
Netherlands 1-0 England
Men, Australia 5-1 Argentina 

Hockey World Cup Knock-out stages

Thursday 12 June

Place 11-12
Women, Belgium 1-1 England
(England won 2-1 in penalties)

Men, Malaysia 2-6 South Africa

Semi-finals
Women, United States 2-2 Australia
(Australia won 3-1 on penalties)

Women, Netherlands 4-0 Argentina 

Hockey World Cup Day 10

Tuesday 10 June

Group B
Women, Argentina 1-1 China
Women, Germany 1-3 England
Women, United States 4-2 South Africa
Men, Germany 6-1 South Korea
Men, Argentina 5-1 South Africa
Men, New Zealand 1-1 Netherlands 

Hockey World Cup Days 8+9

Monday 9 June

Group A
Women, Netherlands 3-0 South Korea
Men, Spain 5-2 Malaysia
Men, Australia 4-0 India
Women, New Zealand 0-0 Australia

Women, Japan 2-2 Belgium
Men, Belgium 2-3 England 

Sunday 8 June

Group B
Men, South Africa 1-7 Netherlands
Men, New Zealand 3-5 Germany
Men, South Korea 0-5 Argentina
Women, United States 4-1 Germany
Women, England 1-2 Argentina
Women, China 4-3 South Africa 

USA 6-24 Scotland

Vern Cotter enjoyed victory over USA in his first match in charge of Scotland in Houston.

Tim Visser and Stuart Hogg crossed and the Scots also scored a penalty try at the BBVA Compass Stadium.

Captain Greig Laidlaw kicked the rest of Scotland's points in scorching temperatures, with Chris Wyles knocking over two penalties for the Eagles.

Blair Cowan, Gordon Reid, Finn Russell and substitute Alex Allan debuted for the tourists, who face Canada next.

Victory in Texas would have been more comfortable for Scotland had their handling been more assured and New Zealander Cotter admitted afterwards his new charges would have to improve against the Canadians.

However, the Scots were dominant at the set piece.

Gloucester's Laidlaw landed an early penalty after the Scottish forwards had bossed the USA scrum but Saracens' Wyles soon levelled.

The guile of Hogg and Sean Maitland began to cause the Americans problems and, when Laidlaw spotted a gap behind a ruck, Visser made an easy run in for the opening try.

Reid (centre) was one of three Scotland debutants BBVA Compass Stadium

The score marked the Edinburgh player's return to international action following a broken leg and took his tally to seven in 13 caps. Laidlaw converted.

And there should have been more with Visser spilling an easy chance following good work by Hogg and Duncan Taylor and the Dutch-born winger also dropped the ball when going for a try.

Wyles then cleared to touch after a Visser's pass fell short of scrum-half Laidlaw.

Scotland mauled and scrummed on the home line for almost five minutes before getting USA prop Olive Kilifi sin-binned for dropping one scrum too many.

And when the USA did the same again, Scotland eventually got their reward with a penalty try that Laidlaw converted.

Despite being a man short, the home side thought they had a try of their own when captain Todd Clever powered his way to the line only to be penalised for a double movement.

The heat began to take its toll in a second half lacking in fluency and the Americans briefly cut into Scotland's lead with a second Wyles penalty.

But Hogg lit up the Test with the clinching try, superbly catching a high ball under pressure and running in from 50 yards.

With Jim Hamilton being replaced by Grant Gilchrist in the first half, the lock could be a doubt for Saturday's meeting with the Canadians.

Tests against Argentina and South Africa follow for Cotter's side, with a different squad selected for the second half of the tour.

Hockey World Cup Day 7

Saturday 7 June

Group A
Women, South Korea 4-2 Belgium
Men, Spain 2-5 Belgium
Men, Indian 1-1 Malaysia 
Men, England 0-5 Australia

Women, Japan 1-4 New Zealand
Women, Australia 0-2 Netherlands 

1st Test Argentina 17-29 Ireland

Second-half tries from Jonny Sexton and Andrew Trimble helped Ireland to a first Test victory in Argentina on Saturday night. 

Chris Henry also crossed in the opening period for Ireland, but a leg injury to Sexton 16 minutes from time will concern coach Joe Schmidt ahead of next weekend's second Test at Tucuman.

