It is our last week of pool play, whereas some quarterfinal spots are locked in, there’s nonetheless loads of jockeying and shuffling left to find out who performs who within the knock out levels.
Learn forward for group lists and previews.
– RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023: Squads | Schedule | Standings | Podcast | Accidents
Leap forward to a selected recreation.
Thursday, October 5
New Zealand vs. Uruguay, OL Stadium, Lyon (9p.m. native / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. GMT)
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Anton Leinart-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Cam Roigard, Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke.
Uruguay: Rodrigo Silva, Gaston Mieres, Tomas Inciarte, Andres Vilaseca (captain), Nicolas Freitas, Felipe Etcheverry, Santiago Arata, Manuel Diana, Lucas Bianchi, Manuel Ardao, Manuel Leindekar, Ignacio Dotti, Diego Arbelo, German Kessler, Mateo Sanguinetti.
Replacements: Guillermo Pujadas, Matias Benitez, Ignacio Peculo, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Santiago Civetta, Agustin Ormaechea, Felipe Berchesi, Juan Manuel Alonso.
Verdict: The All Blacks had been in a menacing temper final week in opposition to Italy, operating up an unimaginable 96-17 win that included a number of the most devastating rugby of the event up to now. New Zealand’s mixture of velocity, energy, talent and daring mixed to eviscerate the Azzurri and produce the Lyon crowd to its toes within the course of.
Extra of the identical ought to be anticipated right here, though the All Blacks aren’t fairly at full power. Damian McKenzie, Anton-Leinert Brown, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Cam Roygard have all earned a begin within the backs, whereas common skipper Sam Cane returns to steer the location at No. 7 as No. 8 Ardie Savea will get a well-earned week off earlier than the quarterfinals. Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock and Tyrel Lomax are the opposite new faces within the run-on aspect.
Uruguay play an analogous fashion of recreation to Italy, in that they’re eager to make use of the ball and play with width. However any mistake will go away them extremely susceptible on the counter and one other huge rating is inbound.
Tip: New Zealand by 70
Friday, October 6
France vs. Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon (9p.m. native / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. GMT)
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt, Anthony Jelonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, 2- Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Baptiste Couilloud, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet
Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Paolo Garbisi, Montanna Ioane, Tommaso Allan,Stephen Varney, Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (captain), Sebastian Negri, Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Pietro Ceccarelli, Hame Faiva, Simone Ferrari
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, David Sisi, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Lorenzo Pani.
Verdict: At first look, it is very laborious to see something aside from a commanding France win. Even with out the recovering Antoine Dupont, France ought to have far an excessive amount of for the Azzurri, who will nonetheless be choosing up the items from their absolute trouncing by the hands of the All Blacks. However then you definately issue within the significance of this match and the unusual issues World Cups do. If Italy win by seven factors or extra, it’s going to knock the hosts out of their very own competitors.
So Les Bleus are leaving nothing to likelihood with Maxime Lucu beginning instead of Dupon, Gregory Alldritt into the back-row instead of Francois Cros, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey beginning as an alternative of Gabin Villiere. Charles Ollivon captains the aspect.
Italy have modified 5: Simone Ferrari, Epalahame Faiva and Pietro Ceccarelli kind the entrance row, whereas Niccolò Cannone returns to the second row. Tommaso Allan strikes again to fly-half, Paolo Garbisi begins at No.12, and Ange Capuozzo strikes to fullback.
Tip: France by 17
Saturday, October 7
Wales vs. Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (3p.m. native / 12am AEDT / 2p.m. GMT)
Wales: Liam Williams, Louis Rees Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright, Defydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady.
Georgia: Lasha Khmaladze, Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (c), Davit Niniashvili, Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Guram Gogichashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Nodar Cheishvili, Konstantine Mikautadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia.
Replacements: Vano Karkadze, Nika Abuladze, Irakli Aptsiauri, Vladimer Chachanidze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Gela Aprasidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Demur Tapladze.
Verdict: Wales want only a level from this match in Nantes on Saturday to high Pool C whereas Georgia are already out of the competitors.
Warren Gatland went early with Wales’ group announcement on Monday but it surely confirmed six adjustments from the one which swiped apart Australia within the final spherical. Dewi Lake captains the aspect from hooker, Gareth Anscombe’s in for the injured Dan Biggar at fly-half alongside Tomas Williams, Dafydd Jenkins is within the second-row, Tommy Reffell begins at openside flanker, whereas Rio Dyer will get the nod on the wing.
