Rugby World Cup 2019 quarter-finals predictions

The group stages have produced some thrills and spills and even a few shocks but nothing can compete with the knockout stages of a Rugby World Cup.

 All the major nations on the planet are still in contention – and throw in the wild-card of hosts Japan. Are we about to witness – despite the horrors of the typhoon – the best Rugby World Cup ever? 

England will come into this encounter as the slight favourites after a strong showing in the group stage. After their two-week lay-off, the men in white will be well-rested. Giving players like Billy and Mako Vunipola valuable recovery time as they both start in this weekends encounter. 

 Michael Cheikas men have not played their best rugby yet in this tournament with stuttering performances against Wales and Fiji. If they are to be successful in tomorrows clash they will surely need David Pocock and Michael Hooper to be at their very best to combat the youthful loose-forward pairing of Curry and Underhill who have both been outstanding so far in Japan.

With a mouthwatering midfield face-off between Samu Kerevi and Manu Tuilagi, this game will be the perfect showpiece to kick off the knockout stages of this World Cup.

 As it stands the sides have met six times in Webb Ellis Cup history with both nations taking six victories apiece. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that the Wallabies last victory against England was their decisive Pool A win back in the 2015 World Cup, a feat they have not been able to repeat in the intervening four years since that win. 

 England have a 95% win rate in all their matches following two-week layoffs. Based on recent form, it doesn’t look like this Wallaby side will have what it takes to buck that trend. 

 The All Blacks are another side that have been blessed with a fortnights break following typhoon Hagibis. Steve Hansen's men have been ruthless since their 23-13 victory over the Springboks on the opening weekend with walkover victories over Namibia and Canada. 

 Ireland come into this fixture as massive underdogs after a bruising group stage run which saw a shock defeat to Japan and the loss of suspended centre Bundi Aki.  

 The reigning back to back champions have scored at will so far In Japan with wingers Geroge Bridge and Sevu Reece in excellent form. If All Black full-back Beauden Barrett has a good day at the office then the Irish will be in for a long night in Tokyo. 

Joe Schmidt will find some comfort in the fact that he will be fielding a side that has beaten the All Blacks twice since the last World Cup. Eleven of Irelands starting fifteen that defeated the All Blacks a year ago will take the field tomorrow at the Ajinomoto Stadium. The men in green will know that no matter how daunting the task, they have it in them to defeat New Zealand.

 For many pundits, this last-eight encounter would have been the easiest to predict. With many not being able to see past a convincing win for Warren Gatland's side. 

 Wales topped their Pool after a thrilling 25-29 victory over Australia, followed by dogged wins over Fiji and Uruguay. France opened the tournament with a determined display against Argentina in which they ran out 23-21 victors. With their fixture against England cancelled Les Bleus have enjoyed a fortnights rest before this quarter-final showdown.

 Warren Gatland's men will be out for revenge after the French robbed them of their first World Cup final showing in New Zealand back in 2011. They go into this match as favourites with scrum-half Gareth Davies being one of the tournaments stand-out performers over the last four weeks. 

 France are the ultimate wild card side in Webb Ellis Cup history with the men in blue reaching the semi-final stage in six of the eight tournaments that have been held. Jacques Brunel’s side have been average in the Six Nations in recent years but in knockout rugby that will count for nothing. 

In the final matchup of this years World Cup quarter-finals we see tournament hosts Japan face the Springboks in what promises to be a night of high tempo, attacking rugby in Tokyo.

 The Blossoms have been in electrifying form in this tournament with a shock victory over Ireland in the second round, backed up by a commanding display against Scotland in which Japan secured top spot in Pool A. 

 Before the tournament began South Africa were for many seen as the side most likely to challenge New Zealand for the trophy. Fifteen-minutes into their opening game with the All Blacks it looked like those predictions were well-founded, only to be overpowered by Steve Hansen’s men in the intervening hour of the match. 

 Japan winger Kotaro Matsushima has been of the outstanding players of this World Cup with four tries from five, making him joint top scorer. He will hope to profit from more of Japans frenetic offloading rugby which has served them so well in the group stages. 

 There is a wealth of experience in Rassie Erasmus’s starting fifteen with 665 caps, so this will occasion will not daunt his side. If the Springboks are to make the semi-final stage they will need to muscle their way in with a pack weighing in at 900kg.

 Whatever the result on Sunday, this Japan side have already cemented their names into rugby history and have dazzled supporters with their brand of rugby. With a home audience of sixty million watching their recent triumph against Scotland, Japanese rugby looks set in the coming years to become a rugby superpower.