We are fast approaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with four scintillating matches of action lined-up for this weekend. Due to the lop-sided pool stage draw, we will witness two quarter-final clashes between the four highest ranked sides in the world.
These two quarter-final match-ups could main event any Rugby World Cup Final, but we will instead see them take shape across the final eight of the tournament. France take on South Africa and Ireland face New Zealand, in two blockbuster quarter-finals featuring the graduates of Pools A and B.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Pool C winners Wales are set for a run-in with Argentina, after Los Pumas clawed their way passed Japan for a spot in the knock-out stages. After finishing at the top of Pool D, England take on Fiji, with Steve Borthwick’s men eyeing up redemption for the Summer Nations Series upset, at Twickenham last August.
With the final eight teams set to become just four after this weekend, we are no longer able to pick out the ‘Top 5 Matches to Watch’, as we have throughout the pool stages. Instead, we will run down each of the quarter-finals, and give our official RUCK predictions, as to who will progress into the semi-finals.
Here are the four Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final matches to watch this weekend.
Saturday October 14th
Wales vs Argentina (16:00 KO), Marseille
The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals kick-off on the French South Coast, as Wales take on Argentina in Marseille. Warren Gatland’s side have completed a successful clean sweep of their Pool C opponents, and remain as one of just four unbeaten sides left in the competition, along with England, Ireland and France.
Two Wales stars are racing against the clock to get fit for the knock-out stages, as Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe suffered groin and knee injuries respectively against Georgia. The two soon to be occupants of the Japan Top League were witnessed jogging out at an open Wales training session. They hope to follow Dan Biggar’s road to recovery, with the Toulon fly half confirmed fit after a pectoral strain.
Argentina will want to stop Wales from reaching their second consecutive Rugby World Cup semi-final, and make the final four for the first time since 2015. Los Pumas were the dark horses of the tournament eight years ago in England, and finished fourth overall after losing the Bronze Medal match to the Springboks. Argentina have been hit with a significant injury blow, as flanker Pablo Matera limped off the pitch against Japan, favouring his heavily-taped hamstring injury.
Wales have historically found success against Los Pumas, with nine wins in their past eleven meetings. However, the two sides are evenly split in their past three encounters since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with both Wales and Argentina registering a win, along with a 20-20 draw in the 2021 Summer Series. Wales’ record at six World Cup quarter-finals is an even 50/50 split, winning three and losing three, Argentina replicate this winning rate in four previous quarter-finals, with two wins and two loses.
There is little separating these two sides heading into the weekend’s opening contest, however Wales will take great confidence in their unbeaten World Cup form. Gatland’s side have come good when it mattered the most, with Argentina underperforming throughout the pool stages despite entering the tournament confident, after strong Rugby Championship outings.
We hand the win to Wales, but it will come down to the wire in Marseille.
RUCK’s Prediction: Wales 28 – 21 Argentina
Ireland vs New Zealand (20:00 KO), Saint-Denis
It is never a simple task to return to the scene of the crime. Four years ago, Ireland were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup rather unceremoniously, as what was then Joe Schmidt’s side took a 46-14 loss to the All Blacks. Ireland have rallied back throughout the past quad-annual cycle, and under the guidance of Andy Farrell have established themselves as the best international side in the world.
However, the hex still hangs over the heads of the Ireland players, who want to become the first iteration of the side to progress into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals. Never has a team from the Emerald Isle made the final four or beyond, with Farrell’s crop talent being Ireland’s best shot at Rugby World Cup glory the nation has ever seen. Ireland are in generational form, and enter the quarter-final clash against the All Blacks on a 16-match unbeaten run; Ireland’s best ever.
The All Blacks enter the fray in the unfamiliar position as ‘underdogs’. There are only three sides in World Rugby that would consider themselves favourites in a clash with the All Blacks, with Ireland amongst the exclusive company of France and South Africa. However, New Zealand have been steadily building from a historic drop in form, which saw them take their heaviest ever defeat (35-7 vs South Africa), and lose their first ever Rugby World Cup pool stage match (27-13 vs France).
Ian Foster’s men have steadily been rallying forward. Heavy victories against Pool A minnows Namibia and Uruguay built their confidence, with the asserting win being the 96-17 landslide over tier one nation Italy. The All Blacks can often shine brightest from the shadows, and turn on the intensity to change the tide of a Rugby World Cup’s expected trajectory. Never count out the All Blacks, no matter how confident the opposition may be.
We have an enticing fixture this Saturday. The iconic and dependable three-time Rugby World Cup winners are overlooked, whilst the historic tournament choke artists are being firmly backed for an era-defining victory. As the old adage goes, this match could well and truly go either way. Whilst the head says New Zealand have the proven experience and match-winners, the heart says Ireland are in world-beating form. We decide to follow our heart for this Saturday’s closing contest.
RUCK’s Prediction: Ireland 23 – 16 New Zealand
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