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Rugby football, via television, has brought to the world an ancient and aggressive form of South Pacific dancing, not the beautiful girls in hula skirts with leis around their necks to welcome American sailors in search of rest and recreation, as Technicolor movies told the world was how dancing was done in the islands. The four Pacific Island teams at the Rugby World Cup have shown off dances of a different kind to the world, the best moments of prematch drama. It was a moment of gripping drama as the All Blacks performed their Haka, now stylised and theatrical, and...

The USA Eagles ended a 16-year drought at the Rugby World Cup when they beat the ever-willing Japanese 39-26 at Gosford's Gold Coast Stadium on Monday. It brought the curtain down on Japan's participation at the 2003 tournament, but the Eagles have an encounter with France, on Friday, to complete their involvement. While the Eagles have plenty of reason to celebrate their win, the first since they beat Japan in their opening match (21-18) at the 1987 RWC in Brisbane, it is with a touch of sadness that the organisers will be saying "Sayonara" to the 'Cherry Blossoms'. They have...

For the 2003 Rugby World Cup, a bonus points system will operate with four points for a win, two for a draw, a bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and a bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer. World Cup : Pool A Team P W D L F A Diff TB LB PTS Ireland 2 2 0 0 109 24 85 2 0 10 Australia 2 2 0 0 114 16 98 1 0 9 Argentina 2 1 0 1 75 38 37 1 0 5 Romania 2 0 0 2 25...

Winger Simon Danielli scored two first-half tries to help a stop-start Scotland subdue a battling US Eagle side by 39-15, in their Pool B clash at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. But Scotland took their time to warm to the task with their forwards having little luck in their attempt to take on a very physical US Eagle pack. It was only when the ball was spun wide - via the magical hands of fly-half Gregor Townsend and out to the likes of Chris Paterson - that Scotland's superiority became apparent. The Scots looked like they would run away with...

Oh the agony! American fly-half Mike Hercus will have nightmares about last-gasp conversion attempt at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday, a kick which sailed wide of the uprights and handed Fiji a 19-18 win over the Eagles in their Pool B match at Rugby World Cup 2003. Hercus, who had a shocking game, had one last chance to atone for his earlier clangers. He lined up a conversion attempt from wide out, just after flanker Kort Schubert had scored a try to narrow the gap to 19-18 in an intense and entertaining encounter. But it was clearly not...