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Buckle up. It’s finally here – the hugely anticipated clash between the top two teams in the world.
As much anticipation as there was ahead of the France-All Blacks match to open the tournament, Sunday morning’s humdinger between world No 1 Ireland and world No 2 South Africa takes the cake for biggest clash to date.
It’s the third and final match of the day, which also features an England team chasing a somewhat surprising 3-0 start.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of Sunday’s matches.
Georgia v Portugal (pool C)
When: Sunday, midnight; Where: Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse; Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 11.45pm, Saturday.
For those eager to sit through a couple of matches before the main course, they can get started with a fixture that might be more entertaining than it looks on paper.
Portugal, it has to be said, surprised in their 28-8 defeat to Wales to open their campaign, and will have long targeted Georgia as a potential scalp.
Armed with a hefty pack that prides itself on scrummaging, Georgia were comfortably beaten by the wobbly Wallabies first up, but are a better side than the 35-15 loss indicated.
The reality is neither side will qualify for the quarterfinals, but Rugby World Cup qualification – the top three teams in each pool secure a spot for the 2027 edition – has to be on their minds.
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (capt), Alexander Todua, Tedo Abzhandadze, Gela Aprasidze, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia, Konstantine Mikautadze, Vladimer Chachanidze, Beka Gigashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Mikheil Nariashvili. Reserves: Tengizi Zamtaradze, Guram Gogichashvili, Guram Papidze, Nodar Cheishvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze.
Portugal: Nuno Sousa Guedes, Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomas Appleton (capt), Rodrigo Marta, Jeronimo Portela, Samuel Marques, Rafael Simoes, Nicolas Martinsd, Joao Granate, Steevy Cerqueira, Jose Madeira, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Mike Tadjer, Francisco Fernandes. Reserves: David Costa, Lionel Campergue, Anthony Alves, Martim Belo, David Wallis, Thibault de Freitas, Pedro Lucas, Manuel Cardoso Pinto.
You can see the squads in full here. You can read more about pool C here.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
England captain Owen Farrell pictured at training ahead of his first appearance of the World Cup.
England v Chile (pool D)
When: Sunday, 4.45am; Where: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille; Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 4.30am
He’s back. And England wasted no time shunting skipper Owen Farrell into the starting side on his return from suspension.
Just how England utilised impressive pivot George Ford upon Farrell’s return has been a hot topic.
The answer: Coach Steve Borthwick, at least for their third pool match against Chile, has moved Ford to the pine.
Having taken care of Argentina and Japan to start the tournament, England should breeze past Chile and all but secure the top spot in pool D.
England: Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Elliot Daly, Ollie Lawrence, Max Malins, Owen Farrell (capt), Danny Care, Billy Vunipola, Jack Willis, Lewis Ludlam, George Martin, David Ribbans, Kyle Sinckler, Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd. Reserves: Jack Walker, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Joe Marchant.
Chile: Francisco Urroz, Cristobal Game, Domingo Saavedra, Matias Garafulic, Franco Velarde, Rodrigo Fernandez, Benjamin Videla, Alfonso Escobar, Martin Sigren (capt), Javier Eissmann, Clemente Saavedra, Matias Dittus, Augusto Bohme, Salvador Lues. Reserves: Tomas Dussaillant, Vittorio Lastra, Inaki Gurruchaga, Pablo Huete, Thomas Orchard, Raimundo Martinez, Lukas Carvallo, Inaki Ayarza.
You can see the squads in full here. You can read more about pool D here.
Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
Springboks forward Kwagga Smith is capable of playing in the backs if required.
South Africa v Ireland (pool B)
When: Sunday, 8am; Where: Stade de France, Saint-Denis; Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 7.30am
Here it is, the match everyone’s been waiting for. And what a treat the 8am kickoff is for Kiwis on a lazy Sunday morning.
All Blacks fans will certainly be watching with interest, knowing New Zealand is almost certainly set to face either Ireland or South Africa (the winner of pool B) in the quarterfinals next month.
For some reason, there has been suggestions from some corners that the world champions’ tactic of naming a 7-1 bench split is unfair.
What a load of nonsense. If they want to name seven forwards and one back, that’s completely up to them, and it’s a move which carries an obvious risk should they lose multiple backs to injury.
Of course, speedy loose forward Kwagga Smith could also play in the backs if needed.
What’s clear is Ireland, who have won their last 15 tests, can expect a brutal and combative test up front, even with the Boks missing menacing hooker Malcolm Marx for the rest of the tournament due to a knee injury.
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.
You can see the squads in full here. You can read more about pool B here.
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