Rugby World Cup 2023 Week Four Review – Scotland Set Up Key Clash With Ireland

The final set of group games produced some closely fought contests, but no drama and certainly no ‘result manipulation’. The integrity of the Rugby World Cup remains firmly intact as we head into the quarter finals of the tournament this weekend.

Eight out of the 20 teams originally qualified for the tournament remain and some big names, notably Australia and Scotland, are heading home earlier than they would have liked.

There was one shock result on the final set of games and it came in the final match with Portugal earning a shock win over Fiji, but that was still not enough to keep Australia in the tournament and Fiji still progressed from Group C.

We will look at all the results from the final set of Group Stage matches below, before we then preview the four quarterfinal ties coming up this weekend.

You can bet on all those knockout phase matches at bet365 Sport. Odds shown in this article were correct but may change in the time since publication.

I got all my tips bar the Fiji v Portugal game correct last week, so lets hope I can do even better with the four quarter final ties.

But first, here are the results from the Week 5 fixtures.

Rugby World Cup – Week 5 Results

• New Zealand 73-0 Uruguay

Freescoring New Zealand made light work of their must-win game over Uruguay as they scored another 11 tries in the rout of Uruguay. The South American’s held the All Blacks to just 26 points in the first half but as they tired in the second, so New Zealand got the upper hand and rattled up 37 unanswered points. The All Blacks are comfortably the highest scoring team in the tournament and confirmed qualification from Pool A with this big win.

• France 60-7 Italy

Did anybody ever really think that this would be an upset? Not really and so it proved as the hosts ran out comfortable winners over their Six Nations rivals. The French ran in eight tries (seven converted) and a couple of penalties and were already over 50 points up before Italy registered their sole try in the 71^st minute of a one-sided game. France confirmed their place at the top of Pool A and a quarterfinal against either Ireland, Scotland or South Africa.

• Wales 43-19 Georgia

Wales had already earned a place in the knockout phase of the tournament, so could have been forgiven for taking it easy against a Georgia side who had drawn one game in the tournament ahead of this fixture. However, the Red Dragons produced one of their better displays in recent times as they comfortably won the tie. It was tight at the half, with Wales in a 17-7 lead, but they turned on the pressure in the second to confirm themselves as Pool C winners.

• England 18-17 Samoa

Samoa almost recorded their biggest win at this tournament only to see a late try from Danny Care, converted by Owen Farrell, deny them what would have been a superb and memorable win. Samoa were already out of the tournament but they gave a lacklustre England a huge scare with two first half tries and a battling second half display that saw England only clinch the win at the last. England move on but they will know a much better performance will be needed in the quarterfinals.

• Ireland 36-14 Scotland

Any notion that these two teams would battle out a mutually convenient result were dismissed from the off as the Irish had scored all 36 of their points before the Scots had managed to even trouble the scoresheet. It was an astonishing first hour of Rugby from the Irish who looked sensational and though they took the foot off the gas later in the game to allow Scotland two quick tries, they were never in danger in this game. The Scots head home, while Ireland move into the quarterfinals as Group B winners.

• Japan 27-39 Argentina

The requirements were simple for both teams. Winners moved onto the quarterfinals, losers went home. In the end, it was Argentina who produced their best display of the tournament to claim a 39-27 win after a pulsating game. There was just one point in it at the half, with Argentina in the lead 15-14 and despite keeping within touching distance of their opponents, Japan could never get in front as Argentina claimed a late try to secure the win and with it a place in the quarterfinals.

• Tonga 45-24 Romania

These Pool B teams were playing for nothing more than pride and some World Cup points, and it was Tonga who claimed the 45-24 victory over a Romania side who finish the tournament without a win.

• Fiji 23-24 Portugal

Fiji still progress as the second placed team in Group C despite their surprise loss to Portugal in the final game of the Group Stages. It was a fantastic win for the team from the Iberian peninsula against a team that had beaten Australia and run Wales very close earlier in the group stages. Fiji qualify by virtue of their better head to head record over the Aussies.

Here’s how the groups finished up after all group games. Qualifiers shown in italics.

