An all-Six Nations shootout for the knockouts lights up the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France on Friday night, as the host nation battle Italy for a place in the quarter-finals in Lyon.
It’s a high-stakes weekend that follows, too, as Ireland and Scotland play their own qualification decider on Saturday, with England meeting Samoa and Wales facing the challenge of improving Georgia.
Fiji expect to topple Eddie Jones and his Australia when they play Portugal on Sunday, while Japan meet Argentina and Tonga face Romania.
RWC 2023: Predictions Round Five
| 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 |
France vs Italy – Pool A
Tournaments throw up funny scenarios and it’s among the more unlikely that faces France and Italy, as they meet in a showdown for a quarter-final place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
They do so despite a scarcely credible difference in their performance levels so far.
While the host nation rose to beat New Zealand on a stirring opening night in Paris, the Azzurri were thrashed out of sight 96-17 by the All Blacks a week ago.
With both having beaten Pool A minnows Namibia and, with greater difficulty, Uruguay, the maths throws up a scenario to keep fans of Les Bleus on their toes.
Albeit unlikely, a defeat to their neighbours would see the French do the unthinkable in copying England’s dismal exit from their home World Cup in 2015.
But surely not, right?
Tournament poster boy Antoine Dupont misses out having fractured his cheekbone a fortnight ago, although there is hope the scrum-half can return in the knockouts, with Maxime Lucu stepping up here.
Charles Ollivon takes the captain’s armband from the flank.
Azzurri coach Kieran Crowley has pressed G for Gamble for their do-or-die clash, with a fully fresh front row in the form of Simone Ferrari, Hame Faiva and Pietro Ceccarelli.
Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi and Ange Capuozzo, meanwhile, have all shuffled around between fly-half, inside-centre and full-back.
France Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon (captain), 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Yoram Moefana, 23 Melvyn Jaminet.
Italy Starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Paolo Garbisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Hame Faiva, 1 Simone Ferrari.
Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Lorenzo Pani.
Kick Off Time: 21.00.