Rugby World Cup 2023: score predictions, kick off times and teams for Saturday 16 September

Ireland tackle Tonga on Saturday night at 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, after Samoa meet Chile and Wales play Portugal.

It’s a hat-trick of fixtures on the second Saturday at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, as the pool phase starts to take shape.

The action builds towards the Pool B clash between Ireland and Tonga in Nantes, which follows the contest on the south coast that sees Wales play Portugal.

Samoa and Chile kick off the day when they meet at the Stade de Bordeaux.

Samoa vs Chile – Pool D

The first of three Saturday fixtures at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France sees Samoa make their tournament entrance against Chile.

It’s been a long wait for the Pacific Island nation to get cracking, having sat out the first round of group games.

But they have some star quality to add now the time has come, thanks to World Rugby’s tinkering with their eligibility rules.

That means former New Zealand All Blacks Steven Luatua and Lima Sopoaga are both in the squad here, as is ex-Australia man Christian Leali’ifano as starting fly-half.

Chile put in a game performance last Sunday in Toulouse, eventually subsiding to a 42-12 loss to Japan.

The South Americans and their fans did win hearts and minds on their World Cup debut, but it doesn’t get any easier in a pool that also sees England and Argentina lying in wait.

Coach Pablo Lemoine has made a double change in the locks as Santiago Pedrero and Pabo Huete are introduced, while there is also a start for hooker Tomás Dussaillant.

José Ignacio Larenas is the fourth change from the opening game, stepping up to play on the wing.

Samoa Starting XV: 15 Duncan Paia’aua, 14 Danny Toala, 13 Ulupano Junior Seuteni, 12 Tumua Manu, 11 Nigel Ah-Wong, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Fritz Lee, 6 Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Chris Vui, 3 Michael Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Seilala Lam, 1 James Lay.

Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Paul Alo-Emile , 19 Sam Slade , 20 Sa Jordan Taufua, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Ed Fidow.

Chile Starting XV: 15 Inaki Ayarza, 14 Santiago Videla, 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 Santiago Pedrero, 4 Pablo Huete, 3 Matias Dittus, 2 Tomas Dussaillant, 1 Javier Carrasco.

Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Javier Eissmann, 20 Alfonso Escobar, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Benjamin Videla, 23 Pablo Casas.

Kick Off Time: 15.00.

Wales vs Portugal – Pool C

It’s round two for Wales this Saturday as they tackle minnows Portugal at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

And what a start Warren Gatland’s men had to the competition last weekend, as Fiji pushed them every inch of the way in a bruising opening encounter in Bordeaux on Sunday night.

The British nation clung on for dear life in a 32-26 victory, with a fellow European side now in their sights.

Taulupe Falatau and Louis Rees-Zammit are the only two starters retained from that battle, as Dewi Lake steps up as captain in the front row.

Scrum-half Tomos Williams brings up his 50th international cap, while Leigh Halfpenny comes in to feature in his third Rugby World Cup.

Portugal squeaked past the USA to qualify for the global showpiece, as they make their return to the big stage.

The south coast city of Nice is familiar territory for the Portuguese, with 13 of their first starting side playing their club rugby in France, albeit with only Mike Tadjer in the Top 14 division.

Jerónimo Portela is maintaining the family tradition, too, with the fly-half’s father Miguel having represented his country at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Wales Starting XV: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Louis Rees Zammit, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 48 Christ Tshiunza, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Nicky Smith.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Josh Adams.

Portugal Starting XV: 15 Nuno Sousa Guedes, 14 Vincent Pinto, 13 José Lima, 12 Tomás Appleton (captain), 11 Rodrigo Marta, 10 Jerónimo Portela, 9 Samuel Marques, 8 Rafael Simões, 7 Nicolas Martins, 6 João Granate, 5 Steevy Cerqueira, 4 José Madeira, 3 Anthony Alves, 2 Mike Tadjer, 1 Francisco Fernandes.

Replacements: 16 David Costa, 17 Lionel Campergue, 18 Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 19 Martim Belo, 20 David Wallis, 21 Pedro Lucas, 22 Joris Moura, 23 Raffaele Storti.

Kick Off Time: 17.45.

Ireland vs Tonga – Pool B

A Saturday night showpiece at the 2023 Rugby World Cup sees fancied Ireland face the challenge of Tonga in Pool B.

The Pacific Islanders are the final nation to enter the tournament, while their illustrious opponents could be forgiven for thinking this is their own proper tournament kick off.

Andy Farrell’s side battered sorry Romania last weekend, rampaging to an 82-8 victory in Bordeaux.

A quartet of fresh faces are introduced from that particular cakewalk, as scrum-half Conor Murray resumes his long-term partnership in the halves with gnarled veteran Johnny Sexton.

Mack Hansen is introduced on the wing, while Ronan Kelleher and Josh van der Flier are the alterations in the pack.

The Tongans have called on four former New Zealand All Blacks in their first matchday squad, with Salesi Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Augustine Pulu and Vaea Fifita all included.

Captain Ben Tameifuna is a junior All Black as well and forms part of a monstrous front row that tips the scales in the direction of 400 kilograms.

Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

Tonga Starting XV: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Solomone Kata, 10 William Havili, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Sione Talitui, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Halaleva Fifita, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Ben Tameifuna (captain), 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.

Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Semisi Paea, 20 Solomone Funaki, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Sonatane Takulua, 23 Fine Inisi.

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.

TeamWin %Win %TeamMargin
France99.8%0.2%Uruguay51
New Zealand99.9%0.1%Namibia61
Samoa92.1%7.9%Chile20
Wales95.0%5.0%Portugal24
Ireland99.0%1.0%Tonga38
South Africa99.9%0.1%Romania54
Australia75.1%24.9%Fiji9
England88.1%11.9%Japan17
Italy95.1%4.9%Uruguay24