RWC 2023: score predictions, kick off times and teams for Sunday 1 October
The fourth weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup comes to a climax on Sunday in France, with a final pair of fixtures before the last round of pool stage action kicks off next week.
South Africa’s Springboks have Tonga in their sights in the late game, as they seek to avenge last weekend’s loss to Ireland.
And it’s all on the line for Australia before that, with Eddie Jones’ Wallabies backed well and truly into a corner by their own performances ahead of their do-or-die match with Portugal.
Australia vs Portugal – Pool C
Australia have one last chance to salvage something from a miserable campaign at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, as they complete their Pool C fixtures against Portugal.
Few would have given the chances of anything but a hefty bonus point win for the Wallabies short shrift ahead of the tournament.
But Eddie Jones and his beleaguered side have come apart at the seams.
It started ordinarily enough, with a gritty, 35-15 opening win over robust Georgia setting the men in green and gold up for a tilt at the top of the group.
Then came Fiji, who delivered on the hype to hang on for a 22-15 victory – one that has since seen them climb to two places above Australia in the world rankings.
And that was just for starters.
Their complete collapse at the hands of Wales last Sunday was on another level entirely, as the Wallabies crumpled to a 40-6 defeat to leave Jones firmly in the firing line.
James Slipper will go beyond George Gregan as the Australian with the most World Cup appearances, as he comes back into the front row for his 21st match on the biggest stage of all.
Fraser McReight, Izaia Perese and Lalakai Foketi have all been brought in to freshen things up.
A quartet of changes made by Portuguese coach Patrice Lagisquet all come in the pack.
David Costa is in at prop, while lock Martim Belo, flanker David Wallis and Thibault de Freitas at eighth man are all included.
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 |
Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Richie Arnold, 4 Nick Frost, 3 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki (captain), 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Rob Leota, 20 Josh Kemeny, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa , 22 Carter Gordon, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu.
Portugal Starting XV: 15 Nuno Sousa Guedes, 14 Raffaele Storti, 13 Pedro Bettencourt, 12 Tomás Appleton (captain), 11 Rodrigo Marta, 10 Jerónimo Portela, 9 Samuel Marques , 8 Thibault de Freitas, 7 Nicolas Martins, 6 David Wallis, 5 Martim Belo, 4 José Madeira, 3 Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 2 Mike Tadjer, 1 David Costa.
Replacements: 16 Francisco Fernandes, 17 Duarte Diniz, 18 Francisco Bruno, 19 Steevy Cerqueira, 20 Rafael Simoes, 21 Joao Belo, 22 Joris Moura, 23 Manuel Cardoso Pinto.
Kick Off Time: 17.45
South Africa vs Tonga – Pool B
South Africa have one last chance to pip Ireland to the top of Pool B, as they impose themselves on Tonga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
The Springboks’ title defence took a hit last Saturday night when they were edged 13-8 by the Irish in a heavy duty contest at the Stade de France.
A preview of the final at the same venue a month from now?
Well perhaps, if the Boks’ other two performances so far are anything to go by, as they look to build on the legacy of their 2019 triumph over England in Japan.
They first squeezed the life out of a tricky customer in Scotland, coming through with an 18-3 win on the opening weekend in Marseille.
No such sweat required in round two, however, as sorry Romania were dispensed with 76-0 by Jacques Nienaber’s permanently hungry side.
A bonus point win here, for which they are odds on, would sneak them a point above the Irish, ahead of what is likely to be their own showdown with Scotland for knockout qualification.
Tonga have lost two from two in what has been a disappointing campaign so far.
They went down 45-17 to Scotland last Sunday, having been battered 59-16 by Ireland in Nantes, with the Pacific Islanders lagging behind neighbours Fiji and Samoa at this World Cup.
Mid-tournament call up Handre Pollard comes in for his first international appearance in over a year, where he will partner Cobus Reinach in the half-backs.
Veteran Deon Fourie proves you can teach an old dog new tricks, meanwhile, as the 36-year-old makes his first Springboks start at hooker, while Duane Vermuelen is in at flank in a much-changed line up.
Semisi Paea comes in at eighth man for Toutai Kefu’s side, as Vaea Fifita begins his four-game suspension.
The wings have had a freshen up, too, with Fine Inisi on the right and Anzelo Tuitavuki making a maiden World Cup start on the left.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Tonga Starting XV: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 William Havili, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Paea, 7 Sione Talitui, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna (captain), 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.
Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Kick Off Time: 21.00.