That aside, though, it was a night to enjoy for the Irish. After a lively opening 10 minutes at Resistencia, the tourists made the first impact on the scoreboard when Gabriel Ascarate was penalised for breaking the offside line, and Sexton made no mistake from the left-hand side.

From the restart Ireland were guilty of handing easy field position to their hosts when Andrew Trimble knocked on, but Greg Feek would have been thrilled to see his scrum demolish the Argentinians on their ball and the resultant penalty released the pressure.

Ireland continued to have the upper hand at the scrum for the remainder of the first half, while a solid lineout marshalled expertly by Paul O'Connell in this 100th Test match also gave the Six Nations champions a great attacking platform.

Eight minutes after he gave his side the lead, Sexton doubled that advantage to 6-0 when the Ulster duo of Darren Cave and Like Marshall linked up well for a line-break in midfield and the scrambling Argentinian defence was forced into the concession of a penalty.

But Ireland did not have it all their own way in the first half, and after Santiagio Cordero went close to crossing in the right corner, Nicolas Sanchez got them on the board with a well-struck penalty after 27 minutes to leave it 6-3.

The Argentinian challenge was dented when No.8 Benjamin Macone was sin-binned in the 29th minute when he took Trimble out in the air, but despite their numerical inferiority, the home side stunned Ireland when Sanchez's smart break sent Manuel Montero clear to score in the corner.

Sanchez converted to give Argentina a 10-6 lead, but Ireland hit back immediately when O'Connell got the maul rolling five metres from the line and Henry dotted down. Sexton missed the tricky conversion from the left, but Ireland would have been happy to escape the half by leading 11-10.

However, they charged into the second half with Schmidt's words echoing their ears, and three minutes after the restart Sexton rounded off a super team move to bag his side's second try. 

The move stemmed from a fine lineout steal from debutant Robbie Diack, and after a powerful break from Jordi Murphy, Sexton linked up splendidly with Marshall to score an unconverted try on the right.

And just short of the hour mark, Ireland put the result beyond any doubt when Trimble intercepted Sanchez's looping pass on halfway and had the easiest of tasks to canter home unopposed for a third Irish try.

Sexton slotted the conversion but he soon limped off with a leg injury, while his replacement Ian Madigan slotted two late penalties to gloss the victory as Tomas De La Vega crossed for a late Argentinian consolation.

Tomas de la Vega scores a late consolation for Argentina © Twitter

9' ARG 0-3 IRE: Sexton penalty.
16' ARG 0-6 IRE: Sexton penalty
26' ARG 3-6 IRE: Sanchez penalty.
30' ARG 8-6 IRE: Montero
31' ARG 10-6 IRE: Sanchez conversion
34' ARG 10-11 IRE: Henry.

HT ARG 10-11 IRE

42' ARG 10-16 IRE: Sexton
57' ARG 10-21 IRE: Trimble
58' ARG 10-23 IRE: Sexton conversion
67' ARG 10-26 IRE: Madigan pen
70' ARG 10-29 IRE: Maidgan pen
78' ARG 15-29 IRE: De La Vega 
79' ARG 17-29 IRE: Iglesias conversion

FT ARG 17-29 IRE

One Off Game South Africa 47-13 World XV

South Africa warmed up for their June internationals in ideal fashion on Saturday with a 47-13 victory over a star-studded World XV in Cape Town.

The Springboks recovered from a slow start to outscore their opponents six tries to one. 

Although the match did not carry full 'Test' status, Heyneke Meyer's troops were tested in every facet of the game by a side packed with talent and up for the challenge.

World XV coach Nick Mallett said his side would have to pitch up with the right attitude and it was clear from the first minute that they had come to give the Boks a full examination.

South Africa led 18-13 at the interval thanks to tries from Toulon team-mates Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha in reply to World XV lock Alistair Hargreaves' opening score. 

The lead changed hands a number of times in the first half as the World XV matched their hosts in the set pieces and did not step back in contact.

But as expected, the tourists' defensive organisation ultimately proved their undoing as the powerful Boks clinically cashed in on the opportunities offered. 

The Springbok pack took control in the second half though as two textbook mauls off line-outs gave the hosts a healthy lead before late tries from Johan Goosen and Willie le Roux added the cherry on top of a well-deserved win.

