Rugby World Cup 2019: the story of the tournament in pictures and quotes

South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi celebrates scoring the first try in the final with Faf de Klerk. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

In South Africa pressure is not having a job. It is one of your friends being murdered. Rugby shouldn't be something that creates pressure.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa coach

Australia’s Samu Kerevi poses for a selfie with Wallabies fans after the team’s arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

A woman walks past a billboard promoting the Rugby World Cup at the International Stadium Yokohama. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Women walk past a shop displaying rugby jerseys in Kobe prior to the tournament. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Children perform the haka in front of New Zealand players during a fans’ event at Kashiwanoha Park Stadium. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

The World Cup is like a rollercoaster ... You get down the first slope and you are not sure if you are going to throw up or hang on.

Eddie Jones, England coach

France players arrive at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine following an official welcoming ceremony in Fujiyoshida. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Blue Impulse, Japan’s air self-defence force aerobatic display team, perform a flying display over the Tokyo Stadium ahead of the opening match between Japan and Russia. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

We need to bring chaos into their organisation.

Vasily Artemyev, Russia, before the opening match against Japan

Japan’s Kotaro Matsushima touches down for a try under pressure from Vasily Artemyev of Russia. His effort was disallowed during the opening game between Japan and Russia. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Australia’s Reece Hodge high tackles Fiji’s Peceli Yato at Sapporo Dome. Hodge was later cited and banned for the challenge. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Gaël Fickou dives to score France’s first try against Argentina in their thrilling opener at Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

They won it, I don't think we lost it.

Rassie Erasmus, after defeat to New Zealand

All Blacks winger Sevu Reece evades the tackle of South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi to offload the ball at International Stadium Yokohama. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Our game is about intimidation. Some people might not want to hear that, but that's a fact.

Steve Hansen, New Zealand coach

Fans walk across the Toyota Bridge near the the City of Toyota Stadium ahead of the match between Wales and Georgia. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Japanese children await the start of the match between Argentina and the USA at Kumagaya Stadium. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

Italy’s Jake Polledri is tackled during the match against Namibia at Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Photograph: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images

I don't know where it comes from. It's inside. It's in there. Today, we had to go there to fetch it, and it came.

Juan Manuel Gaminara, Uruguay captain, after defeating Fiji

Fiji’s Jale Vatubua reacts after losing to Uruguay at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

England’s fly-half George Ford celebrates after scoring a try against Argentina at Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Fans enjoy the match between Canada and Italy at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium. Photograph: David Ramos/World Rugby/Getty Images

Japan did not exceed my expectations. They met them.

Joe Schmidt, Ireland coach, after defeat to Japan

As the final whistle sounds, Japan players celebrate a rousing victory after a stunning second-half display saw off Ireland. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

New Zealand players perform the haka before their Pool B victory against Namibia at Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters

New Zealand fly-half Jordie Barrett kicks a conversion against Namibia at the Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

I was behind the last man and I started laughing because the forwards were driving so well I couldn't yell.

Faf de Klerk, South Africa scrum-half

Italy’s hooker Luca Bigi peers out from near the bottom of a ruck during the match against South Africa at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

South Africa’s hooker Bongi Mbonambi congratulates Mapimpi after he scored a try against Namibia. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Fans arrive during a rain shower at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa ahead of the match between Australia and Georgia. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

If New Zealand needed four or five points against us it would not have been cancelled.

Sergio Parisse, Italy

If you play it later, then that’s when we are finished for Christmas, you’d have Santa Claus giving out the World Cup.

Steve Hansen

Residential areas flooded by the Chikuma river in Nagano following the destructively powerful typhoon Hagibis. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Canadian players help to clear up in Kamaishi following the cancellation of their match against Namibia because of typhoon Hagibis. The powerful storm unleashed torrents of rain and strong winds that left thousands of homes on Japan’s main island flooded, damaged or without power. Photograph: 横山純太郎/AP

The things that happen in this tournament don't happen in other sports. You've got the Canadian blokes cleaning up (after Typhoon Hagibis).

Eddie Jones

New Zealand captain Kieran Read talks to children at a fan event in Beppu. Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Australia’s Bernard Foley and Adam Ashley-Cooper feed birds during a visit to Kakegawa Kachoen. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

England prop Kyle Sinckler dives over for his side’s third try despite a desperate tackle attempt by Australia’s Kurtley Beale in their quarter-final at Oita Stadium. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith scores the opening try against Ireland during the quarter-final at Tokyo Stadium. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters

I want to set a good example and show what being a man is. Being a man isn't losing your rag and your emotions. It's about being calm.

Kyle Sinckler, England prop

Players battle for the ball during the quarter-final between Wales and France at the Oita Stadium. Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

I think the better team lost today.

Warren Gatland, Wales coach, after the quarter-final win over France

They came out with a hiss and a roar, gave us a punch to the nose from the get-go.

George Bridge, New Zealand, after the semi-final defeat by England

England captain Owen Farrell smiles at the All Blacks as they perform the haka before the semi-final at Yokohama International Stadium. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

New Zealand captain Kieran Read looks shell-shocked after the world champions’ semi-final defeat. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Jake Ball, left, and Wyn Jones, second left, clash with Faf de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen during the semi-final between Wales and South Africa. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Props Frans Malherbe and Wyn Jones hit the floor as a scrum collapses during the semi-final which the Springboks won by just three points. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

South Africa’s RG Snyman wins a high ball under pressure from Alun Wyn Jones. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

We'll be kicking stones for four years. And it's hard to kick stones for four years.

Eddie Jones

Bloodied England No 8 Billy Vunipola looks dejected immediately after the final loss against the Springboks. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Cheslin Kolbe beats the tackle of Owen Farrell to run clear and score South Africa’s second try late in the final. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

I never dreamed of a day like this at all. When I was a kid all I was thinking about was getting my next meal.

Siya Kolisi, South Africa captain

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi lifts the Web Ellis Cup following their emphatic victory against England. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian