1) Japan need some variety in absence of bruisers
For the side brimful with invention and accuracy in Brighton this was a frustrating day. Scotland stopped Japan precisely where South Africa had allowed them space to play. There was pressure at the scrummage and even more aggression in the Scottish defence’s line speed. Japan were stopped in their tracks, and their rucks ceased to be targets the forwards could hit at speed beyond the advantage line. Without momentum Japan were less precise with their passing, less able to sow confusion with their angles. They became a little predictable, running and passing without making ground. They needed a little variety – from the forwards – but Michael Leitch was well marked and Amanaki Mafi taken out of the equation. Without bruisers the dream could end. Eddie Butler
• Match report: Scotland 45-10 Japan
2) Scotland show appetite but matches come thick and fast
The game ended with a measure of control that seemed highly unlikely before the game and improbable as late into it as the opening minutes of the second half. There were nasty moments – such as the retreat before the maul for Amanaki Mafi’s try, and the lack of a call for the restart kick after John Hardie’s try bounce of the ball, but by the end Scotland were looking very much the leading lights of Pool B. That will do for starters and since it was all based on a collective appetite for maintaining a tight defence it bodes well. Scotland scored five tries too; the days of fretting near the line seem gone. The downside? Now Scotland have a nasty four-day turnaround before the USA, and then only a four-day break before South Africa. EB
• Eddie Butler: Scotland make wait worthwhile as tired Japan fade
3) May to add bonus may come back to haunt Australia
When Australia’s head coach, Michael Cheika, announced post match that “we haven’t even thought about bonus points” it suggested one of two things. Either the Wallabies are so confident of winning all four of their pool games they see no point in complicating the equation or else they have not done their homework. Let’s say England, Australia and Wales all beat Fiji and Uruguay and lose once apiece to each other. Try bonus points – and losing ones – will certainly start counting then. A failure to score a fourth try against Fiji could cause Cheika more hassle than he imagined in the immediate aftermath of his side’s 28-13 victory. Robert Kitson
• Robert Kitson: Australia cruise past Fiji but dangerous waters lie ahead
4) Fiji will still have major say in who emerges from Pool A
Having lost to both England and Australia, Fiji’s chances of qualification for the knockout stages have gone. They can still have a big say, however, in who does progress from Pool A. Wales still have to play the Pacific Islanders next Thursday, only five days after their pivotal game against England at Twickenham. Already it is safe to predict John McKee’s team will take some knocking over; as against England their set piece stood up well and Leone Nakarawa was again outstanding in the lineout. The pace of their livewire scrum-half Niko Matawalu has been one of the highlights of the tournament thus far and Ben Volavola’s second-half try was no less than his side deserved. RK
• Match report: Australia 28-13 Fiji
5) Solid foundations but Romania need to add a little composure
A gnarly front row, a ferocious scrum, a fine lineout, and superb work at the breakdown. This Romanian squad have the makings of a solid side, and while they’ll struggle to hold Ireland given their short four-day turnaround, they have a genuine shot at beating both Canada and, in their final group game, will be planning to cause an upset against Italy. To do that, they’ll need to improve their kicking from hand. Too often they gifted possession to the French by aimlessly hoofing the ball down field into the arms of one or other of the back three. They will also need to be a little more composed when they’ve got the ball in hand. They sometimes seemed to treat it as though it was too hot to hold on to. Andy Bull
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6) France satisfy their coach but not so their followers
A little like the neighbour in the old Tom Waits track, we suspect France are building something in there, in the privacy of their own changing room. We just don’t know exactly what it is, or whether it is going to be any good when they’ve finished. Two wins in four days, one with a bonus point, satisfied the head coach Philippe Saint-André. “Things are progressing”, he said, gnomically. The French press, on the other hand, seem distinctly underwhelmed by what they’ve seen so far. Saint-André has managed to start 28 different players in the two matches, and the only player yet to feature is the wing Rémy Grosso, called up to replace the injured Yoann Huget. Exactly what the first XV will be by the quarter-finals, and whether they’ll click, is anyone’s guess. AB
• Match report: France 38-11 Romania
