Rugby

England coach Steve Borthwick has built a reputation for being meticulous, someone who — in the words of his predecessor Eddie Jones — would be “hunched over his laptop for hour after hour.

Every Rugby World Cup springs the same issue. Tier two coaches pleading for more games with tier one teams to become more competitive, to try and level a lopsided playing field.

Sacrifice and camaraderie have been the guiding principles for Fiji’s players in their bid to make history at the Rugby World Cup.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (AP) — To reach the Rugby World Cup semifinals, England’s players will have to make themselves more unpopular than they already are. They’ve no problem with that.

PARIS (AP) — Ireland stopped speculation about team injuries and wasted no time revealing its confidence heading toward the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand by naming its team a day early on Wednesday. Top-ranked Ireland is unchanged.

PARIS (AP) — One of the surprises of the Rugby World Cup pool stage was the only team not to concede a yellow or red card: South Africa.

PARIS (AP) — Aaron Smith made his New Zealand test debut against Ireland in 2012. The Irish were his first three tests, including his first test try. That year was the last the All Blacks ever felt comfortable facing Ireland.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — First-choice flyhalf Dan Biggar has recovered from a pectoral strain to be available for Wales' Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina on Saturday. Biggar was hurt early against Australia more than two weeks ago.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — A torn right hamstring has ruled out Argentina flanker Pablo Matera from the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Wales on Saturday in Marseille.

PARIS (AP) — France captain Antoine Dupont was a step closer to playing again at the Rugby World Cup after being cleared to resume full training on Monday.