RWC 2023: score predictions, kick off times and teams for Sunday 24 September

There’s tension in the air at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France on Sunday, as the third round of pool phase action comes to a climax.

The winner doesn’t quite take all in the clash between Wales and Australia in Lyon, but defeat would spell disaster for the Wallabies.

Scotland and Tonga, meanwhile, both need a win to stand any chance in their unlikely pursuit of Ireland and South Africa’s Springboks.

Scotland vs Tonga – Pool B

Knockout time strikes early in Pool B on Sunday at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, as Scotland tackle Tonga at the Stade de Nice.

It seems daft to say it after a single group match played by each nation.

But with Ireland and South Africa motoring away to the quarter-finals, there is no room left for error, not least for the Scots after their opening weekend defeat to the relentless Springboks.

Busy Finn Russell led a game effort against the reigning world champions in Marseille.

But his penalty kick was the only three points they could put on the board in a 18-3 loss at the Stade Velodrome.

It was a more damaging first outing for the Tongans against the other shark in the pool last weekend, as the Irish picked them off at will for a 59-16 drubbing.

Chris Harris and wing Kyle Steyn have been drafted in to give the Scottish back line some pep for this one.

Coach Gregor Townsend has also brought prop Rory Sutherland and lock Scott Cummings in for their first starts of the tournament.

They go up against a rarity, as the Tongans name an unchanged starting line up under the charge of coach Toutai Kefu.

A couple of changes at least freshen up the bench, as lock Adam Coleman and fly-half Patrick Pellegrini find places among the 23.

Scotland Starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Rory Sutherland.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Darcy Graham.

Tonga Starting XV: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 10 William Havili, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Vaea Fifita, 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 Semisi Paea, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Sonatane Takulua, 23 Patrick Pellegrini.

Kick Off Time: 17.45.

Wales vs Australia – Pool C

A decisive clash between Wales and Australia brings the third round of action to a climax at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France on Sunday night.

The future of the group will swing dramatically depending on the winner in Lyon.

Coach Eddie Jones knows his Wallabies are in must-win territory to blow the pool wide open again, following their famous reverse to Fiji in Saint-Etienne last weekend.

It’s a more comfortable contest for the Welsh, who clung on for dear life against the Fijians in the opening round to seal a potentially decisive 32-26 victory.

Warren Gatland’s altered side were far from convincing in seeing off minnows Portugal 28-8 a week ago.

The Aussies were also made to sweat in their opening encounter, with a 35-15 win over Georgia giving them the platform to continue their scrap to reach the knockouts.

Jones hands Andrew Kellaway a World Cup debut at full-back, as Ben Donaldson moves to fly-half, while Tate McDermott is restored to the scrum-half role at the expense of Nic White.

Rob Leota also finds a place on the flank, meaning a shift to the open side for Tom Hooper, with Fraser McReight the forward to drop to the bench.

The Welsh line up contains 12 of those that started against the Flying Fijians.

Taulupe Faletau, Louis Rees-Zammit and captain Jac Morgan are the only three starters who also kicked off against Portugal.

Wales Starting XV: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Rio Dyer.

Australia Starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Robert Leota, 5 Richard 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 Matt Philip, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Nic White, 22 Carter Gordon, 23 Suli Vunivalu.

Kick Off Time: 21.00.

RWC 2023: Margin and winner predictions for 20 – 24 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.