THE Rugby World Cup is well underway, with the first round of games providing plenty of shock and excitement.
Holders South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland and hosts France are among the favourites – but don’t count out England, Scotland or Wales either.
South Africa overcame England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup finalPA
PAEngland’s Ollie Chessum runs at Argentina’s Juan Mallia during the Red Rose’s 27-10 win over the Pumas[/caption]
England overcame a horrendous preparation period for the World Cup as they put Argentina to the sword in their opening pool game with a 27-10 win as George Ford starred.
Ireland thumped sorry Romania 82-10, after the underdogs scored an early opening try.
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Rugby World Cup 2023: fixtures and results
Pool matches – Results
Friday, Sept 8 – France 27-13 New Zealand, Stade de France, 8.15pm (BST)Saturday, Sept 9 – Italy 52-8 Namibia, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 12.00pmSaturday, Sept 9 – Ireland 82-8 Romania, Stade de Bordeaux, 2.30pmSaturday, Sept 9 – Australia 35-15 Georgia, Stade de France, 5pmSaturday, Sept 9 – England 27-10 Argentina, Stade de Marseille, 8pmSunday, Sept 10 – Japan 42-12 Chile, Stade de Toulouse, 12pmSunday, Sept 10 – South Africa 18-3 Scotland, Stade de Marseille, 4.45pmSunday, Sept 10 – Wales 32-26 Fiji, Stade de Bordeaux, 8pm
Fixtures
Thursday, Sept 14 – France v Uruguay, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pmFriday, Sept 15 – New Zealand v Namibia, Stadium de Toulouse, 8pmSaturday, Sept 16 – Samoa v Chile, Stade de Bordeaux, 2pmSaturday, Sept 16 – Wales v Portugal, Stade de Nice 4.45pmSaturday, Sept 16 – Ireland v Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, 8pmSunday, Sept 17 – South Africa v Romania, Stade de Bordeaux, 2pmSunday, Sept 17 – Australia v Fiji, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pmSunday, Sept 17 – England v Japan, Stade de Nice, 8pmWednesday, Sept 20 – Italy v Uruguay, Stade de Nice, 4.45pm Thursday, Sept 21 – France v Namibia, Stade de Marseille, 8pmFriday, Sept 22 – Argentina v Samoa, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pmSaturday, Sept 23 – Georgia v Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, 1pmSaturday, Sept 23 – England v Chile, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pmSaturday, Sept 23 – South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France, 8pmSunday, Sept 24 – Scotland v Tonga, Stade de Nice, 4.45pmSunday, Sept 24 – Wales v Australia, OL Stadium, 8pmWednesday, Sept 27 – Uruguay v Namibia, OL Stadium, 4.45pm Thursday, Sept 28 – Japan v Samoa, Stade de Toulouse, 8pm Friday, Sept 29 – New Zealand v Italy, OL Stadium, 8pmSaturday, Sept 30 – Argentina v Chile, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pmSaturday, Sept 30 – Fiji v Georgia, Stade de Bordeaux, 4.45pmSaturday, Sept 30 – Scotland v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pmSunday, Oct 1 – Australia v Portugal, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pmSunday, Oct 1 – South Africa v Tonga, Stade de Marseille, 8pmThursday, Oct 5 – New Zealand v Uruguay, OL Stadium, 8pmFriday, Oct 6 – France v Italy, OL Stadium, 8pmSaturday, Oct 7 – Wales v Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pmSaturday, Oct 7 – England v Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pmSaturday, Oct 7 – Ireland v Scotland, Stade de France, 8pmSunday, Oct 8 – Japan v Argentina, Stade de la Beaujoire, 12pmSunday, Oct 8 – Tonga v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm Sunday, Oct 8 – Fiji v Portugal, Stade de Toulouse, 8pm
Quarter-finals
Saturday, Oct 14 – Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D, Stade de Marseille, 4pmSaturday, Oct 14 – Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A, Stade de France, 8pmSunday, Oct 15 – Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C, Stade de Marseille, 4pmSunday, Oct 15 – Winner Pool 4 v Runner-up Pool B, Stade de France, 8pm
Semi-finals
Friday, Oct 20 – Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Stade de France, 8pmSaturday, Oct 21 – Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Stade de France, 8pm
Bronze-medal match
Friday, Oct 27 – Runner-up SF 1 v Runner-up SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
Final
Saturday, Oct 28 – Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
What are the pools
Pool A
New Zealand
France
Italy
Uruguay
Namibia
Pool B
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Tonga
Romania
Pool C
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Georgia
Portugal
Pool D
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Chile
What TV channel will it be on and can it be live streamed FREE?
The Rugby World Cup 2023 will be shown live on ITV.You can live stream all of the action from the ITV X app, which is available for download onto your mobile and tablet device.You can stream it all for FREE, so long as you have a valid TV licence.