Wales and England are through to the quarter-finals, but whilst they aren’t playing this weekend there is plenty of critical match action to be found in round four of the Rugby World Cup in The Rugby Paper this Sunday.
England have also become the first team to confirm top spot in their group, but will face an important game against Samoa as their warm-up for a likely clash with fellow Pacific Islanders Fiji in the quarters. Jeremy Guscott picks his starting XV for both those games.
Scrum-half Danny Care will be hoping to play more of a part in the competition, and he sits down with us as well as Thomas du Toit – the South African injury reserve prop adapting to new life at Premiership club Bath.
With Japan beating Samoa in England’s group on Thursday night, and Uruguay denying Namibia their first victory in a cracker the night before, we’ll be across a busy midweek that also sees Italy take on New Zealand on Friday night.
In Wales’ pool we’ll have an eye on Bordeaux as Fiji have the chance to seal their place in the quarters against Georgia, and we will look ahead to Australia’s contest against Portugal on Sunday – crucial if Fiji slip up on Saturday.
Argentina will want to set up a match for a place in the next round against Japan as they play Chile on Saturday, and another team who lost their opening game will be looking to do the same as Scotland continue their Pool B recovery against Tonga.
Scotland’s sole defeat came to South Africa in Marseille, and we will preview the Springboks’ return to the same venue as they take on Tonga, with a team that South African legend Kobus Wiese is excited to see taking the field, revealed on our podcast (below).
Back on the domestic scene we will continue to cover the Premiership Cup – now with Championship clubs – with news and analysis of the latest at struggling Jersey Reds, while the women’s Allianz Cup continues.
Youngster Guy Pepper will be at openside for Newcastle Falcons‘ trip to Leicester tomorrow, and he too will be interviewed as well as Saracens‘ new signing Tom Willis, at eight for their trip to Harlequins on Sunday, and Manny Feyi-Waboso, on the wing for Exeter Chiefs’ match against London Scottish.
We also talk to Bristol’s fly-half AJ McGinty and his former teammate Ioan Lloyd, now heading to the United Rugby Championship with Scarlets, and chat with rivals Cardiff‘s new signing Tinus de Beer.
Finally, don’t forget to look out for our features including former Worcester Warriors and Harlequins scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone discussing his career in My Life in Rugby, Montpellier lock Charlie Moss talking about his future journey in our Young Guns column, and former Gloucester number nine Ian Sanders selecting a team of the best players he’s played with or against in Dream Team.
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