Hosts England were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage for the first time last night after suffering a humiliating 33-13 defeat to Australia, who booked their place in the quarter-finals with a clinical demolition job.
The result also ensured that Wales, victors over England last weekend, were guaranteed to emerge from Pool A into the last eight at the expense of their old rivals, who were under the cosh from the first whistle in front of a pumped-up home crowd at Twickenham.
Flyhalf Bernard Foley was the chief executioner, scoring two tries as Australia took a 17-3 lead into the break and then slotting over a penalty soon after the restart to leave England facing a mountain to climb.
Stuart Lancaster’s side did reduce the deficit when Anthony Watson bulldozed over the line with 25 minutes to play and a penalty from Owen Farrell had the crowd on their feet, but Australia ultimately proved too canny.
They stretched their advantage with a further two Foley penalties before Matt Giteau sealed victory when he raced clear to score in the corner and Foley added the extra points.
The battle for top spot is all that remains to be decided in the pool, with Australia taking on Wales at Twickenham next Saturday, while England face an anti-climactic trip to Manchester to play minnows Uruguay.
Both Australia and Wales are tied on 13 points, while England trail in third with six.
Earlier, Japan lit up the tournament once again and South Africa also kept themselves in quarter-final contention.
The South Africans had more than one reason to celebrate, however. The late Nelson Mandela, who memorably handed winning captain Francois Pienaar the William Webb Ellis trophy at the 1995 final, was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame before their win against Scotland at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
The twice world champions, stunned 34-32 by Japan in their opening match, stamped their authority on a tight Pool B with a 34-16 victory over a Scotland side who had gone into the game as group leaders.
Tries by flanker Schalk Burger and wing JP Pietersen, his fourth of the tournament after a hat-trick against Samoa last weekend, gave South Africa a 20-3 half-time cushion lead.
Scotland rallied to make them work hard for a win that was completed with Bryan Habana’s 61st test try, a Springboks record.
Japan, having won only one match in 24 at previous tournaments, have made a nation proud this time round, the team’s Australian coach Eddie Jones said after a 26-5 win.
Samoa, quarter-finalists in 1991 and 1995, were let down by indiscipline, with three players sin-binned during the match.
Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru made them pay, kicking four penalties and two conversions for a 16-point haul to make him the tournament’s leading scorer on 45 points, nine ahead of Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar.
South Africa lead Pool B by one point from the Scots, with Japan two points further back. All three have two wins apiece.
The Springboks and Japan both have remaining matches against the United States, who are bottom with no points, while Scotland face Samoa.
Playing today
Pool C: 15.30 Argentina vs Tonga.
Pool D: 17.45 Ireland vs Italy.