World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has expressed confidence that there would be no confusion surrounding any disciplinary issues at the Rugby World Cup.
England captain Owen Farrell will miss his country’s opening games of the tournament against Argentina and Japan after receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle against World Cup warm-up opponents Wales.
World Rugby had appealed against the decision of a disciplinary panel to downgrade Farrell’s red card for a high tackle to yellow.
But a furious outcry greeted the verdict that Farrell’s shoulder-led challenge to Taine Basham’s head, which caused the Wales flanker to fail a head injury assessment, was a sin-binning offence only.
The appeal committee found that the original hearing had not considered Farrell’s failure to wrap when attempting the tackle, which had formed a key part of the bunker review system’s analysis when upgrading from yellow to red – and on that basis, it was decided to hear the case afresh.
“We have introduced the foul play bunker through Super Rugby and then into the summer games,” Gilpin said during the opening World Cup press conference at Roland Garros.
“There are always learnings from introducing things and there have been.
“The key difference for us coming into the tournament is that we get to control the process much more – everything from the way television pictures are shared with the relevant officials through to disciplinary process, obviously all under one set of controls.
“And that gives us the confidence I think that we can make sure it is not confusing for players and fans.”
The World Cup will begin in the wake of international players Rhys Webb and Elton Jantjies recording positive drugs tests.
Former Wales and current Biarritz scrum-half Webb, who retired from Test rugby in May, tested positive for a growth hormone, while South African fly-half Jantjies, who missed out on World Cup selection, tested positive for banned substance Clenbuterol.
In a general response, Gilpin added: “Does rugby have a doping problem? I think the evidence suggests no.
“We are not complacent at all and we are confident with the programmes that we have in place. We are working with the ALFD (French Anti-Doping Agency).
“We’ve taken really significant steps to make sure that every team in this tournament are tested in and out of competition and we’ve taken the step of re-testing every test that was taken in the 2019 World Cup with the latest anti-doping procedures and technology.”
Gilpin, meanwhile, believes the women’s World Cup in New Zealand last year provided positive images for the sport that should be repeated.
“I think what we saw in New Zealand, which is so important for rugby in the future, is players’ personalities not just being projected but being embraced by fans, by media,” he said.
“I think there is a lot that the men can learn from that and hopefully we can bring the personalities of all the great players that we’ve got in the game alive.
“There was also a huge amount of joy around that tournament, fans really getting behind every team.
“I am sure we will see that across the next seven weeks here in France. If the team welcome ceremonies we’ve seen in recent days are anything to go by, the teams can expect a pretty special welcome wherever they are.
“I am a bit of a veteran of these things now and I don’t think there has ever been a Rugby World Cup, ever been an event in rugby that has been as eagerly anticipated, with the excitement that is building not just here in France but around the world for this tournament.
“If the quality of rugby in the last couple of months is anything to go by, we’re going to see some very entertaining matches.”
Looking ahead to the tournament – which kicks off on Friday with a heavyweight clash between France and New Zealand in Paris – World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We know that this nation will be a magnificent host.
“We have received incredible support from the highest office to the smallest villages. Never has a nation been so ready and so excited to host.
“We have a record number of international fans, some 600,000, and the stage is set. I think it is fair to say that the action will be compelling, spectacular and unpredictable.”
Australia 40-29 Georgia: Schmidt lays down gauntlet ahead of Rugby Championship opener
Joe Schmidt has said he remains unsure about some of his Australia players following their 40-29 victory over Georgia at Sydney Football Stadium.
Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight scored doubles for the hosts, with Australia surviving a red card picked up by Filipo Daugunu for a knee to the head of Sandro Todua to maintain the Wallabies' new head coaches unbeaten start.
Schmidt made 10 changes to the side that beat Wales last Saturday in Melbourne, with some taking the opportunity with both hands, while others fell short.
"Some guys have really put their hands up and other guys probably need a bit of work," Schmidt said.
"Some guys are delivering really consistent training performances and pushing for match day selection. Whether you're playing Georgia or next time we come out in Brisbane, it will be South Africa.
"We have a number of players who we're not sure about, who is maybe the best option in a particular position or who's the best combination."
Australia led 26-10 at the break, and although Georgia rallied in the second half, the home side triumphed in only the third meeting between the pair.
