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After a month of pool play, eight countries are advancing to the playoffs to determine a 2023 Rugby World Cup champion.
After some great pool games, the finalists are not a huge surprise, although Australian fans may disagree. For the first time ever, the 1991 world champions did not advance.
This Saturday, a doubleheader of Wales vs. Argentina and Ireland vs. New Zealand lead off the quarterfinals. Ireland is ranked No. 1 in the world, playing a mix of bruising rugby with kicking finesse from its 38-year-old flyhalf, Johnny Sexton. The Irish have a front row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, who combine unbelievable strength and skill to dominate set and loose play. Combined, this front row can squat over 2,100 pounds and run on average 3 miles in a game. This Ireland-New Zealand game will be on Peacock at 3 p.m.
Wales and Argentina will surely have a great match, with the game on Peacock live at 11 a.m., then replayed on NBC at 1 p.m. Both face a tough test in the semifinals against the winner of Ireland and New Zealand.
On Sunday, England faces off against Fiji, which advanced by beating Australia. Fiji is known for its 7's form of rugby, as it has won at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and several Rugby World Cup 7's championships. While extremely skilled, Fiji struggles with depth and length of 15's rugby. England is expected to advance, but Fiji may surprise. This game will be on NBC at 1 p.m., or live on Peacock at 11 a.m.
The Sunday afternoon game will feature France vs. South Africa. As France is hosting, it does have a slight advantage, but the Springboks are the reigning world champions, led by diminutive, but dynamic scrumhalf Faf de Klerk. This game is a must-see for any rugby fan on Peacock at 3 p.m.
The winners advance the following weekend to the semifinals. Winners of those games will play in the final on Oct. 28. Games are on Peacock or replayed on CNBC or NBC. Games finish in 2 hours with minimal commercials.
For the first time ever, the Rugby World Cup will come to the United States in 2031. Bids are underway now, with Pittsburgh looking at submitting a bid to host a pool.
While rugby is a second tier sport here in the U.S, it is growing exponentially with play at area colleges and professionally in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Local youth rugby is played with Blair United Rugby.
Andy Haines is the director of the Blair United Rugby club located in Hollidaysburg. He can be reached at blairunitedrugby@gmail.com.