England thrashed Australia to set-up a World Cup semi-final with another antipodean opponent in New Zealand after their win over Ireland, while Wales edged past France and South Africa outclassed hosts Japan.
England 40-16 Australia
HT 17-9
Tries: May (2), Sinckler, Watson/Koroibete
Conversions: Farrell (4)/Lealiifano
Penalties: Farrell (4)/Lealiifano (3)
England qualified for their first World Cup semi-final in 12 years with a ruthless performance against old rivals Australia.
Jonny May celebrated his 50th cap by running in two tries in three first-half minutes, a Eddie Jones' men established a 17-9 half-time lead, only for Marika Koroibete to get the Wallabies back to just one point behind.
England regained control when prop Kyle Sinckler smashed through from a flat Owen Farrell pass, with the fly half kicking half of England's points in the match.
Anthony Watson applied the knockout blow with a late interception try.
In a World Cup where England have seldom been tested, it was their best performance yet, and Jones' decision to start Farrell was vindicated with a seventh consecutive win over his home nation.
England were dumped out of their home tournament four years ago at the group stage at the hands of Michael Cheika's side.
The young back row combination of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill was outstanding, and provided some sweet revenge, and the reward for the victory is a meeting with defending champions New Zealand in a week's time.
New Zealand 46-14 Ireland
HT 22-0
Tries: A Smith (2), B Barrett, Taylor, Todd, Bridge, J Barrett/Henshaw, penalty try
Conversions: Mo'unga (4)/Carbery
Penalties: Mo'unga/
Wales 20-19 France
HT 10-19
Tries: Wainwright, Moriarty/Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa
Conversions: Biggar (2)/Ntamack (2)
Penalties: Biggar (2)/
Ross Moriarty's late try booked a semi-final place for Wales in the World Cup at the expense of 14-man France.
Warren Gatland's team came from behind to win 20-19 in Oita.
French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off after 48 minutes after elbowing Welsh flanker Aaron Wainwright.
Leading 19-10 at the time, France capitulated as Wales scored 10 points without reply to earn the right to play South Africa in Yokohama for a place in the final.
Wales suffered an injury blow minutes before kick-off, centre Jonathan Davies being withdrawn with a knee injury he sustained against Fiji, but his team's resilient victory matches their World Cup campaigns in 1987 and 2011 where they also reached the last four.
France were relentless in the first half, with Vahaamaina, Charles Ollivon and Virimi Vakatawa scoring tries.
Wainwright and Moriarty responded, with 10 further points coming from the boot of Dan Biggar.
The only previous World Cup meeting between these nations was won by France in the 2011 semi-final - a match that also featured a red card, for then Wales captain Sam Warburton.
The tables were turned this time, and the French dismissal proved pivotal to the outcome.
Wales were far from their best, but their resilience and character carried them though a disjointed performance - France led from the fifth minute until the 74th.
Moriarty scored the decisive try late on after his first-half yellow card, the ball was adjudged not to have been passed forward in the build-up from a rip by replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams.
Owen Watkin replaced the injured Davies, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny was brought onto the bench.
France had had a two week wait for this game, after wins over Argentina, Tonga and USA their Pool C decider was abandoned because of Typhoon Hagibis, but they look fighting fit and started as they meant to go on.
Japan 3-26 South Africa
HT 3-5
Tries: /Mapimpi (2), de Klerk
Conversions: /Pollard
Penalties: Tamura/Pollard (3)
Hosts Japan's World Cup dream came to an end at the hands of South Africa, with the Springboks bullying their way to a 26-3 win.
Makazole Mapimpi made a powerful run to score early on, before they went a player down when Tendai Mtawarira was yellow carded for a tip tackle.
Only a Yu Tamura penalty came in the time that Japan had the man advantage, making the half-time score 5-3.
Faf de Klerk and Mapimpi crossed in the second half, while Handre Pollard's 11 points put the game beyond Japan's reach.
Any hopes of a repeat of the 2015 World Cup shock win for Japan against the same opponents never materialised, bringing to an end the four week fairytale.
For South Africa, they face Wales in the semi-finals, with the winner playing England or New Zealand in the showpiece.
Draw
England 40-16Australia
New Zealand 46-14Ireland
England 40-16 Australia
HT 17-9
Tries: May (2), Sinckler, Watson/Koroibete
Conversions: Farrell (4)/Lealiifano
Penalties: Farrell (4)/Lealiifano (3)
 |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Jonny May celebrated his 50th cap by running in two tries in three first-half minutes, a Eddie Jones' men established a 17-9 half-time lead, only for Marika Koroibete to get the Wallabies back to just one point behind.
England regained control when prop Kyle Sinckler smashed through from a flat Owen Farrell pass, with the fly half kicking half of England's points in the match.
Anthony Watson applied the knockout blow with a late interception try.
In a World Cup where England have seldom been tested, it was their best performance yet, and Jones' decision to start Farrell was vindicated with a seventh consecutive win over his home nation.
