Samoa have overcome two yellow cards and stubborn resistance from Russia, to start their World Cup campaign with a 34-9 win in Kumagaya.

A devastating opening quarter helped Wales to a 43-14 win over a Georgian team that showed they were no pushovers in Toyota last night.

Highly-fancied England got their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign off to a solid, if unspectacular start, with a 35-3 defeat of Tonga in Sapporo last night.