It’s our final week of pool play, while some quarterfinal spots are locked in, there’s still plenty of jockeying and shuffling left to determine who plays who in the knock out stages.
Read ahead for team lists and previews.
– RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023: Squads | Schedule | Standings | Podcast | Injuries
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Thursday, October 5
New Zealand vs. Uruguay, OL Stadium, Lyon (9p.m. local / 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 were in a menacing mood last week against Italy, running up an incredible 96-17 win that included some of the most devastating rugby of the tournament to date. New Zealand’s mix of speed, power, skill and daring combined to eviscerate the Azzurri and bring the Lyon crowd to its feet in the process.
More of the same should be expected here, even though the All Blacks aren’t quite at full strength. Damian McKenzie, Anton-Leinert Brown, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Cam Roygard have all earned a start in the backs, while regular skipper Sam Cane returns to lead the site at No. 7 as No. 8 Ardie Savea gets a well-earned week off before the quarterfinals. Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock and Tyrel Lomax are the other new faces in the run-on side.
Uruguay play a similar style of game to Italy, in that they are keen to use the ball and play with width. But any mistake will leave them incredibly vulnerable on the counter and another big score is inbound.
Tip: New Zealand by 70
Friday, October 6
France vs. Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon (9p.m. local / 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:
Saturday, October 7
Wales vs. Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (3p.m. local / 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:
Replacements:
Verdict:
England vs. Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (5:45p.m. local / 2:45a.m. AEDT / 4:45p.m. GMT)
England:
Replacements:
Chile:
Replacements:
Verdict:
Ireland vs. Scotland, Stade de France, Saint-Denis (9p.m. local / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. GMT)
Ireland:
Replacements:
Scotland:
Replacements:
Verdict:
Sunday, October 8
Japan vs. Argentina, Stade de la Beajoire, Nantes (1p.m. local / 9p.m. AEDT / 3p.m. GMT)
Japan:
Replacements:
Argentina:
Replacements:
Verdict:
Tonga vs. Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (5:45p.m. local / 2:45a.m. AEDT / 4:45p.m. GMT)
Tonga:
Replacements:
Romania:
Replacements:
Verdict:
Fiji vs. Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (9p.m. local / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. UK)
Fiji:
Replacements:
Portugal:
Replacements:
Verdict:
Tip:
