RWC Takes Break After Frantic Opening

PARIS—After a frantic weekend's action the World Cup takes a breath on Monday with no games scheduled.

There will be plenty of introspection though after the first eight games underlined the supremacy of the southern hemisphere.

After Argentina's shock opening night win over France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa followed up with emphatic victories.

And after Six Nations champions France failed on Friday and Italy were humiliated by the All Blacks on Saturday, the other leading European sides were unimpressive despite winning.

England (28-10 over USA), Wales (42-17 over Canada), Ireland (32-17 over Namibia)and Scotland (56-10 over debutantes, Portugal) will all have to significantly up their game if they are to challenge the Tri-Nations teams, though the International Rugby Board will no doubt be delighted by the battling displays of the United States, Canada, Samoa, Namibia and debutants Portugal, none of whom were disgraced.

Wales's winger Shane Williams (C) runs past Canada's scrum-half Ander Monro (L) and Canada's centre David Spicer (R) during the rugby union World Cup match Wales versus Canada at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France. Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images)

The action resumes on Tuesday when Argentina play Georgia, with Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda re-igniting the debate about "big-team bias" when he complained about the lack of rest his side have been given.

Scotland's hooker Ross Ford (R) scores a try despite Portugal's scrum-half Luis Pissarra's (L) efforts during the rugby union World Cup match Scotland vs. Portugal, at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, eastern France. (Philippe Merle/AFP/Getty Images)

The most significant event on Monday could be the Paris meeting between the tournament organisers and the Media Coalition to try to reach an agreement on non-matchday TV coverage for non-rights holders–the one main remaining issue in the dispute that led to a suspension of cover last week.