Rugby World Cup 2023: Quarter-Final Predictions

What an excited weekend of Rugby we have ahead of us, with the World Cup reaching the knockout stages and some huge quarter-final matches on offer.

Here are my Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final predictions.

Wales v Argentina

The Pumas have under-performed in the World Cup so far, although have been steadily improving since that disappointing defeat to 14-man England on the opening weekend. Michael Cheika has suggested he got the team’s preparation wrong, and the improvement suggests they have benefitted from more time together.

Wales, meanwhile, have been very efficient in qualifying for the knockout stages, and if there’s one thing Warren Gatland knows how to do, it’s prepare a team for a World Cup. The Welsh are super-fit, solid in defence and will be very difficult to beat, even if their attacking game is some way short of other teams. I think they’ll take this one based on that level of preparation. Wales by 7

Ireland v New Zealand

Ireland have been the best team in the tournament through the group stages, beating South Africa in their sternest test, and comfortably seeing off Scotland, Tonga and Romania. In contrast, the All Blacks were all over the place against France on the opening night, before Namibia, Italy and Uruguay.

Are the All Blacks back, or are they flat-track bullies? Ireland’s defence will not be nearly as obliging, and I suspect they’ll suffocate them like the French did, which ultimately led to heads dropping and errors all over the place. Ireland by 8

England v Fiji

On paper there should be only one winner here, with 4-time finalists England up against a Tier 2 Rugby nation, but it’s not quite that simple. England have been awful to watch at this tournament, and don’t really deserve a place in the semi-finals when you consider the powerhouses on the other side of the draw.

Most of the world will be cheering on Fiji, but I can justify picking England on the basis of their tournament experience and that they will always be tough to beat. England by 4

France v South Africa

This is a thrilling prospect on Sunday night as the tournament hosts meet the defending champions, with key man Antoine Dupont’s fitness dominating the headlines in the build up. Well that and Rassie Erasmus trying to influence the referee again by accusing France of play-acting to con referees.

Erasmus has got his way with this behaviour in the past, but the concern is that it will work against him one day, and Sunday could well be one of them. Ben O’Keefe was criticised by fans after the Super Rugby Pacific final, and later blamed the some players and coaches for not being supportive of referees. In my opinion, this latest outburst seems more likely to hurt the Springbok cause than to help it.

In terms of the game, I think France will edge it now that Dupont seems set to play. They have a finer balance of power and guile than the Springboks, and with the home crowd roaring them on at the Stade de France, I’m predicting a very narrow home win. Obviously it could go either way, it’s that tight. France by 2

So we're looking at all semi-finalists being from the Northern Hemisphere according to Hutch! Do you agree? Let us know your own thoughts in the comments.