Final Group Standings (after Week 5)

Pool A
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Bonus
1	France	4	4	0	0	210	32	18	2
2	New Zealand	4	3	0	1	253	47	15	3
3	Italy	4	2	0	2	114	181	10	2
4	Uruguay	4	1	0	3	65	164	5	1
5	Namibia	4	0	0	4	37	255	0	0

Pool B
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Bonus
1	Ireland	4	4	0	0	190	46	19	3
2	South Africa	4	3	0	1	154	32	15	3
3	Scotland	4	2	0	2	146	71	10	2
4	Tonga	4	1	0	3	96	177	5	1
5	Romania	4	0	0	4	32	287	0	0

Pool C
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Bonus
1	Wales	4	4	0	0	143	59	19	3
2	Fiji	4	2	0	2	88	83	11	3
3	Australia	4	2	0	2	90	91	11	3
4	Portugal	4	1	1	2	64	103	6	0
5	Georgia	4	0	1	3	64	113	3	1

Pool D
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Bonus
1	England	4	4	0	0	150	39	18	2
2	Argentina	4	3	0	1	127	69	14	2
3	Japan	4	2	0	2	109	107	9	1
4	Samoa	4	1	0	3	92	75	7	3
5	Chile	4	0	0	4	27	215	0	0

Group Stage Facts & Figures

• Most Points Scored (Team) – New Zealand – 257
• Most Points Scored (Individual) – Thomas Ramos (France) – 61 (1 try, 19 conversions, 6 penalties)
• Fewest Points Conceded (Team) – France & South Africa – 32
• Most Tries Scored (Team) – New Zealand – 38
• Most Tries Scored (Individual) – Damian Penaud (France) – 6

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Quarter Final Fixtures

Saturday 14^th October

• Wales v Argentina (Marseille) – 4.00pm

Historical Record

• Played – 21
• Wales Wins – 14
• Argentina Wins – 6
• Draws – 1
• Last Match – Nov 2022 – Wales 20-13 Argentina (Cardiff, Wales)

Tip – Wales have shown huge improvement on their pre-World Cup form where a place in the semi-finals would have seen like a pipedream. Argentina struggled against 14-man England in their opener and I think Wales are stronger than England at present which means that even with a -4 handicap, I’d still take Wales to win at that -4 handicap at 10/11.

• Ireland v New Zealand (Paris) – 8.00pm

Historical Record

• Played – 36
• Ireland Wins – 5
• Argentina Wins – 30
• Draws – 1
• Last Match – Jul 2022 – New Zealand 22-32 Ireland (Wellington, New Zealand)

Tip – What a game it promises to be between the two teams ranked 1^st and 2^nd in the World. Traditionally New Zealand have had the better of these games, but Ireland have won the last two between the teams and will fancy their chances of making it three in a row here. If the outstanding Irish defence can nullify the All Blacks attack, then Ireland could do it. Take Ireland to win at -2 points at 10/11.

Sunday 15^th October

• England v Fiji (Marseile) – 4.00pm

Historical Record

• Played – 8
• England Wins – 7
• Fiji Wins – 1
• Draws – 0
• Last Match – Aug 2023 – England 22-30 Fiji (Twickenham, England)

Tip – It is fair to say England are in better shape than they were when losing to Fiji a couple of months ago, but so are the Fijians and after beating Australia, they won’t fear England. The English are the -8 favourites to win the game but I think that is very flattering to England. My tip is to take Fiji at +8 for even money here as even if they lose the game, I think they will only do narrowly.

• France v South Africa (Paris) – 8.00pm

Historical Record

• Played – 45
• France Wins – 12
• South Africa Wins – 27
• Draws – 6
• Last Match – Nov 2022 – France 30-26 South Africa (Marseille, France)

Tip – The second of two stellar quarterfinals promises an exciting climax to the quarterfinal stages as hosts France take on holders South Africa in Paris in what should be an incredible game. Having beaten the All-Blacks in the Group Stage, France will be confident they can do likewise here against the current World Champions. Take France for the win here with a -1 handicap at 10/11.