2023-10-08 23:05:08
After nearly five weeks of battle in dozens of scrums and hundreds of rucks, the schedule for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup is known. Fiji were the last nation to validate their qualification despite their defeat against Portugal on Sunday evening. They will face England, undefeated in Group D despite a relatively lackluster performance against Samoa on Saturday.
However, we feared the worst for the XV de la Rose before the start of the competition. Sick, unable to win against big nations for several months, the English took advantage of a very affordable group, where Argentina and Japan were not more dashing. They will still have to be wary of these Fijians, who claimed the scalp of Australia during this group stage.
Can the All Blacks shake up Ireland?
Two huge duels await rugby fans during these quarters. Saturday evening, at around 9 p.m., Ireland will meet New Zealand at the Stade de France for what could be one of the best matches of this World Cup. Undefeated and brilliant against Scotland, the Irish are in full swing and seem unstoppable. Physically impressive, it was above all the play displayed by the XV du Trèfle which won over its supporters, who came in large numbers to France to encourage their team.
For their part, despite their initial defeat against the Blues, the All Blacks have gained momentum and remain candidates for final victory. Whether against Namibia, Italy or Uruguay, the New Zealanders piled up the tries and showed the extent of their playing options. Even against the defensively armed Irish, they could hurt.
Clash of tough guys between South Africa and France
The next day, still in Saint-Denis, the clash between France and South Africa should also be close to the summits. The Blues, supported by their fans, flew through the group stage, finishing undefeated. But serious things are only starting for Fabien Galthié’s players, who do not yet know if they will be able to count on Antoine Dupont, victim of a maxillo-zygomatic fracture against Namibia.
Opposite, the South Africans will oppose their physical density. Generous in the duels, the Springboks only failed against the poles during this first round, which cost them the victory against Ireland. But the problem seems to have been resolved by the arrival of Handré Pollard, who came as reinforcement following the injury to Malcolm Marx, and who has already shown his excellent form against Tonga.
The last poster will pit Wales and Argentina. Surprising large leaders of their group, the Welsh are starting to have higher ambitions and are aiming for at least the semi-finals. To do this, we will have to overcome the Argentinian obstacle, which could prove tough. The Pumas brilliantly won their “round of 16” match against Japan this Sunday to secure a place in the last eight. Despite their low level, they could impose their solid forward pack.
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