Places in the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2011 are still in the balance in all but one of the four pools going into Sunday’s final day of action.
Pool A
The only pool where the two quarter-finalists are certain is Pool A, where New Zealand have already clinched first place ahead of their match with Canada at Eden Park on Sunday.
France will play England in the quarter-finals at Eden Park next Saturday, 8 October, while New Zealand are awaiting the result of Sunday’s game between Argentina and Georgia before they know their first opponents in the knockout stage.
Pool B
Scotland’s loss to England on Saturday means that Argentina need only one point from their match with Georgia at Palmerston North on Sunday to clinch second place in Pool B.
With England the unbeaten leaders after their four pool matches, the highest Argentina can finish is second. Scotland will be watching the Sunday match anxiously: they will take second place in the event Argentina fail to take a point against Georgia.
Pool C
Ireland’s Pool C clash with Italy at Dunedin promises to be the day’s cliffhanger, with Australia having already clinched one of the quarter-final spots.
Ireland need to avoid defeat by Italy on Sunday to be certain of progressing to the quarter-finals.
Italy will be certain of qualifying for the knockout stages (finishing in second place in the pool) if they beat Ireland, as long as the Irish fail to gain two bonus points. If Italy win but Ireland gain two bonus points, Ireland will win the pool.
Pool D
Unbeaten South Africa have already clinched first place in Pool D, and Wales will join them in the quarter-finals by taking at least one point against Fiji in Sunday’s pool finale.
Samoa have a slender chance of progressing – but Fiji would have to beat Wales by at least 39 points, score four tries and restrict Wales to fewer than four tries, or beat them by 38 points, score at least six tries more than Wales and restrict Wales to fewer than four tries.
Fiji can only progress by beating Wales by 85 points, scoring four tries and restricting Wales to fewer than four tries.