History, top-two battle and upset watch: The must watch games at Rugby World Cup 2023
Rugby World Cup 2023 is loaded with blockbuster games throughout the pool stages.
The novel way World Rugby does the job has seen all four pools loaded with competitive games.
It means for most teams, there’s no real easy game to start the tournament, producing one of the best weekends of action in World Cup history.
After that, there’s a plethora of games worth watching at the expense of sleep/a normal functioning body clock.
Rugby.com.au looks at ten of the best.
1 Saturday, September 9: France v New Zealand, Stade de France, Paris (5:15 AM)The perfect way to start the tournament.
Both teams are in red-hot form, with the hosts finishing 2022 as the top-ranked team in the world before Ireland’s rise.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks were dominant in the Rugby Championship, although come off a stunning loss to the Springboks.
Both sides have mirroring injury concerns as well, with Jonathan Danty (thigh) out and Jordie Barrett (knee) in doubt.
The energy in the Stade de France is going to be like nothing we’ve seen before, with the winner all but topping pool A even though a date with one of the top two teams in the world is guaranteed.
2 Sunday, September 10: England v Argentina, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (5:00 AM)Another quarter-final quality game in the opening weekend.
Argentina have been building nicely under Michael Cheika, one of the best in getting his team up for the right moment outside of a certain former Randwick teammate.
Meanwhile, there is vulnerability around England after their shock upset to Fiji at Twickenham.
Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola remain on the sidelines, giving the Pumas a great chance of getting the win.
The odds reflect this, with this game rated a genuine coin flip, similar to France-New Zealand
3 Monday, September 11: South Africa v Scotland, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (1:45 AM)
Likewise, with the opener, this game will have major ramifications about how Pool B unfolds.
It’s almost sudden death for both sides straight from the opening whistle, with world number one ranked Ireland awaiting later in the pool stages.
South Africa started slowly in 2019 against the Kiwis but can’t afford to do the same against a Scottish team that has flown under the radar.
They will be targeting this game to win to try and avoid a must-win clash with Ireland.
4 Monday, September 11: Wales v Fiji, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (5:00 AM)
Rounding out the weekend is going to be an exciting match-up between two sides very familiar with each other at World Cups.
Fiji famously caused the upset the last time the World Cup was in France in 2007 whilst Wales got their revenge in 2019.
If you’re scanning through the fixtures looking for an upset, this is the one to target.
Fiji have seriously benefited from the introduction of the Drua whilst Wales remains unstructured on and off the field, music to Fiji’s ears.
5 Monday, September 18: Australia v Fiji, Stade Geoffroy Guicahrd, Saint-Etienne (1:45 AM)Whilst Georgia will test the Wallabies, Fiji looms as one of their biggest threats in Pool C.
Eddie Jones’ side hasn’t really fired at their best in 2023, with all eggs put into the World Cup basket in the hopes it’ll all click.
They’ve shown they can match with the best but know they must be near-perfect to help contain a Fijian side who would’ve used the Drua to develop their own plans to take on the Aussies.
They went close in 2019 and will feel this is their best chance to claim victory.
6 Monday, September 18: England v Japan, Stade de Nice, Nice (5:00 AM)It’s a battle of Eddie Jones’ exes as the two teams fight for position in Pool D.
Japan in recent history has always found a way to cause a major upset, defeating South Africa (2015) and Ireland (2019).
For England, this game could be significant if they can’t get past the Pumas.
7 Sunday, September 24: South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France, Paris (5:00 AM)This is the first time ever the top two teams in the World Cup will face off as early as the pool stages.
Ireland are the form team of 2023 after cruising through the Six Nations, headlined by a statement win over France.
Meanwhile, South Africa has been dominant outside of a defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland, with their Twickenham rematch proof they have a serious chance to repeat their efforts from 2019.
The winner will likely top the pool, although a tough task awaits regardless against France or New Zealand.
8 Monday, September 25: Wales v Australia, OL Stadium, Lyon (5:00 AM)
Another game that will be pivotal towards the Wallabies’ chances at Rugby World Cup 2023.
Both teams played out a thriller in 2022, with the Wallabies getting over the line thanks to a late comeback.
A lot of changed since, with neither coach in France whilst James Slipper is the only captain remaining
If either side slips to Fiji as well, it’ll take on extra meaning as a potential elimination game.
9 Saturday September 30: Argentina v Chile, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (11:00 PM)
This is one of those games where whilst the result is pretty certain, it’s worth watching just for the atmosphere.
It will be the first time in history two South American teams will face off at a World Cup, with Uruguay probably looking on with pride in Pool A at the growth of the sport in South America.
It will be a festival of passion, noise and running rugby as both teams look to impress their fans.
10 Saturday, October 7: France v Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon (6:00 AM)Italy will be targeting this game as their chance to spoil the party and find a way into the quarter-finals.
The Azzurri have struggled in past World Cups but have a golden generation of talent coming through, led by Ange Capuozzo.
As for the French, it’s a real danger game after all the emotion from their opener.