The tourists made the brighter start and found their way over the try-line after just five minutes as Saracens lock Hargreaves crashed over after his second row partner and countryman Juandré Kruger was stopped just short. Australian full-back James O'Connor added the conversion to cap a perfect start for the multi-national side.

The Boks replied almost immediately though as Morne Steyn slotted an easy penalty after the visitors were caught offside. 

The World XV came close to snatching another early try but Matt Giteau's grubber had just too much on it and beat Hosea gear to the deadball line. Mallett's side  nevertheless had their tails up. 

That would change at the end of the first quarter when Habana scored out wide after JP Pietersen threw a nifty pass between his legs to expose a massive overlap. 

The ball went through the hands to give Habana an easy run-in. Steyn's conversion attempt sailed wide to leave South Africa leading 8-7. 

The World XV only had two training sessions to prepare but their scrum got on top of the Boks in the first half, earning a penalty which O'Connor sent over to put the visitors back in front. 

The lead changed hands once again on the half-hour mark as Steyn hit the target with a penalty against Hargreaves for being offside.

Vital blow

The Boks landed a vital blow just before the break with a refreshing display of counter-attacking as Le Roux, Habana and Victor Matfield combined to put Botha clear to score.

Steyn's conversion into the wind crept over to give the hosts a seven-point lead but O'Connor reduced the deficit to five points after Bismarck du Plessis was caught way offside on the stroke of half-time. 

The Bok fly-half extended the lead (21-13) soon after the restart with an easy penalty after Joe Tekori entered a maul from the side. Mamuka Gorgodze was given a yellow card for the same offence a few minutes later and the Boks used their numerical advantage to rumble over the line with a classic lineout-maul drive. 

Bismarck du Plessis bagged his second try on the hour mark as the home side repeated the same line-out and maul with ruthless efficiency. 

The wind was finally taken out the World XV's sails when Jimmy Cowen was sin binned for stamping. 

The Boks put the game to bed in the dying minutes as Goosen ghosted over from close range before Lwazi Mvovo put Le Roux away for their sixth try in the final minute, to finish an attack started by Schalk Brits in his own half. 

The Boks will now face Wales in seven days full of confidence.


5' SA 0-5 WXV: Hargreaves
6' SA 0-7 WXV: O'Connor converts.
8' SA 3-7 WXV: Steyn with the penalty.
16' SA 8-7 WXV: Habana
23' SA 8-10 WXV: O'Connor penalty
30' SA 11-10 WXV: Steyn penalty. 
32' SA 16-10 WXV: Botha 
33' SA 18-10 WXV: Steyn converts
40' SA 18-13 WXV: O'Connor penalty

HT SA 18-13 WXV 

44' SA 21-13 WXV: Steyn penalty. 
48' SA 26-13 WXV: Du Plessis
58' SA 31-13 WXV: Du Plessis.
59' SA 33-13 WXV: Steyn converts.
77' SA 38-13 WXV: Goosen
78' SA 40-13 WXV: Goosen converts
79' SA 45-13 WXV: Le Roux
80' SA 47-13 WXV: Goosen converts.

FT SA 47-13 WXV

1st Test AUS 50-23 FRA

Australia made an encouraging start to their Test campaign, scoring seven tries in running riot against France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

But it was not a perfect night for the Wallabies, with Stephen Moore limping out of his first Test as captain after just five minutes and the pack conceding a penalty try in time added on at the end of the second half.

Pre-match concerns over the rookie halves pair and their second-row were unfounded as Nic White and Bernard Foley impressed and debutant lock Sam Carter was named man of the match as they produced in producing an attacking masterclass to pick up where they left off in Europe last year.

The seven-try blitz was their highest score over France in Australia, and they led 50-9 when Israel Folau loped 50 metres and put replacement Pat McCabe over with his first touch of the ball in the 71st minute. 

Folau also scored a try of his own and played a key role in the try of the night with Nick Cummins finishing a beautiful backline move.

France, to their credit, made a late impact through their replacements to reduce the margin with two five-pointers, including a pushover penalty try in time added-on.

The Wallabies led 29-9 at half-time, with the game all but over, following a four-try first half in which the French fumbled their way out of contention.

