Rugby World Cup 2015: Winners and Losers from Thursday's Games
The World Cup was back in action with two games on Thursday that saw two sides take major steps towards the quarter-finals.
Wales overcame a short turnaround time between games to record a 23-13 win over Fiji, who never made life easy for Warren Gatland's men.
And France saw off the brave challenge of Canada with a bonus-point 41-18 win in Milton Keynes.
Both sides move to three wins of three, but both have huge clashes left in their pool sections to decide their fates.
France will face Ireland in Cardiff in what will be the pool decider if the Irish overcome Italy on Sunday, and Wales await Australia, against whom a win would seal the top spot in the Pool of Death.
Here are Thursday's winners and losers.
Winner: Gareth Davies
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Welsh rugby was in mourning when star scrum-half Rhys Webb was ruled out of the World Cup after damaging knee ligaments against Italy in their final warm-up.
But Gareth Davies has done remarkably well to ensure Webb's absence has not hampered their campaign so far. He scored his fourth try in three Pool A games against Fiji, a smart snipe from a ruck catching defenders unawares.
And Davies was a constant thorn in Fiji's side all night, with a couple more searing breaks that split the Islanders open.
Loser: Wales' Scrum
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Wales got the win, but their set piece will give forwards coach Robin McBryde plenty of cause for concern.
Fiji got well on top of them in the first half, shoving them backwards in their first two put-ins and winning a penalty as Gethin Jenkins crumpled under pressure.
Jenkins was immense around the field, but he will need to work on his scrummaging to prevent it becoming an Achilles' heel for his team against Australia and any possible quarter-final opponents, should Wales make it through.
Winner: Scarlets Fans
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Canada were beaten by France, but their flying left wing DTH van der Merwe got the fans off their seats for the third game in a row.
The good news is anyone with a season ticket at Parc y Scarlets next season will get to see him do it for them every other week.
Van der Merwe's effort Wednesday night was all about lightning-fast footwork. Receiving a shoveled pass and with a man to beat, he fixed him with a split-second change of direction before scuttling outside him and over the line.
Magic stuff from a player waging a convincing campaign for a place in the team of the tournament, and mouthwatering stuff for the Scarlets fans, who will see him in their shirt next season.
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Loser: Ben Volavola
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Fiji's fly-half Ben Volavola nailed his first tricky penalty but missed two of his next three, which ensured Wales were never caught.
Fiji scored a try soon after his second miss, bringing the gap down to four points during the second half. But had the Crusaders-bound Volavola converted those earlier two attempts, his side's brilliant score would have handed them the lead.
The psychological damage that would have done to a tiring Welsh side may have been pivotal.
As it was, Wales remained in the lead and could soon extend it through a penalty of their own.
Volavola's profligacy meant Fiji could not apply the pressure required to really put the home side under the hammer.
Winner: Improving France Looking Menacing
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The French have been steadily improving through their pool-section matches.
Canada rattled them in the first half with two quick-fire tries to make the scoreboard tight. But there was no Gallic meltdown. Instead, there was composure, resilience and a driven-over try that reasserted their dominance.
A solid set piece is backed up at No. 10 by the guile of Freddie Michalak, who looks in the mood to play, which is not always the case for the Toulon man.
Outside him they have the skills of Wesley Fofana, the brute force of Mathieu Bastareaud and the hard-running Scott Spedding at full-back.
This is a team with a strong spine and plenty of depth on the bench. It will be some tussle with the Irish in Cardiff.
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