Rugby World Cup 2015: Updated Schedule and Standings After Opening Results

Japan's 34-32 Rugby World Cup win over South Africa ranks as one of rugby's greatest all-time upsets, if not one of the greatest David vs. Goliath moments in all of sport. The Japanese are in fact the next team to feature at the tournament when they take on Scotland in the latter's opening match on Wednesday.

Another standout fixture is Saturday's clash between England and Wales at Twickenham, London.

Here are the upcoming fixtures and the current standings after the opening weekend's memorable action:

Date	Time (BST)	Home	Away	Venue
23 September	2:30 p.m.	Scotland	Japan	Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
23 September	4:45 p.m.	Australia	Fiji	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
23 September	8 p.m.	France	Romania	Olympic Stadium, London
24 September	8 p.m.	New Zealand	Namibia	Olympic Stadium, London
25 September	4:45 p.m.	Argentina	Georgia	Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
26 September	2:30 p.m.	Italy	Canada	Elland Road, Leeds
26 September	4:45 p.m.	South Africa	Samoa	Villa Park, Birmingham
26 September	8 p.m.	England	Wales	Twickenham, London
27 September	Noon	Australia	Uruguay	Villa Park, Birmingham
27 September	2:30 p.m.	Scotland	USA	Elland Road, Leeds
27 September	4:45 p.m.	Ireland	Romania	Wembley Stadium, London

Pool A
Pool B
Pool C
Pool D
Pos.	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus	Points
1	Wales	1	1	0	0	54	9	1	5
2	England	1	1	0	0	35	11	1	5
3	Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Fiji	1	0	0	1	11	35	0	0
5	Uruguay	1	0	0	1	9	54	0	0
Pos.	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus	Points
1	Samoa	1	1	0	0	25	16	0	4
2	Japan	1	1	0	0	34	32	0	4
3	South Africa	1	0	0	1	32	34	2	2
4	Scotland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	United States	1	0	0	1	16	25	0	0
Pos.	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus	Points
1	New Zealand	1	1	0	0	26	16	0	4
2	Georgia	1	1	0	0	17	10	0	4
3	Tonga	1	0	0	1	10	17	1	1
4	Namibia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Argentina	1	0	0	1	16	26	0	0
Pos.	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus	Points
1	Ireland	1	1	0	0	50	7	1	5
2	France	1	1	0	0	32	10	0	4
3	Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Italy	1	0	0	1	10	32	0	0
5	Canada	1	0	0	1	7	50	0	0

Preview

In 2004, Scotland recorded their biggest-ever win as they routed Japan 100-8. Eleven years later, the Japanese will in fact be the higher-ranked team when they clash on Wednesday, according to the Press Association (via the Guardian).

Former Scotland player Andy Nicol highlighted Japan's remarkable progress in recent years, culminating in their famous win over the Springboks:

According to PA Sport, via ESPN, the Scots will field a strong team against the Cherry Blossoms in a bid to avoid another upset and kick off their campaign with a win. Per the report, coach Vern Cotter said:

"

We've prepared well for what will be a very tough Test against a powerful and fit Japanese team, who like to play a high-tempo game.

They [Japan] will have taken a lot of confidence from their opening win over South Africa, however that doesn't change our approach to this game or the pool.

The priority for us is to ensure that we get our jobs right with accuracy, and impose ourselves on the game.

"

If they can silence Ayumu Goromaru, they'll have a strong chance of doing so. The 29-year-old scored 24 of his side's 34 points, kicking five penalties and two conversions as well as bagging himself a try.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Avoiding giving away careless penalties in their own half will deny Japan their most reliable source of points as the fatigued Blossoms will be less likely to threaten Scotland's try line against their fresh legs.

The BBC's Sonja McLaughlan believes the narrow turnaround will put Japan at a serious disadvantage:

With the Japanese likely to be not only physically but mentally drained after their phenomenal exertions on Saturday, the wary Scottish should be able to avoid a giant-killing, but the Blossom's never-say-die attitude could still ensure another exciting contest.

Similarly, England against Wales has the potential to provide great drama.

The hosts were far from their best as they beat Fiji 35-11 on Friday, while Wales were rampant in their 54-9 thrashing of Uruguay.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

However, as rugby journalist Simon Thomas notes, the Welsh have a number of injury concerns ahead of the match:

With Warren Gatland already without the metronomic Leigh Halfpenny, England will be looking to take full advantage of Wales' injury-hit squad. Stuart Lancaster's men have already beaten Wales this year at the Six Nations—at their Millennium Stadium home, no less.

With the home crowd cheering them on at Twickenham, they should be able to eke out a victory, though they'll need to be much tighter with their forward play having conceded 16 turnovers against Fiji, per ITV Rugby.

One ray of hope for the Welsh is Rhys Priestland's strong kicking against Uruguay, as he converted seven of their eight tries. If he can replicate that performance against England and chip in with a penalty or two as well, he could make it an uncomfortably close encounter for the hosts.