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Rugby World Cup day 30: England, Wales, Ireland in quarter-final action this weekend

:Headline: Rugby World Cup day 30: England, Wales, Ireland in quarter-final action this weekend: ID:375408: from db_amp
The match action resumes in Japan with the knockout stage.

The Rugby World Cup will resume with the knockout phase in Japan this weekend, eight teams having regrouped following the pool stages and the fall-out from Typhoon Hagibis.

England face Australia in Oita on Saturday before Ireland then look to topple defending champions New Zealand in Tokyo.

Sunday sees Wales play Six Nations rivals France, while the hosts later aim to maintain their World Cup fairytale at the expense of South Africa.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead over another action-packed weekend in Japan.

(PA Graphics)

England set for Wallabies showdown

Sunday will see Wales look to progress when they take on France in Oita.

It will be a third successive World Cup quarter-final clash of Warren Gatland’s reign when they tackle Les Bleus.

Since suffering an agonising 9-8 loss in the 2011 World Cup semi-final, Wales have beaten France in seven of the last eight meetings.

Gatland’s time with Wales ends after the tournament and the New Zealander is determined to stick around for a bit longer in Japan.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good formula as a group about getting things right,” he said. “We are in a good place and we have prepared well.

“As coaches and players this is what you do all the hard work and training for, the big moments and to try and get to finals.”

Japan look to shock Springboks again

Japan beat South Africa four years ago in one of the great World Cup shocks. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The Brave Blossoms swept into the last eight of the World Cup for the first time, riding the wave of an expectant nation.

Four years ago in Brighton, their 34-32 victory over two-time world champions South Africa was the greatest upset in the history of the competition.

The fans, though, who will pack the Tokyo Stadium on Sunday will be doing so more in expectation than travelling in hope of another memorable night at the expense of the Springboks.

Veteran Japan second-row Luke Thompson – part of the side in Brighton – maintains the players must continue to dream.

“Four years ago, we were able to sneak up on South Africa and now it’s a completely different situation,” he said. “No-one expects us to win again but we believe.”

Coming up

  • England v Australia (October 19, Oita, 0815 BST, ITV)
  • New Zealand v Ireland (October 19, Chofu, 1115 BST, ITV)
  • Wales v France (October 20, Oita, 0815 BST, ITV)
  • Japan v South Africa (October 20, Chofu, 1115 BST, ITV)
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