Canada 15-17 Romania
Romania have completed the biggest comeback in Rugby World Cup history after overturning a 15-0 score to record a 17-15 victory over Canada in their Pool D clash at the King Power Stadium.
Canada led 15-0 early into the second half, but Romania made the most of a late sin-bin to claim their first win at the tournament this summer. Both sides entered the match without a chance of qualifying for the next round of this particular tournament, but both could still finish third in the section and therefore avoid the qualification process for the World Cup in 2019.
Canada had the chance to take the lead in the ninth minute from distance, but Gordon McRorie could not convert the penalty, with the scum-half's kick well wide of the posts. McRorie made no mistake two minutes later, however, as his successful penalty from 25 metres sent Canada into a 3-0 lead.
Romania began to settle as play developed and forced their first penalty of the match in the 17th minute. Florin Vlaicu stepped up, but from 50 metres and against the rain, he could not convert.
Romania were then without Catalin Fercu for 10 minutes after the full-back collided with Nick Blevins when the Canada centre was off his feet. McRorie had the chance to score his second penalty of the match three minutes later, but the scrum-half mis-hit the ball as the score remained 3-0.
The first try of the match finally arrived in the 33th minute when DTH van der Merwe dived over in the corner for his fourth try of the tournament. Vlaicu had another chance to convert a penalty late in the half, but again his kick was short as Canada took an 8-0 lead into the second half.
Canada took a 13-0 lead just four minutes after the restart when Jeff Hassler scored the second try of the match, before Nathan Hirayama made it 15-0 with a successful conversion after Canada changed kickers. Romania quickly put seven points on the board in the 53rd and 54th minute, however, with Mihai Macovei scoring a try, before Vlaicu was successful from the resulting conversion.
Hirayama had the chance to increase Canada's lead in the 56th minute, but from over 40 metres out, the fly-half's finish was a fraction wide of the posts. Canada were forced to play the remainder of the game with just 14 men after Jebb Sinclair was sent to the sin-bin in the 72nd minute.
Macovei converted his second try of the game in the 74th minute and the Romanians were within one point with six minutes to play after Vlaicu converted. Vlaicu again stepped up in the 78th minute and put his penalty over the posts to send Romania 17-15 ahead.
As the clock ticked towards the full-time whistle, Valentin Calafeteanu sent the ball into the stands as Romania made history. The result means that Canada have lost all of their matches at a Rugby World Cup for the first time.
Fiji 47-15 Uruguay
Fiji ensured that their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign would not be a winless one thanks to a 47-15 victory over Uruguay in their final pool encounter at the Stadium:mk this evening.
The Pacific Islanders headed into the match in the knowledge that they could not qualify for the quarter-finals following defeats at the hands of England, Australia and Wales.
However, their performances in those games had been widely lauded and they continued that positive form with just three minutes on the clock in Milton Keynes. Levani Botia looked destined to score the opening try in the corner, but an illegal tackle from Agustin Ormaechea - which resulted in a yellow card for the Uruguayan - subsequently provided referee JP Doyle with little option but to award a penalty try.
Up against 14 men for the next 10 minutes, Fiji went on to make their numerical advantage count when Nemia Kenatale scampered down the right flank to touch down, although on a negative note, Nemani Nadolo was unable to make the conversion from a wide position.
Uruguay, who like their opponents knew that they will be heading home after the pool stage, had offered little in an attacking sense up until this point. However, in the space of two minutes, Pablo Lemoine's men had got themselves to within two points of Fiji. A penalty from Alejo Duran contributed three points, before Carlos Arboleya stretched just far enough to score his country's first try at a World Cup since Lemoine himself crossed against England 12 years ago.
Yet, rather than inspire the South Americans to put further points on the board, a string of errors instead saw Fiji extend their lead to 26-10 before the break. A collapsed scrum resulted in a second penalty try being given in the 27th minute and then with two minutes of the first half left to play, Leone Nakarawa broke clear to score between the posts and secure the bonus point for his team. On both occasions, Nadolo was accurate with the extras.
Fiji were the dominant team in terms of possession during the opening exchanges of the second half, but having been unable to find a way through, it was Uruguay that scored the game's next try against the run of play in the 58th minute. Matias Beer spearheaded the breakaway with his feet, but the bounce did not fall his way and it seemed that the chance had gone until Ormaechea swooped down the short side to go over.
But, just as they had done in the opening 40 minutes, Fiji responded to the Uruguay try by scoring two of their own in the 65th and 66th minute to put the outcome beyond doubt. Tevita Cavubati powered over for the first, while the second saw Kini Murimurivalu finish off a sweeping move. In the aftermath of Murimurivalu's try, Uruguay's Ormaechea was red carded for an alteration with Campese Ma'afu, who was handed a yellow card for his troubles.
There was still enough time remaining for Nadolo to score and convert a seventh try in the 78th minute for Fiji, which brought an end to the drama that had been played out in front of a stadium-record 30,048 people.
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