New Zealand, Tonga, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are all unbeaten after the first two rounds of pool matches at the Rugby League World Cup.
The Kiwis, Mate Ma’a Tonga and the Kangaroos are all through to the quarter-finals while the Kumuls and the Bati all but booked their places in the last eight with contrasting victories in their Pool C and Pool on Sunday.
Fiji thrashed Wales 72-6 in the second match of the double-header in Townsville while the Kumuls ground out a gripping 14-6 defeat of Ireland before a capacity crowd at Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The wins appear to have secured the top spot for Fiji in Pool D and PNG in Pool C unless there is a massive reversal of fortunes in next weekend's third and final round of pool matches.
Assuming they were to retain top place, Fiji would play the second-placed team in Pool B, which will be determined by next Saturday's clash between New Zealand and Tonga in Hamilton.
The Kumuls will play the second-placed team in Pool A, which is likely to be England after its 29-10 defeat of Lebanon on Saturday night.
The other quarter finals are set to feature:
- The winner of Pool A (Australia) against the third-placed team in Pool B which will be the winner of next Saturday's Samoa-Scotland match in Cairns.
- The winner of Pool B (the winner of New Zealand-Tonga) and the third-placed team in Pool A, which is likely to be Lebanon.
In the other match played on Sunday in Townsville, Italy bounced back from last week's loss to Ireland to defeat USA 46-0.
However, Italy will need to beat Fiji in Canberra on Friday night and overcome a huge points differential to edge the Bati from the quarter-finals.
SCOREBOARD
Australia v France
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Australia Kangaroos 52 (Wade Graham 4, Cameron Munster 2, Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell, Billy Slater, Valentine Holmes tries; Cameron Smith 6 conversions).
France Chanticleers 6 (Mark Kheirallah try; Remy Marginet conversion).
Halftime: 20-6 Kangaroos.
Referee: Robert Hicks (England).
Crowd: 12,293.
New Zealand v Scotland
AMI Stadium, Christchurch
New Zealand Kiwis 74 (Te Maire Martin 3, Peta Hiku 3, Jason Nightingale 2, Dean Whare, Shaun Johnson, Elijah Taylor, Kenny Bromwich, Joseph Tapine, Russell Packer tries; Shaun Johnson 9 conversions).
Scotland Bravehearts 6 (Oscar Thomas try; Danny Addy conversion).
Halftime: 28-0 Kiwis.
Referee: Henry Perenara (New Zealand).
Crowd: 12,130
Tonga v Samoa
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Mate Ma’a Tonga 32 (Michael Jennings 2, Peni Terepo, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Manu Ma'u tries; Sio Siua Taukeiaho 3 conversions, penalty; Ata Hingano 2 conversions).
Toa Samoa 18 (Jazz Tevaga, Ben Roberts, Tim Lafai tries; Tim Lafai 3 conversions).
Halftime: 14-6 Tonga.
Referee: Ben Cummins (Australia).
Crowd: 18,175.
England v Lebanon
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
England Lions 29 (Kallum Watkins, Jermaine McGillvary, Ryan Hall, Ben Currie, Tom Burgess tries; Gareth Widdop 4 conversions; Gareth Widdop field goal).
Lebanon Cedars 10 (Nick Kassis, Jason Wehbe tries; Mitchell Moses conversion).
Halftime: 22-6 Lions.
Referee: Ben Thaler (England).
Crowd: 10,237.
Papua New Guinea v Ireland
Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea Kumuls 14 (Nene Macdonald, Garry Lo, Watson Boas tries; Ase Boas conversion).
Ireland Wolfhounds 6 (Michael McIlorum try; Liam Finn conversion ).
Halftime: 8-6 Kumuls.
Referee: Matt Cecchin (Australia).
Crowd: 14,800.
Italy v United States
1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
Italy Azzurri 46 (Joseph Tramontana 2, James Tedesco 2, Josh Mantellato, Ryan Ghietti, Paul Vaughan, Mason Cerruto tries; Josh Mantellato 7 conversions).
United States Hawks 0.
Half-time: 28-0 Azzurri.
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia).
Crowd: 7732.
Fiji v Wales
1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
Fiji Bati 72 (Suliasi Vunivali 3, Viliame Kikau 2, Taane Milne 2, Eloni Vunakece, Henry Raiwalui, Salesi Faingaa, Marcelo Montoya, Jarryd Hayne, Joe Lovodua, Petero Benjamin Nakabuwai tries; Apisai Koroisau 4 conversions; Taane Milne 3 conversions; Suliasi Vunivalu conversion).
Wales Dragons 6 (Morgan Knowles tries; Courtney Davies goal).
Halftime: 42-6 Bati.
Referee: Chris Kendall (England).
Crowd: 7732.
POINTS TABLES
POOL A |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
For |
Against |
Diff |
Points |
Australia |
2 |
0 |
0 |
70 |
10 |
+60 |
4 |
England |
1 |
1 |
0 |
33 |
28 |
+5 |
2 |
Lebanon |
1 |
1 |
0 |
39 |
47 |
-8 |
2 |
France |
0 |
2 |
0 |
24 |
81 |
-57 |
0 |
POOL B |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
For |
Against |
Diff |
Points |
NZ |
2 |
0 |
0 |
112 |
14 |
+98 |
4 |
Tonga |
2 |
0 |
0 |
82 |
22 |
+60 |
4 |
Samoa |
0 |
2 |
0 |
26 |
70 |
-44 |
0 |
Scotland |
0 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
124 |
-114 |
0 |
POOL C |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
For |
Against |
Diff |
Points |
PNG |
2 |
0 |
0 |
64 |
12 |
+52 |
4 |
Ireland |
1 |
1 |
0 |
42 |
26 |
+16 |
2 |
Wales |
0 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
112 |
-100 |
0 |
POOL D |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
For |
Against |
Diff |
Points |
Fiji |
2 |
0 |
0 |
130 |
18 |
+112 |
4 |
Italy |
1 |
1 |
0 |
58 |
36 |
+22 |
2 |
USA |
0 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
104 |
-92 |
0 |
