Rugby World Cup

There's just one thing in their way, the three times champion All Blacks.

The two teams square off at Stade de France this weekend with the winner earning another week in France.

Ireland have failed to progress past the quarter-finals at each and every World Cup before this one, but star first-five Johnny Sexton is adamant they don't have a mental block.

"We've worked on our mental game for the last four years. We've put ourselves in different scenarios over the last four years to prepare for this.

Assistant coach Seremaia Bai says the team received the news this morning and their senior player, Sam, is now with his family in England.

Sireli Matavesi played rugby for Cornwall and Camborne after staying in the county following a tour rugby to the United Kingdom in 1985 and worked as a miner.

The Flying Fijians and Fiji Rugby Union say their thoughts are with the family and send their deepest condolences.

Bai also says it’s not confirmed whether Sam Matavesi will make the side for the quarterfinal against England

Wallabies legend and Fijian rugby league representative, Lote Tuqiri, has already jumped on board, announcing he’ll drop the green and gold for the black and white of Fiji. In fact, his nephew will even be taking the field, who is a part of Fiji’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad.

The All Blacks are also adamant they're a much better team now than the one that lost to hosts France in their opening game of the World Cup, as they prepare to try and stop the Irish from reaching the final four of the tournament for the first time.

Ireland have won four of their last six games against the All Blacks, including their two most recent clashes.

If the All Blacks were to be beaten in Sunday morning's quarter-final in Paris, they would suffer the ignominy of heading home as statistically the worst ever All Blacks team at a World Cup.

This is what Fiji’s kicking coach Seremaia Bai believes and says beating England at Twickenham gives them great confidence going into the game.

However, according to the former national flyhalf, the most important thing in a playoff is that anything can happen so Fiji will have to regroup, re-focus and prepare well.

Bai is one of three players from the 2007 team which made the World Cup quarterfinals that are part of the management team in France.

The other two are scrum coach Graham Dewes and manager Viliame Gadolo.

Tonga scored seven tries in total in the game against Romania, with winger Solomone Kata claiming a double, one in each half.

They also dedicated the win to their fans and families.

Kefu, who has been at the helm for the Tongans since 2016, told the media at the post-match press conference it was an emotional game for him and the players, adding he was pleased for the team.

He hoped the momentum could continue and that more was done to help Tonga and other Tier-2 teams to get more game time together.

The Ikale Tahi swept into a 21-3 lead after winger Solomone Kata collected an offload from Salesi Piutau for the opening try, ex-All Blacks centre George Moala went over and winger Afusipa Taumoepeau added a third after Alin Conache’s penalty for Romania.

But the Oaks came back with two tries before the interval from flanker Cristi Boboc and scrum-half Florin Surugiu, the second with Tonga a man down after second-row Halaleva Fifita’s yellow card.

A converted try to Portugal in the dying stages of the match denied Fiji the win.

Since 2007 our side has failed to progress but that ended at Stade De Toulouse following its bonus point loss today.

Fiji needed a win or bonus point loss from the match to make the top eight and also sent the Wallabies and their coach Eddie Jones home.

Fiji finishes second in pool C and will play England in the third quarterfinal next Monday.

Head coach Simon Raiwalui also congratulated the Portuguese for their courageous outing.

First five-eighth Jalibert's lightning quick passing and inspired try lifted Les Bleus to the top of Pool A with other tries by Damian Penaud (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Peato Mauvaka, Yoram Moefana (2) and Thomas Ramos, who also scored 15 points from the tee.

Fabien Galthie's team, without Dupont as the mercurial scrumhalf recovers from cheekbone surgery, won all their group games and are likely to face defending champions South Africa on 15 October, even if Ireland and Scotland are still possible opponents for a place in the last four.

Our side has automatically qualified with Wales and Australia from pool C.

This is after Georgia and Portugal failed to qualify for the quarter-finals and can’t gain automatic qualification for 2027 as they are on three and two points respectively with one game to play in pool C.

Wales have already reached the 2023 quarter-finals and the other place will be secured by either Australia or Fiji after the final round of pool play this weekend.

The top three teams from each group automatically qualifies for the next World Cup.