Foley and White took to their task with relish - finding a hungry array of runners with wide passes of which Quade Cooper would have been proud - but it was 50-cap forwards Wycliff Palu and James Slipper, a stand out in his 65 minutes, who were the unlikely duo to combine and put Folau over for the opening try in the 19th minute.

Israel Folau was sensational again 

Vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper was quickly over for the second thanks to a clever grubber by Foley for Cummins before a dropped intercept allowed Matt Toomua to put his winger over.

France hung in through the boot of veteran fly-half Frederic Michalak, but the Wallabies scooted clear with their clinical attack - Tevita Kuridrani producing a deft volleyball bump for Michael Hooper to score in the 32nd minute.

Toomua's try just before the break epitomised the game, the centre pouncing on a loose ball that debutant winger Felix le Bourhis left behind following a turnover from a Rob Simmons break.

Australia: Tries Folau (18'), Ashley-Cooper (23'), Hooper (32'), Toomua (38'), Cummins (55'), Beale (67'), McCabe (70') 

Cons Foley (20', 32', 39', 57', 68', 71') 

Pens Foley (3')

France: Tries Parra (72'), Penalty try (80') 

Cons Michalak (73', 80')  

Pens Michalak (26', 36') 

Drops Michalak (4') 

3' AUS 3-0 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the goal from 24 metres directly in front.

4' AUS 3-3 FRA: Australia spill the kick-off and France are straight on the front foot. Freddie Michalak levels the score with a drop goal off the left-hand post.

18' AUS 8-3 FRA: Try Australia: Israel Folau slices through defence on left flank after taking short pop ball from James Slipper. Lovely play Australia. Kept ball alive after France seemed to have stopped the momentum.

20' AUS 10-3 FRA: Bernard Foley lands the extras from 5m inside touch.

23' AUS 15-3 FRA: Try Australia. Adam Ashley Cooper scores 27th Test try. Gael Fickou almost intercepted long flat ball, but pill rebounds to Matt Toomua who passes over his shoulder to Ashley-Cooper on the right touchline.

26' AUS 15-6 FRA: Penalty France, and Freddie Michalak has no problem reducing the margin.

32' AUS 20-6 FRA: Try awarded. Michael Hooper galloped 30m after good hands from the backs. Tevita Kuridrani tipped final pass, but ball went backwards from hands. 

32' AUS 22-6 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the extras.

36' AUS 22-9 FRA: Frederic Michalak lands the goal.

38' AUS 27-9 FRA: Rob Simmons breaks but unsupported, France collect ball but then butcher the clearance, spilling ball in goal and Matt Toomua touches down after a pinball sequence. Comical but they all count.

39' AUS 29-9 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the extras.

HT AUS 29-9 FRA

55' AUS 34-9 FRA: Fantastic try Nick Cummins. Decoy play that saw Toomua feed Ashley-Cooper inside to feed Folau on angled run outside and then pop to Cummins switching back inside. Tremendous move, and the Wallabies are looking sharp.

57' AUS 36-9 FRA: Bernard Foley lands the extras from 10m inside touch.

67' AUS 41-9 FRA: Super try Kurtley Beale, who feeds a long pass to Tevita Kuridrani, who ghosts through a half-gap wide in the defence. Beale follows the play and accepts a no-look pop pass from Kuridrani.

68' AUS 43-9 FRA: Bernard Foley kicks the conversion.

70' AUS 48-9 FRA: Try Pat McCabe after a length-of-the-field break from Israel Folau, who stood up Wesley Fofana. Too easy for Australia, and France are being routed.

71' AUS 50-9 FRA: Bernard Foley converts, and we're left to wonder what else can happen in the remaining 10 minutes.

72' AUS 50-14 FRA: France straight on the attack from the kick-off and the TMO is involved. Referee Craig Joubert "believes a try has been scored". Desperate defence from Australia and Ben McCalman seems to have stopped the attack. Referee sees it differently and awards the five-pointer.

74' AUS 50-16 FRA: Michalak converts.

80'+1' AUS 50-21 FRA: France scrum on Australia 5m, and they are awarded a penalty try. Good finish from France, and they can take something from that.

80+2' AUS 50-23 FRA: Michalak converts. Disappointing finish from Australia but a sound opening performance of the season.

FT AUS 50-23 FRA