Goodbye group stages, hello final stages! With Fiji qualifying for the quarter-finals, all the posters are now known. The least we can say is that they are tempting.
The final stages have finally arrived! After a month of competition, the group stages have just concluded with Fiji qualifying for the second quarter-final in its history, sixteen years after the first round was held in France. Before the end of the first week of decisive matches, there is an opportunity to analyze each match of the upcoming quarter-finals in more detail.
This is the meeting that will start at the end of the quarter-finals weekend. Wales finished the group stage on top, having won all four of their matches. Scoring 28 or more points in every game, the Welsh side impressed, despite arriving at the World Cup lacking in confidence. Devilishly effective in attack, but defensively XV du Poireau has managed to raise his level. In the wake of Rowlands or Captain Morgan, Warren Gatland’s men will present themselves on Saturday 14 October with the title of favorites on their backs, as they remain in fourth place during the World Cup in Japan.
But on the other hand, Argentina has to prove that it has a place in the quarter-finals. After failing in the group stage, the Pumas will finally want to achieve the record match they have missed so much since the start of the World Cup. After an early blow against England, three sluggish wins have allowed them to stay in the competition. With the offensive improvement against the Japanese, especially thanks to Mateo Carreras’ hat-trick, they will have to raise their defensive level to be able to hope to reach the semi-finals for the first time in eight years.
Final before its time! Ireland must assure the world that its position as the world’s leading nation has not been usurped. Currently brimming with confidence, with seventeen straight victories and a major championship in 2023, XV of Clover wants to break his glass ceiling. The Greens have never in their history reached the quarter-finals of a pageant. After beating South Africa and Scotland in quick succession, Johnny Sexton’s partners never looked capable of reaching the semi-finals at all.
But on the contrary, the sacred monster of rugby appears in Saint-Denis Park. Three-time world champions, having only reached the quarter-finals once in their entire history, the All Blacks intend to create a sensation against Andy Farrell’s men. Feeling proud after the opening defeat to the Blues, the Blacks reacted in a very good way afterwards. After scoring an average of 80 points over their last three matches, New Zealand are on a positive spiral heading into the final stages. In addition, she remembers her landslide victory over the same country in the same stage of the competition four years ago. Ian Foster’s men, whose potential elimination will be synonymous with their final match at the top of this selection, will want to repeat a similar performance to return to the quarter-finals.
Like Wales, England should not be buried! The English were not always brilliant, but they did manage to win all four of their group stage matches. Led by a rediscovered George Ford, Steve Borthwick’s men did the hard part from the start, beating Argentina and Japan. Winners of Group D, the English will compete with the runners-up in Group C, which is Fiji. The Fijians were very afraid on Sunday evening Loss to PortugalBut they snatched the ticket to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Winners over Australia earlier in the competition, Simon Raiwaloi’s men have alternated between very good and frankly mediocre in this group stage. It is difficult to know what level of play they will perform against England in the quarter-finals.
What a shock! The day after the Ireland-New Zealand match, the Stade de France will host another final ahead of time. The French won their group stage match against New Zealand. But there is no doubt that their team missed the first opportunity, something that will certainly not be repeated against South Africa. As for the rest, the French succeeded, despite a very mixed match against Uruguay. They put on a show against the Namibians and Italians and were reassured after the poor performance of the substitutes against the team. Tyros.
The Blues will have to compete in the Springboks’ front-row clash on Sunday. Toulouse prostitute Julien Marchand may still be missing. Here is the possible composition of the French XV against South Africa.https://t.co/Orok2vND5d
– Rugbyrama (@RugbyramaFR) October 8, 2023
If Antoine Dupont’s attendance for this encounter is one of the big questions, the Blues will have to be at their best to beat the 2019 world champions. In addition to Dupont, it is hooker Julien Marchand who was unable to make it and did not participate in the match, as he has not yet recovered. From the thigh injury he suffered against New Zealand.