Hunter Paisami and Isaac Kailea went over the line early on, but Dauganu's sending off allowed Georgia a way back into the contest.
The visitors closed to within two points of Australia with two scintillating tries early in the second half through Davit Niniashvili and Akaki Tabutsadze.
However, their challenge faded as Niniashvili was sin-binned for a deliberate knockdown, as McReight and Valetini secured three successive wins for the first time since late 2021.
“It is only three weeks that we’ve been together and we made 10 changes and we knew there was an element of risk in that,” Schmidt said.
“But I like the way we built our way into the game, bar the early three points.
“We put a few nice tries together and built a lead, but it was really disappointing that they got back into the game and we were scrambling just a little bit.”
The Wallabies next face world champions South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane on August 10.
New Zealand 47-5 Fiji: Barrett seeking improvements despite resounding win
New Zealand captain Scott Barrett insists improvements will be made despite the All Blacks easing to a 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego.
Scott Robertson's men scored seven tries at the Snapdragon Stadium in a side that included six debutants from their 2–0 series win over England last week.
The All Blacks led 26-5 at half-time, but Fiji still managed to restrict their opponents to the lowest score of their eight Test encounters.
"Fiji certainly showed up tonight in the physical areas," said captain Barrett. "It wasn't fully polished, we have pretty high standards in this team.
"They were able to get their hands on the ball to turn it over at times but we created enough opportunities to turn into points."
Caleb Clarke and Cortez Ratima scored converted tries in the opening exchanges, before Vilimoni Botitu notched Fiji's only try of the contest.
Sevu Reece would increase the All Blacks' advantage in the second half, before George Bell, on his debut, went over for the final try of the encounter.
The result maintains New Zealand's eight-game winning run, with head coach Scott Robertson nodding to the future following impressive performances from his debutants.
“Keeping them to five points is pretty special," Robertson said. "We scored some great tries, we left a lot out there.
"I’m really proud of a lot of efforts and the six debutants who really stood up.
“It was exciting to see how that talent went. They showed why we picked them. We’ve had seven debutants over the three games.
"It’s been intense with the travel coming over here. I’m pleased everyone has learnt quickly and been incredibly professional off the field.”
Ireland celebrate 'incredible' triumph over South Africa after Frawley late show
Conor Murray celebrated an "incredible" victory over South Africa after Ciaran Frawley's heroics sealed a 25-24 victory over the Springboks.
Reigning world champions South Africa lost to Ireland on home soil for just the second time as Frawley knocked over a drop-goal with the final kick of Saturday's Test in Durban.
It capped a stunning comeback for Ireland, who trailed 16-6 at half-time.
Remarkably for such a high-scoring encounter, there was only one try, with Murray going over for Ireland, while Handre Pollard converted eight penalties for South Africa.
The day belonged to Frawley, though, as he nailed two drop-goals to condemn South Africa to a first defeat at Kings Park since 2016, ensuring the two-Test series was drawn.
"Incredible," Murray told Sky Sports. "Just to come here, in the world champions' backyard and we knew it would be tough and it was last week and it was again today.
"South Africa don't lose easy and they find a way. It's so frustrating at times to play against. We believed in ourselves, coming into South Africa's backyard is always going to be a big challenge and I think we can be proud.
"Last week hurt, it was a tough defeat and to turn up this week, we knew we were getting a break at the end of the week and the boys turned up and committed to this week."
Frawley was equally as delighted.
"It's mental," he said. "This place is a fortress and it's so loud. The game was back and forth but the boys dug in deep. We were in our own half and managed to get up, we're delighted."
South Africa have lost just their second Test match in the space of 14, with the Springboks seeing a six-match winning run come to a close.
Their only other loss during that run came against Ireland at last year's World Cup.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi told Sky Sports that his team were always up against it despite taking that big lead.
"In the first half the intensity and the physicality they [Ireland] were in charge of that definitely and we were just playing catch-up," he said.
"We weren't as intense as we were last week and they were dominating us and that was the big change from last week."
The victory saw Andy Farrell celebrate his 50th Test in charge of Ireland in style.
Farrell is only the fourth Irish men's coach to hit the half-century milestone, after Declan Kidney (53), Joe Schmidt (76) and Eddie O'Sullivan (78). He has won 40, with his win rate being the highest of any Ireland coach to have taken charge of at least three Tests.
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