The 2023 Rugby World Cup - France

France 2023: Rugby World Cup Fixture

Thursday 28th September

Pool D: Japan v Samoa (Stade de Toulouse), 8pm

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Samoa and Japan face off on Thursday night with both nations in with a realistic chance of qualifying from World Cup Pool D should they win.

The two teams, along with Argentina, are likely competing for second place behind England.

Samoa have not reached the knock-outs for 28 years, while Japan are seeking a second successive last-eight place.

"It's exciting how wide open the pool is with all the results," Samoa assistant coach Andrew Goodman said.

"Do or die is not the terminology we have used. We have talked about a performance we can be proud of."

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Japan and Samoa met in the group stages four years ago, with the Japanese winning 38-19

Line-ups
Japan XV: Lomano Lemeki; Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Jone Naikabula; Rikiya Matsuda, Yutaka Nagare; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Jiwon Gu, Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava, Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno

Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Kanji Shimokawa, Naoto Saito, Seungsin Lee, Tomoki Osada

Samoa XV: Duncan Paia'aua; Ed Fidow, Tumua Manu, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Ben Lam; Christian Leali'ifano, Jonathan Taumateine; James Lay, Seilala Lam, Paul Alo-Emile, Chris Vui, Theo McFarland, Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, Fritz Lee, Jordan Taufua

Replacements: Sama Malolo, Jordan Lay, Michael Alaalatoa, Steven Luatua, Alamanda Motuga, Melani Matavao, Neria Fomai, Danny Toala

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Touch judges: Ben O'Keeffe, Craig Evans

TMO: Marius Jonker

France 2023: Rugby World Cup Result

Thursday 28th September

Pool D: Japan 28 Samoa 22

Japan 28-22 Samoa: Brave Blossoms' win puts England into Rugby World Cup quarter-finals..By Emma Smith, BBC Sport.

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Pieter Labuschagne went over in the 13th minute to open the scoring for Japan

England reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup thanks to a Japan win over Samoa which boosted the Brave Blossoms' own knockout chances.

Japan saw off the Pacific Islanders with tries from Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno, along with strong kicking by Rikiya Matsuda.

Samoa, who had winger Ben Lam sent off, rallied late on but must now beat England for a chance of progressing.

But this result means England cannot be overtaken at the top of Pool D.

Samoa can no longer match their current total of 14 points, while Steve Borthwick's men have a superior head-to-head record over Japan and Argentina.

It removes the pressure from England's final pool game, against the Samoans on 7 October, and means Borthwick could rest players for that game before a likely quarter-final against Fiji.

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Both nations went into this game in Toulouse with a realistic chance of qualifying from Pool D - but only if they won.

Japan, seeking a second successive last-eight place, started the stronger and scored from their first major attack on 13 minutes.

Lomano Lemeki drove into space, bouncing off two Samoan defenders before being held up five metres out. The ball came to Labuschagne who bundled over.

Following an exchange of penalties, Japan appeared to take control of the match as they scored their second try and Samoa had a man sin-binned within a matter of seconds.

Jonathan Taumateine was yellow-carded for a tackle off the ball in the build-up to Leitch extending Japan's lead, as they shifted the ball out to the left again and were too quick for Samoa.

This sprang Samoa - who have not reached the knockout stage in 28 years - into life.

After the game was made 14-men apiece when Japan hooker Shota Horie was sin-binned, Samoa's own number two Seilala Lam touched down following a giant maul.

But the Pacific Islanders were their own worst enemies. In the opening minutes of the second period, Ben Lam was given a yellow card for an upright tackle and nasty clash of heads - which was later upgraded - before Kazuki Himeno scored following a Japan maul.

Samoa gave themselves hope and a losing bonus point through Duncan Paia'aua and Christian Leali'ifano tries, but Japan held out via Matsuda's reliable boot.

Japan, who are aiming to repeat their performance as hosts four years ago when they reached the knockouts, face what looks likely to be a winner-takes-all meeting with Argentina on 8th October.

France 2023: Rugby World Cup Fixtures..

Saturday 30th September

Pool D: Argentina v Chile (Stade de la Beaujoire), 2pm

Pool C: Fiji v Georgia (Stade de Bordeaux), 4.45pm

Pool B: Scotland v Romania (Stade Pierre-Mauroy), 8pm


Sunday 1st October

Pool C: Australia v Portugal (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard), 4.45pm

Pool B: South Africa v Tonga (Stade de Marseille), 8pm

France 2023: Rugby World Cup Result

Sunday 1st October

Pool C: Australia 34 Portugal 14

Wallabies keep slim Rugby World Cup knockout hopes alive with win..

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Australia kept their slim hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals alive with a physical win over Portugal in their final pool match.

The Wallabies beat an impressive Portugal 34-14 to go second in Pool C.

But third-placed Fiji need just one point from their own match against Portugal next week to overtake Australia and advance instead.

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Portugal took the lead with an 11th-minute try but Australia responded well in a ruthless display

Australia started their World Cup with a convincing win over Georgia, but were then beaten 22-15 by Fiji before suffering a record 40-6 loss to Wales.

That victory for Fiji means they only have to match Australia's points tally to advance thanks to their superior head-to-head record.

That means Australia's match with Portugal will in all likelihood be their last at this year's World Cup, having now played all four of their pool matches.

They have never before failed to advance to the knockout stages of a World Cup.


AS IT STANDS
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Thursday 5th October

Pool A: New Zealand v Uruguay (OL Stadium) - 8pm


Friday 6th October

Pool A: France v Italy (OL Stadium) - 8pm


Saturday 7th October

Pool C: WALES v Georgia (Stade de la Beaujoire) - 2pm

Pool D: ENGLAND v Samoa (Stade Pierre-Mauroy) - 4.45pm

Pool B: IRELAND v SCOTLAND (Stade de France) - 8pm


Sunday 8th October

Pool D: Japan v Argentina (Stade de la Beaujoire) - 12pm

Pool B: Tonga v Romania (Stade Pierre-Mauroy) - 4.45pm

Pool C: Fiji v Portugal (Stade de Toulouse) - 8pm

Rugby World Cup: England v Samoa - George Ford and Owen Farrell start in Pool D game..

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Owen Farrell and George Ford

George Ford and Owen Farrell will start together as fly-half and inside centre for the first time since March 2021 when England take on Samoa on Saturday.

Their partnership, a key part of the run to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, has been disrupted by injury and Marcus Smith's emergence as a Test player.

Manu Tuilagi is outside Farrell at 13, while Ben Earl retains his place at number eight ahead of Billy Vunipola.

Joe Marchant is on the wing, with Jonny May and Freddie Steward also in the XV.

Tom Curry returns from suspension to start at flanker but Henry Arundell, who scored five tries in England's most recent victory over Chile, is not included in Steve Borthwick's matchday squad of 23.

Tuilagi will play against Samoa, the country of his birth and the nation represented by his brothers Anitelea, Alesana, Henry and Freddie, for the first time.

Owen Farrell could pass Rugby World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson to become England's all-time leading Test points scorer, the England captain is one point short of Wilkinson's tally of 1,179.

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George Ford and Owen Farrell playing for England Under-20s against Ireland in 2011

Line-ups
England: Steward; Marchant, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), May; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Smith, Lawrence.

Samoa: Paia'aua; Ah Wong, Manu, Toala, Fomai; Sopoaga, Taumateine; Jordan Lay, Malolo, Alaalatoa, Slade, Alainu'u'ese, McFarland, Lee, Luatua.

Replacements: Lam, James Lay, Alo-Emile, Fa'aso'o, Motuga, Matavao, Lealiifano, Fai'ilagi.