Rugby World Cup 2015 results, video highlights: Wales, France top pool standings after impressive wins

Wales Rugby World Cup — Rugby Union - Wales v Fiji - IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales - 1/10/15 Wales' Alun Wyn Jones wins a lineout Reuters/Rebecca Naden

Fiji vs Wales

Wales moved closer into the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after defeating a surprisingly tough Fiji 23-13 at Millennium Stadium on Friday. The Dragons are now on top of the “Pool of Death” standings with three wins and four points clear of Australia, and seven further ahead of England.

Wales are poised to progress into the last eighth round of this year’s RWC after winning its third straight game. However, the Welsh will have to wait for the result of the Rugby World Cup fixture between Australia and England to determine their status in the next round.

If Australia could beat England, it would guarantee Wales a spot in the quarterfinals. If Stuart Lancaster’s squad beat Australia, however, Wales will have to win their match against the Wallabies on Oct. 10.

Wales had to dig deep to earn the victory over the Pacific Islanders. The Dragons opened the game strong, scoring a try in the seventh minute mark courtesy of Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies. Wales took control of the match before heading into the second half, with hooker Scott Baldwin squeezing over for the team’s second try.

Fiji was able to turn the tables a bit after the interval as Wales’ kicking game lost its sharpness. The Fijian’s running game started to click as they trimmed Wales’ lead to four points after outside Vereniki Goneva went for a 60-metre move followed by Ben Volavola’s conversion. However, England immediately restored order with two successful penalty kicks from Dan Biggar.

"It was a tough encounter and we are delighted with the win,” Wales coach Warren Gatland told the Rugby World’s official website. “Given the tough turnaround we had, between England and tonight, we had to dig deep.”

Canada vs France

France followed Wales in closing in on a RWC quarterfinal slot after running over Minnow Canada in their group stage match at Stadium MK on Friday. France scored five tries in a 41-18 win to claim the top spot of the Pool D standings with three wins and four points clear of Ireland.

France managed an impressive start in the first 30 minutes of the match, with a 17-0 lead to keep the Canadians scoreless. However, Canada rallied with quick two tries from left winger DTH Van Der Merwe and hooker Aaron Carpenter to cut the lead to five.

However, a missed conversion from Nathan Hirayama, and a try from France’s Rabah Slimani followed by Frederic Michalak’s conversion restored the lead to a dozen points heading into the second half. Veteran lock Pascal Pepe and debutant Remy Grosso scored the fourth and fifth try to give the Les Blues a bonus point, which is likely to be enough for France to reach the last eighth round.

However, France will still face Ireland to determine the top spot in Pool D, with the winner likely to avoid a clash against world No. 1 New Zealand in the quarterfinals. "It will be a different game, a different story [against Ireland],” France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said, reports CBC . "The guys are looking forward and they will be ready."