England can lock down top spot in Pool D when they take on Samoa, early on Sunday morning AEDT.
I don’t always find them convincing, but England have clearly been their best in this open group, and they’ve been too good for Argentina, Japan and Chile. This certainly won’t be their easiest game so far at the 2023 World Cup, but they’re noticeably better than Samoa.
Samoa really needed to beat with Argentina or Japan (probably both) if they were any chance of progressing, but losses to both of those nations mean that their World Cup campaign will end after this match.
Old Six Nations foes Ireland and Scotland do battle again on Sunday morning, and the former look well placed to win, and top Pool B in the process.
Ireland have been the pick of the northern hemisphere nations in France (in my opinion), and I really started to become more of a believer after they beat the Springboks.
Scotland have returned a very Scotland-like performance at the Rugby World Cup, beating the smaller nations but losing to the Springboks, and almost certainly losing this one as well.
Ripper game, with the winner progressing to the knockout phase of the Rugby World Cup!
I’ve really gotten on board with Japan’s rise to the top tier of rugby throughout the last decade, and they really do shape as a live chance in most matches these days. They kept alive their dreams of a second-consecutive appearance in the knockout stage of the tournament with a tough win over Samoa this week, but they’ll need to improve again to win this.
Argentina have been similarly impressive improvers throughout the last 15 years or so, and frequently compete with (and beat) some of the best rugby nations in the world.
I still think they are a better side than Japan, but this one looks likely to go right down to the wire.