Georgia signed off their November programme in style with an impressive 35-24 win against a Japanese side that went into the weekend five places higher than them in the World Rugby Rankings. Saturday’s victory in Tbilisi was Georgia’s first over Japan in three attempts.

Merab Kvirikashvili contributed 15 points on his 80th appearance for the Lelos, scoring one of his side’s five tries as well as kicking two conversions and two penalties. Georgia’s other tries came from hooker Shalva Mamukashvili, fly-half Lasha Khmaladze, replacement Beka Tsiklauri and a penalty try. Karne Hesketh (2) and Harumichi Tatekawa scored Japan’s tries, with Ayumu Goromaru kicking a penalty and three conversions.

Romania fly-half Florin Vlaicu kicked all of his side's points as they got the better of Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool D rivals Canada, prevailing 18-9 in a try-less encounter at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest. The hard-fought win was Romania’s third in a row against Canada and ensures they end the month on a high after home defeats to the USA and Japan in their two previous matches.

Fiji hold on

Canada’s North American rivals the USA fell just short of recording what would have been a memorable victory against Fiji on neutral soil in Vannes, north-west France, eventually losing 20-14.

The Eagles went behind to tries from France-based duo full-back Timoci Nagusa and wing Watisoni Votu, while Nemani Nadolo knocked over a conversion and a penalty as the Pacific Islanders led 15-0 at the break.

Mike Tolkin’s men took full advantage of Tuapati Talemaitoga’s sin-binning at the start of the second half to score through Sean Kelly, with Eagles’ debutant Ronnie McLean converting to close the gap to eight points. Votu’s second try put Fiji back in command but Takudzwa Ngwenya’s try, again converted by McLean, and a second yellow card meant the final whistle couldn’t come soon enough for Fiji.

Tonga swept aside

Tonga were unable to repeat their heroics of two years ago as they fell to a 37-12 defeat against Scotland at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock, in the first major Test match to be played on a synthetic surface. The ‘Ikale Tahi had cause to believe they might be able to back up their 2012 win over Scotland in Aberdeen, after four Latiume Fosita penalties left them trailing by just two points at half-time, but the Scots stepped up a gear after the break to score 23 points without reply.

Samoa, like Tonga, were still in the game at half-time after holding England to a 13-6 lead at Twickenham. However the Pacific Islanders could only manage a third Tusi Pisi penalty after the break, and a Mike Brown try and a second from Jonny May saw England home to a 28-9 win.

Full-back Pedro Avila meanwhile bagged a second-half brace of tries as Portugal recovered from a 13-12 half-time deficit to beat RWC 2015 qualifiers Namibia 29-20 in Lisbon. Centre Manuel Pereira and captain and flanker Vasco Una joined Avila on the scoresheet, while number 8 Tiago Girao kicked three conversions and a penalty. Hooker Torsten van Jaarsfeld crossed in the first half for Namibia and winger Johan Tromp added a second deep into injury-time.