Rugby World Cup Results 2015: Sunday Scores, Group Tables, Forthcoming Fixtures

Tom SunderlandSep 20, 2015

Argentina put up a valiant effort against New Zealand at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the All Blacks' quality eventually told as they earned their first win, but a total of three tries and a 26-16 scoreline was not enough to give either a bonus point.

Wales took all five points as they ran riot over Uruguay to kick-start their campaign, but also picked up three more injury concerns for their trouble, while Samoa soared to victory on Sunday with a 25-16 victory over the United States.

Read on for a recap of Sunday's results, along with a breakdown of the tournament standings and a look to the upcoming World Cup schedule.

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Nation	Score	Nation
Samoa	25-16	United States
Wales	54-9	Uruguay
New Zealand	26-16	Argentina

New Zealand 26-16 Argentina

New Zealand were ran uncomfortably close by Argentina but nevertheless grabbed the vital win over the team likely to be their closest rivals in Pool A.

Three penalties from veteran fly-half Dan Carter gave the All Blacks a 9-0 lead with a quarter of the match gone.

Just two minutes after the third kick though, Argentina roared back into the match as Guido Petti went over following Leonardo Senatore's powerful drive at the line, per ITV Rugby:

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was sent to the sin bin for tripping Juan Imhoff, and Nicolas Sanchez—who converted the try—showed great composure to score a 48-metre penalty and take the lead for his side.

New Zealand were soon reduced to 13 men as Conrad Smith was given a yellow card, and another Sanchez penalty extended the lead, though Carter reduced the arrears with a kick of his own to close out a breathless first half.

Another early Sanchez penalty restored Argentina's four-point lead. New Zealand responded with a sustained period of intense pressure and were rewarded as Aaron Smith sneaked over the line after picking up the ball from a maul shortly before the hour-mark.

Sam Cane gave the favourites some breathing room 10 minutes later, atoning for a knock-on two minutes prior as he touched down following some expert passing to the left that gave the All Blacks a three-on-one advantage by the touchline:

That try rounded out the scoring, with neither able to register any further points. The win takes New Zealand to the top of Pool C and they will almost certainly rack up another win and a bonus point when they take on minnows Namibia on Thursday.

Argentina will take heart from their performance and will need confidence when they take on Georgia on Friday. The Pumas should be winning that, but after their shock win over Tonga the Georgians should not be underestimated.

Wales 54-9 Uruguay

Wales scored eight tries as they thrashed Uruguay to top Pool A ahead of England.

Three Felipe Berchesi penalties in the opening 24 minutes hinted the match could be a fairly close-run affair, but after their early setback the Welsh responded in style.

Berchesi had his side 6-0 up inside 10 minutes, but their lead lasted only a further five when Samson Lee went over to open the scoring for Wales, before Cory Allen raced onto Rhys Priestland's lovely chip over the Uruguay line to double their tally.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Indeed, Allen quickly racked up a first-half hat-trick, breaking through the defensive line twice more, the latter thanks to some neat play from Hallam Amos and Justic Tipuric.

Amos himself got in on the action as he added a fifth try 10 minutes after the restart from Gareth Davies' offload and Davies made it six following a maul on the hour mark.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Two more rolling mauls high up the pitch for Wales late on saw Tipuric go over himself and Davies squirm through to round out the scoring in the last phase of play.

Priestland made up for the absence of Leigh Halfpenny admirably as he made seven of the eight conversions, so the Welsh will take huge encouragement from that for the rest of the tournament.

However, they also suffered several injuries over the 80 minutes with Allen, Liam Williams and Dan Lydiate all needing to be replaced, per the Guardian's Alan Smith.

Wales were fairly impressive, but will need their players fit again ahead of their match with England at Twickenham on Saturday, or they could end up being the one from themselves, the hosts and Australia missing out on a place in the quarter-final.

Samoa 25-16 United States

Stephen Betham's Samoa succeeded where Fiji and Tonga could not to become the first Pacific Island nation to score a victory at this year's World Cup following Sunday's 25-16 beating of the United States.

A physical encounter unfolded at Amex Stadium, the scene of Japan's historic win over South Africa on Saturday.

Both sides showed early promise, but it was Samoa who looked the more accomplished technically and opened the scoring with a sumptuously worked try from Tim Nanai-Williams, as shown by ITV Rugby:

The younger cousin of New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams was one of the key technicians for Betham's men, and it was a combination of Samoa's silky backs and brute-force forwards that laid the foundation to success.

Saracens utility back Chris Wyles replied for the United States seven minutes before half-time, thanks to a superb break from fly-half AJ MacGinty. This reduced the deficit to 14-8 as the players headed into the tunnel:

The Americans were knocked back early in the second period, however, as Samoa captain Ofisa Treviranus ploughed over for his side's second try in the 46th minute, permitting Betham's men to pull away with their kicking game.

Substitute hooker Chris Baumann set up a grandstand finish with a late try, but MacGinty's missed conversion meant Mike Tolkin's team remained out of reach to begin their tournament in defeat.