Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Spiro Zavos savours the fact that there is no longer a massive gulf in class between the top sides in rugby and the smaller nations.
"With all the teams (except Canada and Samoa) playing over the weekend, it is a great relief and pleasure to say that this has been the best opening pool round of all the World Cup tournaments.
"There were no blow-outs. Japan, for instance, had France on the brink of defeat before conceding 20 points or so in the last 10 minutes of the match. All the matches were sternly contested. The US held winner Ireland to a 22-10 scoreline.
"Many thrilling tries were scored. And the last match of the round, between South Africa and Wales, was one of the great rugby matches: intense, hard, gripping and on the line until the final whistle."
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