World Cup hopes going south

PARIS – New Zealand, Australia and South Africa may not have been at their destructive best but all three southern hemisphere giants have kept up their unbeaten World Cup records.

The All Blacks, the overwhelming favourites to end a 20-year wait for a second world title, ran in six tries in a 40-0 romp over a second-string Scotland side on Sunday. They wrapped up Pool C and will meet the runner-up from Pool D – either Argentina, France or Ireland – for a semi-final spot.Australia made sure of top spot in Pool B with a 55-12 win over Fiji and await either defending champions England or Tonga in the last eight.Little Tonga pushed South Africa, and scored three tries, before they were edged out 30-25 in a pulsating clash in Lens on Saturday.The Springboks, who opted to field their B-team, made sure of top spot in Pool A and they will face either Wales or Fiji for a place in the semi-finals.At Murrayfield, Doug Howlett became the leading try-scorer in All Blacks history as New Zealand strolled into the quarter-finals.The 29-year-old wing claimed two of his team’s six tries, taking his personal tally for his country to 48, two more than the previous record he had briefly shared with Christian Cullen.Meanwhiile, the All Blacks are hoping to avoid any future clash of colour in playing kit after the Scotland match when the two teams’ strips were incredibly alike.New Zealand played in their away strip against Scotland, a predominantly grey shirt with black shorts and socks.Scotland donned their redesigned home kit, a mostly navy shirt with grey piping, along with dark navy shorts and navy and grey socks, that at times made it difficult to work out which side was which.Nampa-AFPThey wrapped up Pool C and will meet the runner-up from Pool D – either Argentina, France or Ireland – for a semi-final spot.Australia made sure of top spot in Pool B with a 55-12 win over Fiji and await either defending champions England or Tonga in the last eight.Little Tonga pushed South Africa, and scored three tries, before they were edged out 30-25 in a pulsating clash in Lens on Saturday.The Springboks, who opted to field their B-team, made sure of top spot in Pool A and they will face either Wales or Fiji for a place in the semi-finals.At Murrayfield, Doug Howlett became the leading try-scorer in All Blacks history as New Zealand strolled into the quarter-finals.The 29-year-old wing claimed two of his team’s six tries, taking his personal tally for his country to 48, two more than the previous record he had briefly shared with Christian Cullen.Meanwhiile, the All Blacks are hoping to avoid any future clash of colour in playing kit after the Scotland match when the two teams’ strips were incredibly alike.New Zealand played in their away strip against Scotland, a predominantly grey shirt with black shorts and socks.Scotland donned their redesigned home kit, a mostly navy shirt with grey piping, along with dark navy shorts and navy and grey socks, that at times made it difficult to work out which side was which.Nampa-AFP