World Cup

Ireland coach denies World Cup conspiracy

Mike Catt says Ireland will not be “going into cahoots” with Scotland to ensure both progress to the World Cup playoffs at South Africa’s expense.

France's scrum-half Antoine Dupont takes part in a training session at the stade Georges Carcassonne in Aix-en-Provence on October 02, 2023, during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup. / ALTERNATE CROP - ALTERNATE CROP

Dupont to seek surgeon’s go-ahead for return

Antoine Dupont will be assessed by the surgeon who operated on his fractured cheekbone before staff decide if he can return for a possible World Cup quarter-final.

New Zealand's flanker Sam Cane leaves the field after being sent to the sin bin during the pre-World Cup Rugby Union match between New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in west London, on August 25, 2023.

Cane captains stacked All Blacks

Sam Cane returns to captain New Zealand as Ian Foster made nine changes to the All Blacks side to face Uruguay in their World Cup pool finale on Thursday.

Fiji's flanker Levani Botia (C) runs with the ball during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Fiji and Georgia at the stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, southwestern France, on September 30, 2023.

Fiji look to ‘Demolition Man’ to roast Portugal

Levani Botia lived up to his nickname “The Demolition Man” in taking Fiji’s Pool C game with Georgia “by the scruff of the neck”, a performance that his coach hopes he will repeat against Portugal.

This photograph taken on September 4, 2023 shows the Rugby Union World Cup trophy, the Webb Ellis Cup, presented during the tournament opening conference in Paris, ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023 France.

RWC Permutations: How the quarter-finals will be decided

With six places in the World Cup quarter-finals still to play for, World Rugby has officially confirmed how results in each of the pools could affect the last eight.

Romania dejected Alex Livesey:Getty Images

Rugby not ready for World Cup expansion

Tier-two rugby nations must be further developed, and provided with regular tier-one opposition, before the World Cup is expanded to 24 teams, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.

Rassie: Playoff pressure on Ireland

Rassie Erasmus is happy to kick back and watch the final World Cup pool fixtures play out, while putting pressure on Ireland to get a result against Scotland.

Wales' openside flanker and captain Jac Morgan celebrates after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Australia at the OL Stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, south-eastern France on September 24, 2023.

Wales down captain Morgan

Jac Morgan is rested as Warren Gatland named his Wales lineup to play Georgia in their final World Cup Pool C match in Nantes on Saturday.

South Africa's Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber conducts a press conference at the Southern Sun Hotel in Pretoria on June 14, 2023 ahead of the upcoming Rugby Championship in July, 2023.

Watch: Nienaber miffed with Ireland’s ‘match-fixing’

Jacques Nienaber gave a stern answer when asked about the potential of Ireland and Scotland arranging a result to kick the Springboks out of the World Cup.

South Africa's wing Makazole Mapimpi (C) celebrates with South Africa's full-back Willie Le Roux (L) after scoring the team's tenth try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Romania at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, south-western France on September 17, 2023.

Mapimpi out, who gets Bok call?

Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Makazole Mapimpi has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup through injury but did not say who the Springboks would call in as a replacement.