"The Final Eight" - The 4 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final Matches to Watch this Weekend

These two quarter-final match-ups could main event any Rugby World Cup Final, but we will instead see them take shape across the final eight of the tournament. France take on South Africa and Ireland face New Zealand, in two blockbuster quarter-finals featuring the graduates of Pools A and B.

On the opposite side of the bracket, Pool C winners Wales are set for a run-in with Argentina, after Los Pumas clawed their way passed Japan for a spot in the knock-out stages. After finishing at the top of Pool D, England take on Fiji, with Steve Borthwick's men eyeing up redemption for the Summer Nations Series upset, at Twickenham last August.

With the final eight teams set to become just four after this weekend, we are no longer able to pick out the 'Top 5 Matches to Watch', as we have throughout the pool stages. Instead, we will run down each of the quarter-finals, and give our official RUCK predictions, as to who will progress into the semi-finals.

Here are the four Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final matches to watch this weekend.

The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals kick-off on the French South Coast, as Wales take on Argentina in Marseille. Warren Gatland's side have completed a successful clean sweep of their Pool C opponents, and remain as one of just four unbeaten sides left in the competition, along with England, Ireland and France.

Two Wales stars are racing against the clock to get fit for the knock-out stages, as Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe suffered groin and knee injuries respectively against Georgia. The two soon to be occupants of the Japan Top League were witnessed jogging out at an open Wales training session. They hope to follow Dan Biggar's road to recovery, with the Toulon fly half confirmed fit after a pectoral strain.

Argentina will want to stop Wales from reaching their second consecutive Rugby World Cup semi-final, and make the final four for the first time since 2015. Los Pumas were the dark horses of the tournament eight years ago in England, and finished fourth overall after losing the Bronze Medal match to the Springboks. Argentina have been hit with a significant injury blow, as flanker Pablo Matera limped off the pitch against Japan, favouring his heavily-taped hamstring injury.

Wales have historically found success against Los Pumas, with nine wins in their past eleven meetings. However, the two sides are evenly split in their past three encounters since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with both Wales and Argentina registering a win, along with a 20-20 draw in the 2021 Summer Series. Wales' record at six World Cup quarter-finals is an even 50/50 split, winning three and losing three, Argentina replicate this winning rate in four previous quarter-finals, with two wins and two loses.

There is little separating these two sides heading into the weekend's opening contest, however Wales will take great confidence in their unbeaten World Cup form. Gatland's side have come good when it mattered the most, with Argentina underperforming throughout the pool stages despite entering the tournament confident, after strong Rugby Championship outings.

We hand the win to Wales, but it will come down to the wire in Marseille.

It is never a simple task to return to the scene of the crime. Four years ago, Ireland were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup rather unceremoniously, as what was then Joe Schmidt's side took a 46-14 loss to the All Blacks. Ireland have rallied back throughout the past quad-annual cycle, and under the guidance of Andy Farrell have established themselves as the best international side in the world.

However, the hex still hangs over the heads of the Ireland players, who want to become the first iteration of the side to progress into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals. Never has a team from the Emerald Isle made the final four or beyond, with Farrell's crop talent being Ireland's best shot at Rugby World Cup glory the nation has ever seen. Ireland are in generational form, and enter the quarter-final clash against the All Blacks on a 16-match unbeaten run; Ireland's best ever.

The All Blacks enter the fray in the unfamiliar position as 'underdogs'. There are only three sides in World Rugby that would consider themselves favourites in a clash with the All Blacks, with Ireland amongst the exclusive company of France and South Africa. However, New Zealand have been steadily building from a historic drop in form, which saw them take their heaviest ever defeat (35-7 vs South Africa), and lose their first ever Rugby World Cup pool stage match (27-13 vs France).

Ian Foster's men have steadily been rallying forward. Heavy victories against Pool A minnows Namibia and Uruguay built their confidence, with the asserting win being the 96-17 landslide over tier one nation Italy. The All Blacks can often shine brightest from the shadows, and turn on the intensity to change the tide of a Rugby World Cup's expected trajectory. Never count out the All Blacks, no matter how confident the opposition may be.

We have an enticing fixture this Saturday. The iconic and dependable three-time Rugby World Cup winners are overlooked, whilst the historic tournament choke artists are being firmly backed for an era-defining victory. As the old adage goes, this match could well and truly go either way. Whilst the head says New Zealand have the proven experience and match-winners, the heart says Ireland are in world-beating form. We decide to follow our heart for this Saturday's closing contest.

