Rugby World Cup

New Zealand beat Australia to retain Rugby World Cup

Wonderful tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma'a Nonu had given the All Blacks a 21-3 lead early in the second half before David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani struck back.

With 15 minutes to go there were just four points in it, but a nerveless long-distance drop-goal and penalty from Dan Carter snatched back control.

And when replacement Beauden Barrett sprinted away on to Ben Smith's clearing kick at the death history was made, with New Zealand also becoming the first three-time champions of the world.

Boks beat Pumas for bronze

The Pumas were nearly kept tryless for the second straight playoff match, before replacement Juan Pablo Orlandi crashed over with the final play of the game.

The Springboks wing JP Pietersen opened the scoring early on in the right corner and they led 16-3 at half-time, before lock Eben Etsebeth added the Boks' second try in the left corner.

Pumas openside flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe played his final Test match in the fixture, as did South African wing Bryan Habana and lock Victor Matfield - the oldest Springbok ever at 38.

All Blacks keep nerve to beat Springboks

The All Blacks were five points behind at half-time with a man in the sin-bin as four penalties from Handre Pollard cancelled out Jerome Kaino's early try.

A Dan Carter drop-goal and a Beauden Barrett try put the champions ahead.

South Africa replied with two penalties but a Carter effort in between secured victory despite ferocious Bok defence.

It was seldom pretty but once again in this World Cup there was a gripping finale, the All Blacks holding that two-point lead for the last 12 minutes as their opponents finally tired.

Battling Wales beaten by South Africa

Wales led going into the final 10 minutes but finally succumbed after enduring a second-half battering.

Fly-half Handre Pollard kicked five penalties and a drop-goal for the Springboks.

Wales' Dan Biggar scored 14 points and created the chance for Gareth Davies to score his fifth try of the tournament.

Veteran scrum-half Du Preez had to be persuaded to play in the tournament by South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer after a series of career-threatening injuries, but repaid the faith with a moment of coolness in a tumultuous atmosphere.

New Zealand beat France 62-13 to reach semis

The All Blacks were almost out of sight at half-time, Julian Savea scoring two tries and Brodie Retallick and Nehe Milner-Skudder one apiece.

A try by Louis Picamoles had kept France afloat but when he was sent to the sin-bin French hopes evaporated.

Savea completed a fine hat-trick and Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (two) also crossed.

Woodcock out of World Cup

The 34-year-old loosehead, who was retiring after the tournament, sustained the injury as the reigning champions beat Tonga 47-9 on Saturday to cruise into the quarter-finals as Pool C winners.

The injury will take at least three weeks to heal, so Woodcock's out of the Cup - and rugby.

The third most-capped prop in the history of the game behind Gethin Jenkins of Wales and England's Jason Leonard, Woodcock scored New Zealand's only try in their 2011 World Cup final triumph.

England exit World Cup with 10 try win

Successive defeats by Wales and Australia had already ensured England would be the first hosts to go out of the tournament at the group stage.

Nick Easter, 37, and Jack Nowell scored hat-tricks against a Uruguay side with only four professional players.

Anthony Watson grabbed a well-finished brace, while Henry Slade also crossed.

This was not how it was supposed to end for Stuart Lancaster's men, in a meaningless contest which saw the crowd frequently make their own entertainment with Mexican waves and paper aeroplanes aimed at the pitch.

Scotland beats Samoa 36-33

Captain Greig Laidlaw scored the decisive try in the final seven minutes, though the Scots had to cling on following Motu Matu'u's late score.

Samoa scored through Tusi Pisi, Ma'atulimanu Leiataua and Rey Lee-Lo in a thrilling first half.

Tommy Seymour and John Hardie crossed for the Scots before the break.

Scotland also had Ryan Wilson sin-binned in the first half for stamping.

The Wallabies beat the Welsh 15-6 at Twickenham and will now face Vern Cotter's Pool B runners-up, with South Africa having already won the section.

Same old Scotland

Australia defeat Wales 15-6

Wales paid a high price for failing to make their extra numbers count when the Wallabies were reduced to 13 men for seven minutes in the second half.

Fly-half Bernard Foley kicked all Australia's points, with Dan Bigger twice on target for Wales.

Australia now face Scotland in the quarter-final on 18 October, with Wales against South Africa the day before.

It was Wales' 11th consecutive defeat against the Australians, a run going back to 2008.

England v Uruguay preview

Stuart Lancaster's men became the first hosts to ever go out of a Rugby World Cup in the group stages after losing to both Wales and Australia in Pool A.

England have named a young team to face winless Uruguay in Manchester.

"There's a lot of people who've waited a long time to see England play in the north of England," Lancaster said.

"We have a lot of young talent on show and that talent will excite the crowd and it's up to us to do that. We want to leave people with the feeling that actually this is a good team."