The knockout stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup is the second and final stage of the competition, following the pool stage. Played from 14 to 28 October, the knockout stage will end with the final, held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis. [1] The top two teams from each pool advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There will be 8 matches in the knockout stage, including a third-place play-off played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.
The knockout stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be contested by the eight teams that qualified from the pool stage, the top two teams from each of the four pools. Matches in the knockout stage are played to a result; if the scores are tied at the end of 80 minutes, a 10-minute period of extra time is played; if scores remain level after extra time, an additional 10-minute "sudden death" period will be played, and the first team to score any points wins. If the score still remains tied, a kicking competition will ensue. All times listed are local in Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).
Wales were the first side to secure qualification to the knockout stage after their record breaking victory over Australia in the pool stage. [2] England became the next side to qualify for the quarter-finals four days later after Japan's victory over Samoa in Pool D. This result also meant England were the first team to be guaranteed top seed. [3] New Zealand secured their place in the knockout stage after their pool match win over Uruguay. [4] Hosts France also confirmed their place the following day after their victory over Italy. [5] Ireland and South Africa both qualified from Pool B simultaneously following Ireland's victory over Scotland. [6] Argentina edged Japan to progression from Pool D following their victory over the Brave Blossoms in their final match. [7] In the last match of the pool stage, Fiji were narrowly defeated by Portugal in Pool C but still qualified for the knockout stage ahead of Australia based on their head-to-head record against the Wallabies who suffered elimination from the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time. [8]
Pool | Winners | Runners-up |
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A | France | New Zealand |
B | Ireland | South Africa |
C | Wales | Fiji |
D | England | Argentina |
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final: New Zealand vs South Africa | ||||||||
14 October – Marseille | ||||||||||
Wales | 17 | |||||||||
20 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
Argentina | 29 | |||||||||
Argentina | 6 | |||||||||
14 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
New Zealand | 44 | |||||||||
Ireland | 24 | |||||||||
28 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
New Zealand | 28 | |||||||||
New Zealand | 11 | |||||||||
15 October – Marseille | ||||||||||
South Africa | 12 | |||||||||
England | 30 | |||||||||
21 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
Fiji | 24 | |||||||||
England | 15 | |||||||||
15 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
South Africa | 16 | Bronze final: Argentina vs England | ||||||||
France | 28 | |||||||||
27 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
South Africa | 29 | |||||||||
Argentina | 23 | |||||||||
England | 26 | |||||||||
14 October 2023 17:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
Wales | 17–29 | Argentina |
Try: Biggar 14' c T. Williams 57' c Con: Biggar (2/2) 16', 58' Pen: Biggar (1/2) 21' | Report | Try: Sclavi 68' c Sánchez 77' c Con: Boffelli (2/2) 69', 78' Pen: Boffelli (4/5) 39', 45', 44', 48' Sánchez (1/1) 80' |
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 62,576 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) [9] Karl Dickson (England) [lower-alpha 1] |
Wales | Argentina |
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
14 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
Ireland | 24–28 | New Zealand |
Try: Aki 27' c Gibson-Park 39' c Penalty try 64' Con: Sexton (2/2) 29', 40' Pen: Sexton (1/2) 22' | Report | Try: Fainga'anuku 19' c Savea 33' m Jordan 53' c Con: Mo'unga (1/2) 21' J. Barrett (1/1) 54' Pen: Mo'unga (1/1) 8' J. Barrett (2/3) 14', 69' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 78,845 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) [9] |
Ireland | New Zealand |
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|
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
15 October 2023 17:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
England | 30–24 | Fiji |
Try: Tuilagi 14' m Marchant 23' c Con: Farrell (1/2) 23' Pen: Farrell (5/6) 11', 34', 38', 54', 78' Drop: Farrell (1/1) 72' | Report | Try: Mata 28' c Ravai 64' c Botitu 68' c Con: Lomani (1/1) 29' Kuruvoli (2/2) 65', 70' Pen: Lomani (1/3) 20' |
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 61,863 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) [9] |
England | Fiji |
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|
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
15 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
France | 28–29 | South Africa |
Try: Baille (2) 4' c, 31' c Mauvaka 22' m Con: Ramos (2/3) 5', 32' Pen: Ramos (3/4) 40+1', 54', 73' | Report | Try: Arendse 8' c De Allende 18' m Kolbe 27' c Etzebeth 67' c Con: Libbok (2/3) 10', 28' Pollard (1/1) 67' Pen: Pollard (1/1) 69' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 79,486 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) [9] |
France | South Africa |
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|
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
20 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
Argentina | 6–44 | New Zealand |
Pen: Boffelli (2/2) 5', 35' | Report | Try: Jordan (3) 11' c, 62' m, 73' m J. Barrett 17' m Frizell (2) 40+2' m, 49' c Smith 42' c Con: Mo'unga (3/7) 12', 43', 50' Pen: Mo'unga (1/1) 38' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 77,653 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) [15] |
Argentina | New Zealand |
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Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
21 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
England | 15–16 | South Africa |
Pen: Farrell (4/4) 3', 10', 24', 39' Drop: Farrell (1/1) 53' | Report | Try: Snyman 69' c Con: Pollard (1/1) 70' Pen: Libbok (1/1) 21' Pollard (2/2) 35', 78' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 78,098 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) [15] |
England | South Africa |
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|
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
27 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
Argentina | 23–26 | England |
Try: Cubelli 36' c S. Carreras 42' c Con: Boffelli (2/2) 37', 43' Pen: Boffelli (2/2) 24', 50' Sánchez (1/2) 68' | Report | Try: Earl 8' c Dan 44' c Con: Farrell (2/2) 9', 45' Pen: Farrell (4/4) 3', 13', 30', 65' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 77,674 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) [23] |
Argentina | England |
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|
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
28 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) |
New Zealand | 11–12 | South Africa |
Try: B. Barrett 58' m Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 17', 38' | Report | