The Rugby World Cup is hotting up as teams seek to secure their places in the quarter-finals.
The top two nations from each of the four pools will progress to the last eight, with the quarter-finals to be played on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October in Marseille and Paris.
In the event of a two-way tie, the nation that won the encounter between the two teams will progress; in the event of a three-way tie, the nation that finishes with the best points difference will finish on top, followed by the team that won the fixture between the two remaining teams.
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Teams receive four points for a win, with a bonus point available for scoring four tries or more. A losing bonus point is received if you finish within seven points of your opponents; a draw is worth two points.
The third spot in each pool is crucial, too – while this will not allow teams further involvement at this year’s World Cup, it will secure automatic qualification for the next tournament in Australia in 2027.
Here’s how each pool currently looks, the remaining fixtures to be played and the permutations for quarter-final qualification.
Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
Saturday 14 October
4pm BST: Wales vs Runner-up Pool D
8pm BST: Ireland vs New Zealand
Sunday 15 October
4pm BST: England vs Runner-up Pool C
8pm BST: France vs South Africa
Pool A
Team |
Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Points |
Points difference |
1. France (Q) |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
+178 |
2. New Zealand (Q) |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
+206 |
3. Italy |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
-67 |
4. Uruguay |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
-99 |
5. Namibia |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
-218 |
France punched their ticket for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by crushing Italy 60-7 on Friday.
Fabien Galthie’s team won all their group games and will face defending champions South Africa on October 15.
New Zealand, who demolished Uruguay 73-0 on Thursday, finished second in Pool A on 15 points, three behind France.
Pool B
Team |
Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Points |
Points difference |
1. Ireland (Q) |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
+144 |
2. South Africa (Q) |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
+117 |
3. Scotland |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
+75 |
4. Tonga |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
-102 |
5. Romania |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
-234 |
Remaining fixtures
Tonga vs Romania, 8 October, Lille
Ireland’s ruthless mauling of Scotland in Paris means Andy Farrell’s side go through as group winners, with South Africa taking second place.
Scotland could have progressed with a victory, but that never looked likely as Gregor Townsend’s team were thoroughly outclassed at the Stade de France.
Ireland now play New Zealand in the quarter-finals, with the defending champions Springboks facing the hosts France - in two mouthwatering ties.
Pool C
Team |
Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Points |
Points Difference |
1. Wales (Q) |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
+84 |
2. Australia |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
-1 |
3. Fiji |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
+6 |
4. Georgia |
3 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
-49 |
5. Portugal |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-40 |
Remaining fixtures
Fiji vs Portugal, 8 October, Toulouse
Wales were the first team to secure their spot in the last eight with victory over Australia, and booked top spot in the pool with a 43-19 win against Georgia.
Fiji will join them if they take even a single point from their final game against Portugal due to their head-to-head win over the Wallabies, whose last hope is a Portugal upset in which Fiji fail to either score four tries or remain within seven points.
Pool D
Team |
Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Points |
Points difference |
1. England (Q) |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
+111 |
2. Argentina |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
+46 |
3. Japan |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
+14 |
4. Samoa |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
+17 |
5. Chile |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
-188 |
Remaining fixtures
Japan vs Argentina, 8 October, Nantes
England are already through as pool winners but there is a battle to join them in the last eight.
Argentina’s meeting with Japan in Nantes on the final day of pool play is a quarter-final play-off, and it’s winner-takes-all to face Wales next weekend.
Samoa are out following Saturday’s 18-17 defeat to England.
