Pool A will have matches on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. On Wednesday 14 September Tonga will play Canada in Whangarei, on Friday New Zealand will play against Japan in Hamilton and the last pool a match will be in Napier when France play Canada.
Canada have edge over Tonga
Canada will look to continue their advantage over Tonga when the two sides meet in the Rugby World Cup Pool A clash in Whangarei on Wednesday.
The Canucks have won three of the five encounters between the two sides, in a series which began in Vancouver in October 1974. Tonga triumphed 40-14 in that first meeting but have recorded only one other win – an 18-10 victory at Teufaiva, Nuku A’lofa , in July 1999.
Canada have subsequently won the last two match-ups with a 29-11 triumph in Vancouver in May 2000 and a 24-7 win in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Wollongong, Australia.
Canada v Tonga All-time record: Played: 5, Canada won 3, Tonga won 2.
Biggest winning margin: 33 – Canada (37-4) in Napier May 24, 1987.
Highest score: 40 – Tonga (40-14) in Vancouver October 25, 1974.
Most tries: Canada: 7 (37-4) in Napier May 24, 1987; Tonga: 9 (40-14) in Vancouver October 25, 1974.
Most points (individual): Canada Bobby Ross 12; Tonga: Sateki Tuipulotu 13.
Most tries (individual): Canada 2 Pat Palmer, Paul Vaesen; Tonga: 2 Saia Fifita, Talilotu Ngaluafe
Previous Rugby World Cup meetings:: Two
All Blacks eye easy pickings
New Zealand will look to continue their historical dominance over Japan when the two sides meet in Hamilton on Friday.
The All Blacks destroyed Japan 145-17 in the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Bloemfontein in the only match-up between the two teams. In a chastening experience for Japan, New Zealand ran in 21 tries with Marc Ellis claiming a record six on his return to the side. Wingers Eric Rush and Jeff Wilson both grabbed hat-tricks while fly-half Simon Culhane ended the game with 20 conversions.
A New Zealand select XV toured Japan in 1987 and won two games in Osaka and Tokyo. Current Japan coach John Kirwan scored two tries in a 74-0 victory on October 25 which was followed up with a 106-4 win in Tokyo a week later, when Kirwin bagged a hat-trick and No.8 Zinzan Brooke claimed four tries.
New Zealand v Japan All-time record: Played: 1, New Zealand won 1, Japan won 0.
Biggest winning margin: 128 – New Zealand (145-17) in Bloemfontein, June 4, 1995.
Highest score: 145 – New Zealand (145-17) in Bloemfontein, June 4, 1995.
Most tries: NZ: 21 (145-17) New Zealand (145-17) in Bloemfontein, June 4, 1995; Japan: 2 (17-145) Bloemfontein, June 4, 1995.
Most points (individual): NZ: Simon Culhane 45; Japan: Hiroyuki Kajihara 10.
Most tries (individual): NZ : 6 Marc Ellis; Japan: Hiroyuki Kajihara 2.
Japan suffer second RWC ending injury
Japan have been forced to make a second change to their World Cup squad after No.8 Ryukoliniashi Holani was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Holani was forced off after 35 minutes in their clash with France and was seen leaving North Harbour Stadium on crutches. It was later confirmed that he had sustained a cruciate knee injury. He will be replaced in the side by Toetsu Taufa. The news will come as a blow for John Kirwan after he was forced to call up Yuji Kitagawa, 25, into his squad on Friday after lock Justin Ives failed to recover from a knee injury.