They could not have asked for a better start at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, putting 43 points past Wales in the opening match followed by 29 against Canada - with not a single point conceded in either tie.

The comfortable wins all but secure the South Africans a place in the quarter-finals of the competition, even if they were lose to Kenya and the Canadians beat Wales tomorrow.

South Africa scored 72 points in their opening two victories - conceding none  ©IRB



Pool B is still wide opening following a last minute victory by the Australian's over Dubai champions Fiji.

Both Fiji and Gold Coast champions New Zealand had looked set to qualify for the quarter-finals following opening game victories against Scotland and Australia respectively, however, a last minute drop goal penalty from Australia's Cameron Clark against the Fijian side ensured a excited end to the group stages tomorrow.

England lost to Samoa 22-19 in their first match, but 16 points from captain Tom Mitchell ensured they impressively won their second match 54-0 against Portugal, the biggest win of the day.

The results leave England second in pool C with four points, two behind the Samoan's whose victory against Uruguay ensure they ended the day with the full six points.

Uruguay are the only non-core team in the competition having just booked their place at the core team qualifier in Hong Kong in March ©IRB



France and Argentina sealed their places in the quarter-finals with two victories apiece in group D.

The hosts, United States, were unfortunate to lose to Argentina 19-12 in their opening match, despite an impressive try from Carlin Isles, and 14-12 against France in the final match of the day.

Spain, on the other hand, were comprehensively beaten by both group qualifiers, losing 47-0 to France in their opening games, then 33-5 to the Argentines in the second.

The pick of the final pool games tomorrow is New Zealand's match against Fiji, whose one-point loss to Australia leaves them needing a victory.

The last time the two sides met, in Dubai, Fiji inflicted on New Zealand their biggest ever loss, 44-0.

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