In Pool B, Ireland and Germany were winners of the first and last matches of the day at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Ireland came from a goal down to beat Egypt while the Germans edged past home favourites South Africa in a frantic evening match.

The results mean that Olympic silver medallists Belgium, the Irish and the Germans are all assured of a place in the quarter-finals with Egypt and South Africa both still in contention for the single remaining place.

Ireland found themselves going into half time trailing 1-0 against Egypt following Ahmed Elnaggar’s opener.

However, they hit back straight after half-time through Chris Cargo before Shane O’Donoghue scored a sublime penalty corner drag-flick with two minutes remaining to seal victory.

Egypt will go into their meeting with South Africa knowing that only a win will be good enough to keep alive any chances of a place in the last eight.

The hosts were excellent in the first period of their match against Rio 2016 bronze medallists Germany, but conceded just before half-time when Moritz Trompertz chipped in from a tight angle.

Strikes from Niklas Wellen and German captain Mats Grambusch moved the score to 3-0 early in the third period before Austin Smith pulled one back for the Africans from a penalty corner.

Timm Herzbruch re-established the three goal cushion before Smith scored a second for the hosts and set up a third for Jonty Robinson.

It set up a dramatic final few minutes, but Germany held on to take a 4-3 victory.

In Pool A, France cruised to a 4-1 win over Japan to confirm their place in the last eight with Australia doing the same by defeating Spain 2-0 to move top of the standings.

Australia, France and New Zealand are all now guaranteed places in the quarter-finals, while Spain look favourites to be the fourth qualifier in front of Japan.

Goals from Etienne Tynevez and Gaspard Baumgarten opened up a 2-0 lead for France, before Japan’s Hirotaka Wakuri reduced the deficit before half time.

France killed the game thanks to goals in the third and fourth quarter from Francois Goyet and Blaise Rogeau respectively.

Spain were in action against reigning world champions Australia in the third match of the day, and there was very little to choose between the two sides throughout.

The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes from the end thanks to Dylan Wotherspoon’s brilliant close-range deflection, with Trent Mitton putting the result beyond doubt in the final minute with a second for the Kookaburras.

Action continues tomorrow when the women's tournament resumes.