It’s another trio of Saturday fixtures for fans to feast on at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France this weekend.
Argentina are in action first as they meet Chile in a South American derby, before Fiji and Georgia play out an intriguing fixture ahead of the all-European meeting between Scotland and Romania.
There’s more to come on Sunday, too, as South Africa’s Springboks eye up Tonga, after Australia attempt to avoid yet more pain against Portugal.
Argentina vs Chile – Pool D
Vamos! It’s a rare South American derby on the biggest stage of all this Saturday, as Argentina pit their wits against Chile in Nantes.
Los Pumas predictably come into the contest as hot favourites against the tournament first-timers.
But they’ll have to handle that tag better than they did in the opening round, failing to pounce on England’s torrid build up and third-minute red card in Marseille.
The 27-10 Stade Velodrome reverse punctured a good deal of Argentinian optimism, while leaving them with little further room for error in the battle for a runners-up spot and a place in the quarter-finals.
A bye week followed, which was probably no bad thing, before a 19-10 win over potential knockout rivals Samoa put them on the board at the second attempt.
It’s the fourth and final outing for minnows Chile, meanwhile, as they look to go out on a high.
They have won plenty of supporters through their efforts, but have only put 22 points on the board all together in hefty defeats to Japan, Samoa and England.
Marcos Kremer, Guido Petti, Eduardo Bello and Juan Martin González are the only survivors from Argentina’s last outing.
Coach Pablo Lemoine has made eight sweeping changes to his Chilean starting line up, including the return of prop Javier Carrasco.
Argentina Starting XV: 15 Martín Bogado, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Joel Sclavi.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Joaquín Oviedo, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.
Chile Starting XV: 15 Inaki Ayarza, 14 Santiago Videla, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 12 Matias Garafulic, 11 José Ignacio Larenas, 10 Rodrigo Fernandez, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 8 Raimundo Martínez, 7 Clemente Saavedra, 6 Martín Sigren (captain), 5 Javier Eissmann, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 3 Matias Dittus, 2 Augusto Bohme, 1 Javier Carrasco.
Replacements: 16 Tomas Dussaillant, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Augusto Sarmiento, 20 Alfonso Escobar, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Nicolas Herreros, 23 Francisco Urroz.
Kick Off Time: 15.00.
Fiji vs Georgia – Pool C
Fiji will take a massive step towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals if they can overcome the challenge of Georgia in Bordeaux on Saturday.
And few would bet against them doing so, after a pair of thrilling performances so far – one rewarded, one not.
Whatever happens with the rest of their campaign, the Pacific Islanders have put the rugby world on notice with their richly-deserved success over punch drunk Australia.
A lone try courtesy of Josua Tuisova and a classy kicking performance from Simione Kuruvoli before his premature withdrawal helped them cling on for a nerve-shredding and thoroughly uplifting 22-15 win.
It made amends for the heartbreak of pushing Wales so close a week earlier – and then some.
Georgia couldn’t match the Fijian efforts against the Wallabies, going down to a 35-15 defeat while only just escaping from their tie with Portugal with an 18-18 draw.
They make seven starting changes, including a reunion for Vasil Lobzhanidze and Luka Matkava in the half-back pairing.
Just the one change for Fijian coach Simon Raiwalui, as Selesitino Ravutaumada comes in on the wing.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Vinaya Habosi.
Georgia Starting XV: 15 Miriani Modebadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Tengizi Zamtaradze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (captain).
Replacements: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Tornike Kakhoidze.
Kick Off Time: 17.45.
Scotland vs Romania – Pool B
Only a bonus point win will do for Scotland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as they head into their Pool B clash with Romania in Lille on Saturday.
A devilish group draw means they are on course for a dramatic showdown with Six Nations rivals Ireland.
But only if they don’t slip up here, after a gallant defeat to reigning champions South Africa was followed up by a routine, 45-17 success against Tonga.
Seven different try scorers crossed the whitewash to boost the confidence against their increasingly ragged opposition.
And you’d expect nothing less at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy against an underdog nation that have gone backwards since their impressive 2015 tournament in England.
The Romanians have been on the wrong end of a pair of mammoth scorelines so far.
An 82-8 thrashing by Ireland was a rude awakening, before the Springboks meted out a 76-0 beating ahead of a greatly appreciated bye week for all in yellow.
Kyle Steyn and Chris Harris are the only two to retain their places in the Scottish side, as they keep half an eye on the Irish task to come.
That means Grant Gilchrist takes the captain’s armband, while mercurial Finn Russell is nowhere to be seen.
Taliauli Sikuea comes in on the Romanian wing to make his World Cup debut.
Scotland Starting XV: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Rory Darge, 21 George Horne, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Huw Jones.
Romania Starting XV: 15 Marius Simionescu, 14 Sioeli Lama, 13 Jason Tomane, 12 Fonovai Tangimana, 11 Taliauli Sikuea, 10 Alin Conache, 9 Gabriel Rupanu, 8 Cristian Chirica (captain), 7 Dragos Ser, 6 Florian Rosu, 5 Stefan Iancu, 4 Adrian Motoc, 3 Gheorghe Gajion, 2 Robert Irimescu, 1 Alexandru Savin.
Replacements: 16 Florin Bardasu, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Costel Burtila, 19 Marius Iftimiciuc, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Florin Surugiu, 22 Tudor Boldor, 23 Nicholas Onutu.
Kick Off Time: 21.00.
RWC 2023: Predictions Round Four
Team 1 | Win % 1 | Win % 2 | Team 2 | Predicted margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
Uruguay | 81.7% | 18.3% | Namibia | 12 |
Japan | 50.6% | 49.4% | Samoa | 1 |
New Zealand | 96.7% | 3.3% | Italy | 28 |
Argentina | 99.0% | 1.0% | Chile | 38 |
Fiji | 77.0% | 23.0% | Georgia | 10 |
Scotland | 99.4% | 0.6% | Romania | 42 |
Australia | 95.4% | 4.6% | Portugal | 25 |
South Africa | 99.4% | 0.6% | Tonga | 42 |