The 2023 Rugby World Cup continues on Friday night in France, with all eyes on the Pool A fixture between New Zealand and Namibia.
It tees up six more matches on the second weekend of the tournament, too.
Australia meet Fiji and England play Japan on Sunday in two epic contests, while reigning champions South Africa take on Romania.
And don’t miss Saturday’s trio of games either, with Ireland playing Tonga, Wales facing Portugal and Samoa going up against Chile.
New Zealand vs Namibia – Pool A
New Zealand have revenge on their minds as they attempt to kickstart their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign at the second attempt against Namibia on Friday.
You have to feel for the southern African nation, who were innocent witnesses to the All Blacks’ bruising opening night defeat to host nation France in Paris.
But it’s they who will face the backlash of a side desperate to erase the memory of not only that, but their semi-final exit to England at the 2019 edition in Japan.
A second Mark Talea try of the contest put New Zealand into a second half lead at the Stade de France last Friday.
But a raucous home crowd and scores from Damian Penaud and Melvyn Jaminet ensured the hosts left the All Blacks winless.
Namibia suffered a chastening first match of their own in Saint-Etienne, going down 52-8 to Italy.
They would have hoped to have pushed the Azzurri much harder but instead shipped seven tries, with only Gerswin Mouton able to cross the whitewash in reply.
Captain Sam Cane’s dodgy back means a promotion to All Blacks captain for Ardie Savea.
Big Sam Whitelock, meanwhile, will equal Richie McCaw’s 148 Test matches in a New Zealand jersey against the minnows.
Cam Roigard is at the base of that particular mountain but starts his climb here, as coach Ian Foster gives the 22-year-old scrum-half his international debut on the big stage.
Jason Benade and Prince Gaoseb come in to bolster the Namibian pack for their monumental task.
Former South Africa coach Allister Coetzee has also drafted Le Roux Malan into the centres, with the other 12 unchanged despite their opening round setback.
New Zealand Starting XV: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Tupou Vaa’i, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Namibia Starting XV: 15 Cliven Loubser, 14 Gerswin Mouton, 13 Johan Deysel (c), 12 Le Roux Malan, 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Damian Stevens, 8 Richard Hardwick, 7 Prince Gaoseb, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Jason Benade.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Desiderius Sethie, 18 Haitembu Shifuka, 19 PJ Van Lill, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Max Katjijeko, 22 Jacques Theron, 23 JC Greyling.
Kick Off Time: 21.00.
RWC 2023: Margin and winner predictions for 14 – 17 September
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds or RugbyVision’s data model. Score margins use the methodology developed by Rugby Vision and Rugby4Cast.
| Team | Win % | Win % | Team | Margin |
| France | 99.8% | 0.2% | Uruguay | 51 |
| New Zealand | 99.9% | 0.1% | Namibia | 61 |
| Samoa | 92.1% | 7.9% | Chile | 20 |
| Wales | 95.0% | 5.0% | Portugal | 24 |
| Ireland | 99.0% | 1.0% | Tonga | 38 |
| South Africa | 99.9% | 0.1% | Romania | 54 |
| Australia | 75.1% | 24.9% | Fiji | 9 |
| England | 88.1% | 11.9% | Japan | 17 |
| Italy | 95.1% | 4.9% | Uruguay | 24 |