The World Cup dreams of Italy – and their talismanic captain Sergio Parisse who retires at the tournament’s end – have been shattered after a 49-3 humbling at the hands of an impressive and powerful South Africa in Shizuoka.

Ireland have got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 35-0 defeat of Russia in Kobe, going some way towards putting the horror show against hosts Japan to rest. But given they were playing the 20th ranked team in the world, and a Russian side forced to play for 20 minutes a man down after two yellow cards, this wasn’t quite the one-sided try-fest that was predicted, or indeed expected.

Fiji have made some amends for their shock loss to Uruguay, seeing off a brave first half effort from Georgia to run in seven tries in a 45-10 victory in rain-soaked Osaka.

Not only did three brothers start for New Zealand for the first time ever in a Rugby World Cup match, but all three scored as well, as the All Blacks put away Canada 63-0 with the minimum of fuss in Oita yesterday, racking up nine tries in the process.

A heroic effort from the USA Eagles has pushed a spluttering France all the way in Fukoaka, Les Bleus eventually running out 33-9 victors after leading by just three with 15 minutes to play.