We're officially into the pointy end of the tournament as the knockout stages begin. With just eight teams left, who'll make it through to the final four?
Read ahead for team lists and previews.
- RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023: Squads | Schedule | Standings | Podcast | Injuries
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Saturday, October 14
Wales vs. Argentina, Stade de Marseille, Marseille (5p.m. local / 2a.m. AEDT / 4p.m. GMT)
Wales: Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Jac Morgan (captain), Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matías Moroni.
Verdict: Wales make six changes for the quarterfinal clash in Marseille with Aaron Wainwright shifting to No.8 in place of the injured Taulupe Faletau. That's triggered a back-row rejig so Tommy Reffell is at openside and captain Jac Morgan is at No.6. Also in the pack Adam Beard starts in the second-row. In the half-backs Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies are reunited, with Josh Adams back on the wing but there's no place in the matchday squad for Gareth Anscombe, who injured his groin in the win over Georgia.
Argentina make two changes with Facundo Isa named in place of injured talisman Pablo Matera, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a torn hamstring, while Tomas Cubelli starts at scrum-half gets the nod ahead of Gonzalo Bertranou.
Expect this to be close. Warren Gatland knows what it takes to reach the final four of a tournament, having done it in 2011 and 2019 with Wales, while Argentina haven't yet hit their expected heights in this tournament but have a brilliant coach in Michael Cheika. With both teams without their star back-rowers, this is going to be attritional, and have very little in it.
"We haven't spoken about underdogs or favourites' tags, we are just going through our own processes," Gatland said. "The quarterfinal poses its own challenges and pressures because you're either here to the end of the tournament, or you're going home on Monday. As a squad we're definitely not ready to go home."
Tip: Wales by 5
-- Tom Hamilton
Ireland vs. New Zealand, Stade de France Saint-Denis (9p.m. local / 6a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. GMT)
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O'Brien.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali'i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown
Verdict: The biggest quarterfinal in Rugby World Cup history? That's certainly what it feels like, given what's on the line in Paris this weekend. There is Ireland's quarterfinal duck; their pursuit of a record-equalling 18th Test win; the fact they are playing some of the best rugby in the nation's history. And then there is New Zealand, who are after revenge for last year's series defeat on home soil and who are poised to farewell some of the greats of their game, and coach Ian Foster.
Ireland are unchanged from the run-on team that beat Scotland with replacement lock James Ryan the only casualty. The All Blacks, meanwhile welcome back the big guns that sat out the win over Namibia, but there is one surprise omission and that is Mark Telea, who was left out for disciplinary reasons. His place has been taken by Leicester Fainga'anuku.
In years gone by, you get the feeling that this is the kind of game Ireland would crumble in, just as they did in 2019. But this team is so full of self-belief, so acute in its understanding of how it wants to play the game, that it is really going to take a brilliant All Blacks performance to beat them. That is not beyond the three-time world champions, particularly if they are able to limit the time and space Johnny Sexton gets on the ball. If they are able to dominate up front, and shut down Ireland's attacking flow, then it really will be game on.
Still, there is something special happening with this Ireland team and history beckons -- in more ways than one.
Tip: Ireland by 2
-- Sam Bruce
Sunday, October 15
England vs. Fiji, Stade de Marseille, Marseille (5 p.m. local / 2a.m. AEDT / 4p.m. GMT)
England: Marcus Smith, Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (capt.), Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Jamie George, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence
Fiji: Ilaisa Droasese, Vinaya Habosi, Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Vilimoni Botitu, Frank Lomani; Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere, Luke Tagi, Isoa Nasilasila, Albert Tuisue, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Levani Botia, Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Samuel Matavesi, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Meli Derenalagi, Vilive Miramira, Simione Kuruvoli, Iosefo Masi, Sireli Maqala.
Verdict: The big selection call in the England team from Steve Borthwick saw Marcus Smith named at fullback and Owen Farrell back at fly-half. George Ford was therefore shifted to the bench with Freddie Steward out of the 23. The other change saw Elliot Daly restored to the starting line-up with Joe Marchant at outside centre with Manu Tuilagi at No.12. It's the boldest call of Steve Borthwick's tenure as he looks to take the game to Fiji and have a host of counter-attacking weapons at his disposal.
For Fiji, they include 10 of the 15 who started against England in their win back in August in their line-up with the brilliant Semi Radradra on the left wing while Tevita Ikanivere earns his first Rugby World Cup start.
This should be a fascinating, enthralling occasion in Marseille on Sunday as England look to book their place in a World Cup semifinal for the second competition running while Fiji are aiming to reach the final four for the first time. Expect England to try and control the tempo as much as possible while Fiji will look to improve on their shock defeat to Portugal last time out.
Tip: England by 8.
-- Tom Hamilton
France vs. South Africa, Stade de France, Saint-Denis (9 p.m. local / 6 a.m. AEDT / 8p.m. UK)
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (cap.); Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux.
Verdict: Box office drama. That's what awaits in the final quarterfinal of the 2023 World Cup, with the defending champions facing the in-form hosts for a spot in the last four. France have lost only once in the past two years, that defeat coming against Ireland earlier this year, and the tournament hosts have been building for this moment -- three weeks of knockout rugby for World Cup glory.
They received a monumental boost on Friday when Antoine Dupont was named at No. 9, Les Bleus' talisman and skipper has not fully recovered from the fractured cheekbone he suffered against Namibia, but has still done enough to prove his fitness to be able to play.
The Springboks meanwhile have returned Manie Libbok to No. 10 and paired him with Cobus Reinach, while Duane Vermeulen has been selected at No. 8 over Jasper Wiese; coach Jacques Nienaber has also opted for a 5-3 bench split just a few weeks after he went for 7-1 against Ireland. The coach says that is about managing France's tactical kicking game.
Incredibly, these two sides have not met a Rugby World Cup since 1995, when the Springboks outlasted France in a sodden semifinal before going on to lift the trophy on home soil. France may not have the same country-uniting narrative behind them, but there is a groundswell of support and a belief that this truly is their year. Still, it is going to take an incredible 80-minute performance in a game that is likely to have several big momentum swings.
Tip: France by 3
-- Sam Bruce