RWC 2019

England's Launchbury, Slade fit to feature

Launchbury sustained a knock in England's final warm-up fixture against Italy, while head coach Eddie Jones was without Slade for all of the preparation games as the centre recovered from a knee injury.

However, the duo will be able to take part in England's World Cup opener against Tonga on September 22, meaning Jones will have 29 of his 31-man squad available for selection.

Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell will still be missing, with both players expected to be out for at least the first two pool-stage matches.

Play TV and PlayGo offer RWC 2019™ matches for the first time in Tonga

All 48 matches from the ninth edition of Rugby World Cup™ will be televised live on Digicel Play TV and streamed on PlayGo, with the tournament kicking-off on 20 September and the final on 2 November.   

Anthony Seuseu, Digicel Tonga CEO, said; “We are delighted to be able to offer Rugby World Cup matches to the people of Tonga on Play TV and PlayGo, which simply means you will be able to watch all matches from Japan. This is a first in the country for Rugby World Cup.” 

All Blacks have time to adapt to heat and humidity, says professor

Images of the All Blacks visibly struggling in the heat and humidity in Japan have filtered back to New Zealand but Jim Cotter, a professor at the school of Physical Education at the University of Otago, reassured New Zealanders that they had given themselves enough time to adapt before their Rugby World Cup opener against South Africa on September 21.

"That's plenty of time," Professor Cotter told Stuff. "They'll have full adaption of what they need by then.

"You don't want it too much more, that's too much time away. That's the time you need.

Kiwi coaches seeking their fortunes abroad

Even Sir Graham and Hansen themselves were forced to take a pathway through Wales en route to the top NZ role.

If you're in doubt about which teams to support at the Rugby World Cup when New Zealand aren't playing, this list of Kiwi-coached sides may swing your allegiance.

Joe Schmidt (Ireland)

International teams coached: Ireland (2013-present)

International record: 50-18-1 (72.5 percent)

Tournament titles: Three (Six Nations 2014, 2015, 2018)

Ireland top rankings going into RWC 2019

Saturday's 19-10 victory over Wales was worth just over sixth-tenths of a rating point to Ireland and improves their overall tally to 89.47 points, while the All Blacks remain on 89.40 points following their emphatic 92-7 win against Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland in which winger George Bridge bagged four tries.

In Dublin, Rob Kearney and Hadleigh Parkes traded first-half tries before scores from Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan helped to give captain Rory Best and head coach Joe Schmidt a winning send-off in what was their final home test.

Nyakane expected to be fit for RWC

Prop Nyakane was sent on for Frans Malherbe in the second half of the 41-7 victory in Kumagaya but was forced off just 14 minutes later.

However, the 30-year-old did not sustain a serious injury and is expected to be available when the Springboks begin their World Cup campaign against reigning champions New Zealand on September 21.

"The tighthead prop sprained a knee during the 41-7 victory over Japan in Kumagaya on Friday and was limited to a 14-minute appearance," read a statement from the Springboks.

Final 31-member Fiji Airways Flying Fijians squad confirmed for RWC 2019

From the initial six props in the 32-member squad announced last month, Lee-Roy Atalifo has been moved to the reserve list.

“The final decision on the travelling 5 props was difficult with very little separating the players,” McKee said.

“I am pleased though to be able to now finalise the final 31 players to represent Fiji at RWC 2019.

“This is a very strong group, one that can make Fiji Proud at RWC,” McKee added.

Los Teros name squad for Japan 2019

Brothers Juan Diego and Agustín Ormaechea (pictured) will follow in the footsteps of their famous father Diego after they were both named in Uruguay’s 31-man squad for Japan 2019.

Flanker Juan Diego is in line to make his Rugby World Cup debut next month while younger brother Agustín is one of 12 players returning for a second tournament. He is again included as a scrum-half, the position from which he scored a try against Fiji four years ago.

Ireland knock off Wales, France thrash Italy

The Irish, beaten 57-15 by England, won in Cardiff for the first time since August 2015 after scoring three tries in the Rugby World Cup warm-up match, two for Jacob Stockdale and a penalty try bringing Wales' 11-game home winning streak stretching back to November 2017 to an end.

 The two teams meet again next Saturday in Dublin and the defeat will rankle more with Gatland as he remains bitter about the manner in which he was dismissed as head coach by the Irish in 2001.

"It was massive for us," man of the match Jack Carty told Channel 4.

O'Driscoll expecting Irish response

Ireland were the dominant team in world rugby in 2018, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam and defeating world champions New Zealand.

But this year has been a different story, with a humbling 57-15 reverse to England in Saturday's World Cup warm-up at Twickenham providing cause for concern.

Yet former Ireland star O'Driscoll is backing Joe Schmidt's men to respond, potentially starting with back-to-back fixtures against Wales before the tournament in Japan.