For Georgia, Guram Gogichashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili and Nodar Cheishvili begin within the pack whereas Merab Sharikadze is at centre and fullback Lasha Khmaladze makes his first look on the World Cup.
Wales come into this with an ideal three from three report whereas for Georgia, it is an opportunity to depart a mark on the event.
Tip: Wales by 25
England vs. Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (5:45p.m. native / 2:45a.m. AEDT / 4:45p.m. GMT)
England: Freddie Steward, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (captain), Jonny Might, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Jamie George, Ellis Genge.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence.
Samoa: Duncan Paia’aua, Nigel Ah-Wong, Tumua Manu, Danny Toala, Neria Fomai, Lima Sopoaga, Jonathan Taumateine: Steven Luatua, Fritz Lee, Theo McFarland, Brian Alainu’u’ese, Sam Slade, Michael Alaalatoa (captain), Sama Malolo, Jordan Lay.
Replacements: Seilala Lam, James Lay, Paul Alo-Emile, Sootala Fa’aso’o, Alamanda Motuga, Melani Matavao, Christian Leali’ifano, Miracle Faiilagi
Verdict: Each groups already know their World Cup fates with England topping the group and Samoa out of the event, however count on this to be a full-throttle encounter in Lille on Saturday.
England have reunited the George Ford and Owen Farrell at fly-half and inside centre respectively, whereas Joe Marchant begins on the wing and Manu Tuilagi is in at centre the place he’ll face the land of his start for the primary time at Take a look at degree. Within the pack Tom Curry is again at openside flanker, the place he strains up alongside Courtney Lawes and Ben Earl. Marcus Smith is known as on the bench with Ollie Lawrence, however there isn’t any place within the squad for Henry Arundell who scored 5 tries in opposition to Chile final trip.
Samoa have made 9 adjustments with Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Tumua Manu and Duncan Paia’aua retaining their locations. There’s an all-new front-row of Jordan Lay, Sama Malolo and captain Michael Alaalatoa and a contemporary second-row of Sam Slade and Brian Alainu’u’ese. Their World Cup is over however with Lima Sopaga at 10, count on them to trigger England all types of bother.
Tip: England by 24
Eire vs. Scotland, Stade de France, Saint-Denis (9p.m. native / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. GMT)
Eire: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Stuart McCloskey.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ali Value; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Grey, Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Luke Crosbie, George Horne, Ollie Smith
Verdict: The sport of the weekend will show the definitive match of Pool B, deciding who advances to the quarterfinals. Having knocked off the Springboks a fortnight in the past, Eire have one foot within the knockout stage, and high spot from Pool B as well, however in addition they know {that a} first loss to the Scots in 9 video games might see them miss out altogether. If Eire had been to lose and never safe a bonus level, then it will likely be Andy Farrell’s aspect who’re going residence; there are additionally various different eventualities at play, which you’ll be able to delve into right here.
However such was their victory over the Springboks, and their sensible type of the previous two years, that Eire will begin deserved favourites for this Stade de France conflict. They can even be taking part in for veteran flanker Peter O’Mahony, who will convey up his a hundredth Take a look at cap.
The Scots, in the meantime, know the scope of the problem they face; the final two Six Nations clashes have been gained simply by Andy Farrell’s aspect, this yr’s victory secured with solely 14 males for over a half of rugby. Coach Gregor Townsend has welcomed again star males Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Jack Dempsey and Jamie Ritchie after they sat out the coaching run in opposition to Romania, so there will likely be a minimum of some contemporary legs to combine it with the Irish, who had the Week 4 bye.
However one merely can not look previous the Irish, who’re taking part in too nicely and are too in sync with each other proper throughout the paddock, to lose this one. Scotland are a worthy foe, however it will take one thing actually particular if they’re to spring an upset right here.
Tip: Eire by 10.
Sunday, October 8
Japan vs. Argentina, Stade de la Beajoire, Nantes (1p.m. native / 9p.m. AEDT / 3p.m. GMT)
Japan:
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Tonga vs. Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (5:45p.m. native / 2:45a.m. AEDT / 4:45p.m. GMT)
Tonga:
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Fiji vs. Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (9p.m. native / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. UK)
Fiji:
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