The latest Rugby World Cup news stories on the day of the second semi-final
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Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, October 21.
New Zealand's crushing 44-6 annihilation of Argentina in Friday night's World Cup semi-final has re-ignited discontent among rugby pundits and fans about the competition draw.
Many have criticised the lopsided nature of the draw which pitched the four best teams in the world against each other in the quarter-finals rather than the semi-finals. Fears the semi-finals could be one-sided affairs were realised when New Zealand completely outplayed Argentina in a one-sided affair.
Many prominent journalist hit out at the spectacle, insisting it was not a good look for the sport. Irish rugby correspondent Murray Kinsella described it as 'shambolically poor', while English journalist Paul Hayward said the draw was "absurd". Many fans also found the game a turn off, with reports of a poor atmosphere inside the stadium.
ITV presenter Mark Pougatch made a point of raising the issue once again on ITV's live coverage, inviting Brian O'Driscoll to have his say. O'Driscoll said: "Unfortunately, the quarter-finals have ended up being what the semi-finals should be and that's to do with the seedings. We expected that to be the case and so it proved.
"If we're honest, this Argentina doesn't feel like a World Cup semi-final team. Lost to England, didn't get going against Japan, limped into knockout stages and had a good second-half performance against an alright Welsh team. Credit to them but they were put to the sword today."
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World Rugby has been forced to make a change to the officials for Saturday's England v South Africa World Cup semi-final in Paris.
Mathieu Raynal (France) will replace Andrew Brace (Ireland) as assistant referee for the match after Brace was ruled with a pulled calf muscle.
He becomes the second official to withdraw from the tournament through injury after Jaco Peyper had to be removed as referee during the Wales v Argentina quarter-final. Sign up to WalesOnline's daily rugby newsletter here.
The updated appointments are:
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referee 2: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
The All Blacks' Will Jordan appears to have all but wrapped up the Rugby World Cup top try scorer after his hat-trick against Argentina on Friday night.
Jordan was sublime against the weak Pumas, who crumbled in their last four match-up with a far superior New Zealand team to lose 44-6.
Jordan is now on eight tournament tries, two ahead of his nearest rival Damian Penaud, who is already out of the competition after France's quarter-final defeat.
The only people who can catch Jordan are team-mate Leicester Fainga'anuku and England's Henry Arundell, who are both unable to command starting spots in their respective sides, and South Africa's Cobus Reinach who has four tries. Jordan's tally of eight matches the record of Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu. He has now scored 31 tries in 30 tests.
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent, Paris
Kevin Sinfield has demanded England's players empty the tanks in Saturday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa to ensure they are not left with lifelong regrets.
For eight of the starting XV it is the chance to avenge their defeat to the Springboks in the 2019 final when the expectations generated by a thumping victory over New Zealand a round earlier were ground into the Yokohama Stadium turf.
Steve Borthwick's England were given little hope of challenging for South Africa's crown due a dismal series of warm-up fixtures which extended their losing run to five defeats in six Tests, yet they are the only unbeaten side left in the tournament.
Defence coach Sinfield sees the benefit of continuing to confront adversity head on at the Stade de France.
"I am certainly not overwhelmed. I understand the challenge in front of us," the English rugby league great said.
"But I don't mind being backed into a corner, don't mind being written off, don't mind being slammed, don't mind being in the thick of a pretty tough circumstance.
"I just think that we're in a World Cup semi-final, there is a lot of good in us, there are a lot of things to be excited about.
"Coming up against South Africa will let us know where we're at. But for our players, they are so excited to be out there.
"Rewind eight weeks to the end of August and it was pretty grim for us, but we want them to absolutely rip into it on Saturday night.
"We want them to give everything they've got, otherwise you end up with a load of regrets for the rest of your life.
"We are really looking forward to this – we are coming up against the best team in the world at the weekend."
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