England vs Fiji (16:00 KO), Marseille

Sunday's double-header of Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final action begins with England taking on Fiji. heading into the competition, England fans were holding their breath to avoid a quarter-final re-union with their former Head Coach Eddie Jones, however the underperforming Wallabies took an early exit thanks to the Pacific Islanders, with Jones' future rumoured to be a return to Japan.

Instead, England will take on Fiji, in a re-match of their recent Summer Nations Series match which closed out their Rugby World Cup preparations. This fixture saw Fiji become the first 'tier two' nation to defeat England, as they recorded a historic 30-22 win at Twickenham Stadium. The Flying Fijians have surpassed expectations, and finished runners-up in the widely unpredictable Pool C.

Fiji secured two stunning wins over Australia (22-15) and Georgia (17-12) to establish a favourable position heading into the final round of pool stage matches. Fiji only needed one point to send the Wallabies home, and achieved it via a losing bonus point in the shock defeat to Portugal. This loss would have knocked the confidence of Simon Raiwalui's men, who have made a brief yet unwanted habit of falling at the final hurdle in World Cup matches.

Fiji would have started off their Rugby World Cup campaign with a win over Wales, had former Bristol Bears centre Semi Radradra caught the pass, that put him clean through to score in the final play of the match. Fiji ended their Pool C venture with a dramatic defeat to Portugal, as Rodrigo Mata's 78th minute try built towards 'The Wolves' first ever Rugby World Cup victory.

England's form has best resembled a roller-coaster throughout the past six weeks. The historic loss to Fiji saw them enter the tournament at a record low World Rugby ranking of eighth, before a strong win over Argentina changed their favours. England dipped slightly in the troublesome task of beating Japan, but sky-rocketed back to form as they cruised to victory against Chile. A final drop in intensity saw England escape Samoan embarrassment by the skin of their teeth, and set up an unpredictable landscape for the knock-out stages.

France vs South Africa (20:00 KO), Saint-Denis

The final quarter-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup has all the makings of an instant classic. The previewing script writes like the final act of an underdog story, yet this clash comes in the last eight of the competition. France, the host nation looking to win the tournament for the first time in their history, are being willed on indefinitely by the home support, and their talismanic captain is set for a return.

They line-up against everyone's 'love to hate' opponents, South Africa. The reigning World Champions will leave it all on the line, in an undeniable effort to retain their title. Not fazed by the numerous injury set-backs, the mastermind partnership of Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus will use every trick in their book, and throw 7-1 splits, 'Bomb Squads' and traffic lights at Fabien Galthie's men in Saint-Denis.

Entering the competition after handing the beloved All Blacks a humbling defeat, the Springboks were humbled themselves by Ireland in an explosive Pool B clash. The 'Boks have brought in two of their best reinforcements, with fly half Handre Pollard and centre Lukhanyo Am now back from injury. This has come at the expense of two key starters, (wing Makazole Mapimpi and hooker Malcolm Marx) as South Africa's side has been weakened and strengthened in different areas of the pitch.

France scrum half Antoine Dupont has reportedly been given the all clear to participate in this all-important match. He has made a recovery from his cheek-bone fracture, with speculation as to whether he'll wear a scrum cap, or protective mask fitting to be his nation's superhero. Historical meetings favour the Springboks, who have won seven of their last eight meetings against France. However, the most recent meeting brought about a Springboks defeat, as France ran out a 30-26 triumph last Autumn.

The two sides have only ever met once before at the Rugby World Cup, which coincidentally came when the Springboks hosted the tournament back in 1995. South Africa won that semi-final match 19-15, before going on to defeat the All Blacks in an iconic final in Johannesburg. The home nation support certainly motivated Francois Pienaar's men back in '95, with Dupont and co set to rally behind the sea of French tricolours set the engulf the Stade de France.

There are few teams that you could bet on to beat the Springboks in a Rugby World Cup quarter-final, yet today's iteration of Les Bleus are one such side. Fabien Galthie has pieced together a well-oiled machine, that looks expertly trained in 'Bomb Squad' defusal. The home-soil advantage, and South Africa's hindered confidence after the defeat to Ireland, helps sway are pick in this one towards the hosts... but only just.