Rugby World Cup 2015: Winners and Losers from Tuesday's Games

October 6 marked the end of the tournament for two teams: Canada and Fiji, who bowed out in contrasting manners. Canada spurned a wonderful opportunity and lost 17-15 to Romania, whilst Fiji, who opened the tournament against England on September 18, secured a 47-15 win over Uruguay.

Teams, individual players and those off the field were the winners and losers of the day’s matches.

Winner: Fiji

Fiji, after a tough few weeks, secured the victory their performances at the 2015 Rugby World Cup deserved. The gallant Fijians were the best team to ever finish fourth in a Rugby World Cup pool.

Although they did not have the impact they had at France 2007, when they beat Wales and pushed winners South Africa hard in the quarter-final, the Fijians have made great strides this tournament.

Fiji's scrum, so often an Achilles’ heel, has been one of the best in the tournament. They got the upper hand there against England and dominated Wales and Australia, too.

AS per FBC Sports, coach John McKee explained:

"

The scrum has been a project for us for quite a long time now and a lot of credit goes to our scrum coach Allan Muir as he has worked really hard with our tight five and our pack as a whole to get us to the level that we are now and certainly when you look back to our November tour of 2013 where we really struggled in the scrums and there was an improvement last November and at the World Cup we have stepped up to another level.

"

And forget Sonny Bill Williams: In lock Leone Nakarawa, Fiji have the offload king of the World Cup.

As we say fond farewell to the Fijians, we should thank the islanders for bringing their dazzling skills to the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Winner: DTH Van Der Merwe

A try against Ireland, a finish versus Italy, a score when Canada faced France, winger DTH van der Merwe completed the set by crossing the whitewash when Canada lost to Romania. His score against Italy was one of the best of the tournament (see video above).

To put Van der Merwe’s feat into perspective, previously, only Welsh wizard Shane Williams had scored in all four pool matches at a Rugby World Cup.

Canada bowed out without a win, but on an individual level, Scarlets-bound Van der Merwe had a dream World Cup.

Winners: Romania and Florin Vlaicu

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Romania were lining up Canada as their best shot at a win at the 2015 World Cup, and the wet conditions suited the pack-orientated Romanians far more than the expansive Canadians, the Oaks pulling off a great comeback by overturning a 15-0 deficit to win 17-15.

Romania’s fly-half Florin Vlaicu was the hero after kicking a 78th-minute penalty with his side losing by a point.

Having missed two kicks at goal, Vlaicu owed his team-mates and delivered. In testing weather conditions, Romania’s record points scorer kicked well out of hand throughout, steering his ship through difficult waters.

Winner and Loser: Agustin Ormachea

Uruguay’s scrum-half Agustin Ormachea started the match against Fiji with a moment to forget as he was yellow-carded and conceded a penalty try for preventing a certain score. To add injury to insult, he probably hurt himself in the process of making a brave but technically suspect attempt at a tackle on Lepani Botia.

In the next phase of his topsy-turvy evening, Ormachea scored only Uruguay’s second World Cup try since 2003.

That positive should have been the end of Ormachea’s eventful evening but for striking at Campese Ma’afu with 13 minutes remaining.

Losers: Canada, Jamie Cudmore and Jebb Sinclair

Canada were the biggest losers on October 6, wilting under the pressure of a late Romanian onslaught. Leading 15-0 and 15-7 with 10 minutes remaining, they lost flanker Jebb Sinclair to the sin bin for a forward’s professional foul and conceded the decisive 10 points in just seven minutes.

Despite the brilliance of DTH van der Merwe, Canada’s World Cup campaign, and possibly the international career of talisman Jamie Cudmore, ended in massive disappointment.

Winners: The Supporters

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Canada versus Romania on a day that it chucked it down. What’s more, you’re slightly down World Cup-wise after England’s early exit. You could have forgiven fans with tickets from deciding to sit out this clash in Leicester.

But they came in their droves. As per ESPN, 27,153 attended and were rewarded with a great comeback and a very tight finish.

Similarly in Milton Keynes. Fiji are always a draw but Uruguay? Again, the attendance of 30,048 was staggering. Nowhere else in the world could have drawn such big crowds on a wet October day, especially during the week.

Hats off to the neutrals who went along and supported the game and the 2015 World Cup.