Australia fans will have to wait until the very bitter end of match week 5 to see if Portugal can save the Wallabies campaign early Monday morning AEDT in Toulouse.
With Portugal needing to beat the rampant Pacific Islanders by eight points or more, Australia’s hopes are slim to none.
Elsewhere the key match-up is the clash between Scotland and Ireland. The fate of both teams, and South Africa, hangs in the balance on that result with no teams in their pool having secured qualification.
In fact, only two of the eight quarterfinalists have been decided going into the final round – England and Wales.
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The teams will be updated here as they’re released.
New Zealand vs. Uruguay, OL Stadium, Lyon (6am AEDT Friday)
Ian Foster has made nine changes to his starting XV from their 96-17 victory against Italy, with five up front and four in the backline. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Shannon Frizell, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan retain their places.
Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks for the first time at the tournament after playing 20 minutes off the bench last week. Cam Roigard gets his second start but his first alongside Mo’unga.
Damian McKenzie will start at full-back for the first time since November 2021 against Italy. His past five Test caps have been at flyhalf or off the bench.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Los Teros’ coach Esteban Meneses has made seven changes to the starting XV from the comeback win over Namibia. Lucas Bianchi makes his first start at RWC 2023 in the back row, as does the experienced Rodrigo Silva, in place of Baltazar Amaya at full-back, and Gastón Mieres replaces Bautista Basso on the right wing.
New Zealand (1-15): Ofa Tuungafasi, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Samuel Whitelock, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (c), Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke.
Uruguay (1-15): Mateo Sanguinetti, German Kessler, Diego Arbelo, Ignacio Dotti, Manuel Leindekar, Manuel Ardao, Lucas Bianchi, Manuel Diana, Santiago Arata, Felipe Etcheverry, Nicolas Freitas, Andres Vilaseca (c), Tomas Inciarte, Gaston Mieres, Rodrigo Silva.
Replacements: Guillermo Pujadas, Matias Benitez, Ignacio Peculo, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Santiago Civetta, Agustin Ormaechea, Felipe Berchesi, Juan Manuel Alonso.
France vs. Italy, OL Stadium, Lyon (6am AEDT Saturday)
France have named a full-strength side to take on Italy in their must-win match against European rivals Italy in Lyon.
Despite being unbeaten and on 13 points, the failure to get a winning bonus point over Uruguay in their second World Cup fixture has meant France still have a lot of work to do to seal top spot in Pool A.
Maxime Lucu starts at scrum-half in place of injured captain Antoine Dupont, Grégory Alldritt returns to the starting back-row in place of Francois Cros, who moves to the bench, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey again gets the nod over Gabin Villiere on the left wing.
Maxime Lucu will once again start at halfback for France in the absence of Antoine Dupont. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Italy coach Kieran Crowley has made five personnel changes and three positional switches to his starting XV after the 96-17 mauling by the All Blacks.
Simone Ferrari, Epalahame Faiva and Pietro Ceccarelli form an all-new front row, while Niccolò Cannone returns to the second row to partner Federico Ruzza.
Pierre Bruno starts on the right-wing for the first time at RWC 2023 after playing 33 minutes off the bench against Namibia. Tommaso Allan returns to the No.10 jersey after playing No.15 against NZ.
Paolo Garbisi returns to No.12 after wearing the No.10 against the All Blacks, and star back Ange Capuozzo moves to fullback after playing three of his past four Tests on the right wing.
France (1-15): Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon (c), Grégory Alldritt, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Jonathan Danty, Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Baptiste Couilloud, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet
Italy (1-15): Simone Ferrari, Hame Faiva, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (c), Lorenzo Cannone, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Juan Ignacio Brex, Pierre Bruno, Ange Capuozzo.
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, David Sisi, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Lorenzo Pani.
Wales vs. Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (12am AEDT Sunday)
Wales have six survivors from their shock loss to Georgia last year, with the team already securely through to the quarterfinals.
“We are a completely different team to what we were last year,” said prop Gareth Thomas. There’s been a massive improvement in the squad but we know that they are a very good side and we have to be on top of our game to be successful this weekend.”
Warren Gatland made six changes from the team that beat Australia 40-6 including captain Dewi Lake coming in at hooker and Gareth Anscombe, who steered the side admirably against the Wallabies after his early entry starting at flyhalf for the injured Dan Biggar.
Wales (1-15): Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (c), Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer, Nick Tompkins, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady.
Georgia:
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England vs. Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (2.45am AEDT Sunday)
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Chile:
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Ireland vs. Scotland, Stade de France, Saint-Denis (6am AEDT Sunday)
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Japan vs. Argentina, Stade de la Beajoire, Nantes (9pm AEDT Sunday)
Japan:
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Tonga vs. Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (2.45am AEDT Monday)
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Fiji vs. Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (6am AEDT Monday)
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Portugal:
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