England were dumped out of their home tournament four years ago at the group stage at the hands of Michael Cheika's side.
The young back row combination of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill was outstanding, and provided some sweet revenge, and the reward for the victory is a meeting with defending champions New Zealand in a week's time.
New Zealand 46-14 Ireland
HT 22-0
Tries: A Smith (2), B Barrett, Taylor, Todd, Bridge, J Barrett/Henshaw, penalty try
Conversions: Mo'unga (4)/Carbery
Penalties: Mo'unga/
 |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
New Zealand condemned Ireland to a seventh World Cup quarter-final exit with a 46-14 hammering in Tokyo to set up a last four meeting with England.
Aaron Smith scored twice and one from Beauden Barrett gave the All Blacks a 22-0 half-time lead, with Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, George Bridge and Jordie Barrett adding further tries after the break.
Robbie Henshaw crossed, and a penalty try were nothing but a consolation in a disastrous performance by Ireland.
The final chapter in Joe Schmidt's tenure as Irish head coach will be remembered as a failure with an embarrassing defeat, particularly highlighting the lack of progression since four years ago when they exited the tournament at the same stage.
The defeat to New Zealand was Ireland's second loss in the tournament - losing their Pool A match to hosts Japan 19-12 deprived them of a potentially easier route to a first semi-final via a last-eight meeting against South Africa.
Having produced a display that few, if any, sides could have matched, the All Blacks progress to the semi-finals as even stronger favourites to win a third Webb Ellis Cup on the bounce.
Aaron Smith scored twice and one from Beauden Barrett gave the All Blacks a 22-0 half-time lead, with Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, George Bridge and Jordie Barrett adding further tries after the break.
Robbie Henshaw crossed, and a penalty try were nothing but a consolation in a disastrous performance by Ireland.
The final chapter in Joe Schmidt's tenure as Irish head coach will be remembered as a failure with an embarrassing defeat, particularly highlighting the lack of progression since four years ago when they exited the tournament at the same stage.
The defeat to New Zealand was Ireland's second loss in the tournament - losing their Pool A match to hosts Japan 19-12 deprived them of a potentially easier route to a first semi-final via a last-eight meeting against South Africa.
Having produced a display that few, if any, sides could have matched, the All Blacks progress to the semi-finals as even stronger favourites to win a third Webb Ellis Cup on the bounce.
Wales 20-19 France
HT 10-19
Tries: Wainwright, Moriarty/Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa
Conversions: Biggar (2)/Ntamack (2)
Penalties: Biggar (2)/
 |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Warren Gatland's team came from behind to win 20-19 in Oita.
French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off after 48 minutes after elbowing Welsh flanker Aaron Wainwright.
Leading 19-10 at the time, France capitulated as Wales scored 10 points without reply to earn the right to play South Africa in Yokohama for a place in the final.
Wales suffered an injury blow minutes before kick-off, centre Jonathan Davies being withdrawn with a knee injury he sustained against Fiji, but his team's resilient victory matches their World Cup campaigns in 1987 and 2011 where they also reached the last four.
France were relentless in the first half, with Vahaamaina, Charles Ollivon and Virimi Vakatawa scoring tries.
Wainwright and Moriarty responded, with 10 further points coming from the boot of Dan Biggar.
The only previous World Cup meeting between these nations was won by France in the 2011 semi-final - a match that also featured a red card, for then Wales captain Sam Warburton.
The tables were turned this time, and the French dismissal proved pivotal to the outcome.
Wales were far from their best, but their resilience and character carried them though a disjointed performance - France led from the fifth minute until the 74th.
Moriarty scored the decisive try late on after his first-half yellow card, the ball was adjudged not to have been passed forward in the build-up from a rip by replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams.
Owen Watkin replaced the injured Davies, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny was brought onto the bench.
France had had a two week wait for this game, after wins over Argentina, Tonga and USA their Pool C decider was abandoned because of Typhoon Hagibis, but they look fighting fit and started as they meant to go on.
HT 3-5
Tries: /Mapimpi (2), de Klerk
Conversions: /Pollard
Penalties: Tamura/Pollard (3)
 |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Makazole Mapimpi made a powerful run to score early on, before they went a player down when Tendai Mtawarira was yellow carded for a tip tackle.
Only a Yu Tamura penalty came in the time that Japan had the man advantage, making the half-time score 5-3.
Faf de Klerk and Mapimpi crossed in the second half, while Handre Pollard's 11 points put the game beyond Japan's reach.
Any hopes of a repeat of the 2015 World Cup shock win for Japan against the same opponents never materialised, bringing to an end the four week fairytale.
For South Africa, they face Wales in the semi-finals, with the winner playing England or New Zealand in the showpiece.
Draw
England 40-16
New Zealand 46-14
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England v New Zealand (26 October, Yokohama)
Wales 20-19France
Japan 3-26 South Africa
Wales 20-19
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