Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Saturday, October 29.
All Blacks under fire amid red card and Japan scare
The All Blacks became a "bumbling mess" as Japan gave the rugby powerhouses a major scare after Brodie Retallick was shown a 66th-minute red card.
The visitors played the last 14 minutes a man down after lock Retallick was sent off for a dangerous clearout, but held on in a nervy finale for a 38-31 victory despite a late try from outstanding Brave Blossoms flanker Kazuki Himeno.
A three-try blitz had put New Zealand 21-3 ahead after 32 minutes but Japan, who have never beaten the All Blacks, struck back with two scores of their own to cut the deficit to four points at half-time. Winger Caleb Clarke then bulldozed his way over soon after the break to restore the visitors' lead, but Japan second row Warner Dearns cut it back by charging down a Finlay Christie box-kick and scooping up to score. All Blacks No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu barged his way across the line on the hour to provide a cushion.
Kiwi website Stuff dubbed New Zealand's win an "ugly, and unconvincing, way to begin their northern tour".
Rugby writer Richard Knowler said of Ian Foster's side: "This performance was a sobering insight into how his team could allow itself to become a bumbling mess when challenged by a passionate side that wanted to play at speed, and with a wonderful desire to be innovative.
"Did the All Blacks scare the living daylights out of Wales, who they will play next weekend in Cardiff? No. You couldn't say that. Not at all. Yes, the All Blacks ran in five tries at National Stadium to inflate the scoreboard but, boy, they really had to work for this victory."
“It’s our first game after a bit of a break and we were a bit rusty, but they played really well and it turned into a really tight game,” All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said post-match.
The All Blacks face Wales in Cardiff on November 5 before playing Scotland and England, while Jamie Joseph's Japan — who tackled everything that moved and attacked relentlessly — will also play Eddie Jones' England and France in November.
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Wales boss excited for the future after World Cup quarter-final exit
Wales' Rugby World Cup campaign was ended by Portia Woodman and New Zealand on Saturday morning but coach Ioan Cunningham will leave the tournament proud of the progress his side have made and excited about the future in front of them.
Woodman scored her 19th and 20th career World Cup tries to break Sue Day's record as the dominant Black Ferns cruised to a 55-3 quarter-final win, showing far too much pace and power for Wales to live with. But Wales always knew the scale of the task facing them in this match and Cunningham's sights are set further down the line for a team that has only been fully professional for a few months, and at all pro since January.
"(The gap) is still fairly big obviously, the scoreboard doesn't lie," Cunningham said on ITV. "The intensity, speed, they sustain it for 80 minutes and that's somewhere we've got to get to. But I'm so proud of the girls and their effort, especially in the first half. We asked them to front up physically and they did, we hassled them and forced them into errors and I'm really proud of their effort.
"We came here to get out of the pool and we achieved that, to reach the quarter-final is brilliant. I'm super excited and proud to be part of this group. There's so much effort, commitment and sacrifice from the players. We've only been pro as a group since January and it's exciting where we can go looking forward for the next few years and maybe more success at the 2025 World Cup."
New Zealand advance to the semi-finals and a meeting with France, who will be the next to try to find a way to stop the thrilling combination of Woodman, Ruby Tui and Ayesha Leti-I'iga.
"I think it's even more fun than it looks," Tui said on the spirit in the New Zealand team. "This team has been through so much but we just want to show that women's rugby is a product worth watching, we've all got our stories but we just want to entertain."
France dominate Italy to book World Cup semi-final spot
France produced a dominant second-half performance to blow Italy away 39-3 in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
The contest at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei, New Zealand seemed fairly even at half-time, with France up 10-3 before they returned to pile on the points. They enjoyed a stunning 74 per cent of territory and 61 per cent of possession throughout the match, which allowed them to score four second-half tries to go with one before the break.
Three of those went to winger Joanna Grisez, including her final score in the 70th minute which came after a typical team effort to create an enormous overlap. Italy, who made history with their first World Cup quarter-final appearance, were forced to muscle up in defence as they made 195 tackles to their opponent's 112. At one point they endured 14 phases in defence before stealing the ball under their own posts.
France captain Gabrielle Vernier admitted in a post-match sideline interview it had been a "tough few weeks", but the inside centre added her side on Saturday "proved we are one of the best and we hope to do our best next week". The victors will next face New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Glasgow keep Benetton pointless in bonus-point win
Glasgow were convincing winners in a 37-0 bonus-point victory over a disappointingly flat Benetton at Scotstoun, despite being without their Scotland contingent. Not only did Warriors score six good tries, they did not allow their opponents to trouble the scoreboard.
Sione Vailanu crossed twice for Glasgow, while Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall, Fraser Brown and Rufus McLean also got on the scoresheet, while Domingo Miotti kicked seven points.
Ritchie grateful for Hogg backing
New Scotland skipper Jamie Ritchie says he's grateful to have the backing of predecessor Stuart Hogg as he prepares to begin his captaincy against Australia this weekend.
The 26-year-old Edinburgh flanker was appointed to the leadership role last week after head coach Gregor Townsend chose to relieve the "burden" from Hogg in an bid to try and help the Exeter full-back rediscover his form on the international stage.
Hogg, who is unavailable for the international window, recently posted a message to Ritchie on Instagram, stating the new skipper had his "full support".
"It means a lot," Ritchie said when asked about Hogg's endorsement. "I have a huge amount of respect for Hoggy as a man and a rugby player and it's been a privilege to support him over the last three years as part of his leadership group. He was one of the first guys to congratulate me. Gregor told him I was going to be captain before he told me. When Gregor told me, Hoggy sent me a nice message saying that he backed me and stuff like that, and that meant a lot.
"The things I'll take from Hoggy are his passion - he's a very passionate Scotsman - and the way he used the group around him," he said. There would be days when you wouldn't necessarily hear him speak a lot because he'd use the leaders around him, and that's something I'll look to take on as well."
Wasps suspended from Premiership
Crisis club Wasps have been suspended from the Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup for the rest of the season, the RFU has confirmed.
Financial problems have left the club in administration and, if suitable investment isn't found, they will begin next season in the Championship.
For now, the club have been relegated from the top tier, and the results from their season have been expunged.
A total of 167 players and club staff have already been made redundant.
“The RFU is encouraged by the progress made by the administrators and it has taken the decision to suspend the team in order to support the prospect of securing a deal with the right investor and giving the club the best chance for a long term sustainable future,” read an RFU statement.
“Any potential investors and management will require due diligence and approvals from the RFU and PRL [Premiership Rugby Limited]. A condition of any potential deal will include a requirement for the payment of all rugby creditors. The decision also gives certainty to PRL and Premiership rugby clubs to protect the integrity of Gallagher Premiership Rugby and allow clubs and their teams to plan for the rest of the season.”
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