It’s the second Sunday at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and there are another three pool fixtures for fans to get stuck into.
Australia and Fiji collide for a fascinating contest in Saint-Etienne, ahead of England’s match with Japan in Nice.
Reigning champions South Africa kick off the action with the plan to mete out more punishment to Romania in Pool B.
South Africa vs Romania – Pool B
The South Africa machine rolls into Bordeaux at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Sunday, as the Springboks go up against Romania in Pool B.
An 18-3 victory over Scotland was the reward for the reigning champions’ efforts on the opening weekend, as Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the tries in front of a raucous Marseille crowd.
It earned all bar one of the starting side a rest for their second group clash, as Damian Willemse makes the switch from full-back to fly-half.
A tournament-ending injury to star hooker Malcolm Marx has created a front row headache for coach Jacques Nienaber, with veteran Deon Fourie now providing the back up to match day captain Bongi Mbonambi.
Chastening doesn’t quite cover Romania’s opening outing last weekend.
The Eastern European nation were put to the sword by Ireland to the tune of an 82-8 thrashing, in the first half of a particularly cruel opening pair of group games.
Three changes see Marius Iftimiciuc, Andre Gorin and Taylor Gontineac drafted in to attempt to stem the tide against the Boks.
Coach Eugen Apjok has also flipped his wings, as Nicholas Onutu and Tevita Manumua swap sides.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (captain), 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Romania Starting XV: 15 Marius Simionescu, 14 Tevita Manumua, 13 Jason Tomane, 12 Taylor Gontineac, 11 Nicholas Onutu, 10 Hinckley Vaovasa, 9 Gabriel Rupanu, 8 Cristian Chirica (captain), 7 Vlad Neculau, 6 Andre Gorin, 5 Marius Iftimiciuc, 4 Adrian Motoc, 3 Alexandru Gordas, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 1 Iulian Hartig.
Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Alexandru Savin, 18 Thomas Cretu, 19 Stefan Iancu, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Cristi Boboc, 22 Alin Conache, 23 Gabriel Pop.
Kick Off Time: 15.00.
Australia vs Fiji – Pool C
Strap in for an almighty 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C contest on Sunday, as Australia and Fiji tear into each other in Saint-Etienne.
The Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is the venue for the showdown between two nations that know all about each other, thanks to the tangled web of player eligibility and the Super Rugby franchise competition.
Eddie Jones’ men came through a tricky opener against Georgia with a 35-15 win last weekend.
The Fijians, meanwhile, were left cursing both the referee and their own execution as they narrowly failed to seal a famous comeback win against Wales.
Injuries have struck for the Wallabies, who bring in Nic White at scrum-half following head knock to Tate McDermott.
James Slipper is a makeshift tight-head prop in the absence of Taniela Tupou, while Nick Frost comes into the lock pairing alongside captain Will Skelton.
Levani Botia replaces Albert Tuisue on the Fijian flank in the only change in the pack out of four in total.
Coach Simon Raiwalui has called Simione Kuruvoli in at scrum-half, while Jiuta Wainiqolo starts on the right wing and Josua Tuisova takes on the starting duties at inside centre.
Australia Starting XV: 15 Ben Donaldson, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Nick White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton (captain), 4 Nick Frost, 3 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu.
Fiji Starting XV: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 3 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere,17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Vinaya Habosi.
Kick Off Time: 17.45.
England vs Japan – Pool D
England and Japan continue their respective campaigns at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with an eye-catching contest bringing the curtain down on the second weekend in France.
The pair meet at the Stade de Nice with both having won their opening match.
It was crisis time for the English inside three minutes of their game against Argentina in Marseille, with Tom Curry red-carded in controversial fashion.
But a George Ford masterclass left Los Pumas bamboozled and the Red Rose looking pretty despite the odds being stacked against them.
Japan came through smoothly enough to overpower newcomers Chile 42-12.
Six tries did the damage against the South Americans in Toulouse, as Jamie Joseph’s men made a solid start in their bid to squeeze through to the knockout phase.
Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler make their first starts of the competition on either side of the English front row.
Lewis Ludlam is the third starting alteration made by coach Steve Borthwick, while Billy Vunipola returns from suspension as far as the bench.
Brave Blossoms boss Joseph makes four changes for their crunch clash, with Shota Horie, Pieter Labuschagne and captain Kazuki Himeno all in to bolster the pack.
Tomoki Osada completes the switch around at outside centre.
England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jonny May, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Lewis Ludlam, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Courtney Lawes (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ollie Lawrence.
Japan Starting XV: 15 Semisi Masirewa, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Tomoki Osada, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Jone Naikabula, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno (captain), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Kanji Shimokawa, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Dylan Riley, 23 Lomano Lemeki.
Kick Off Time: 19.00.
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 |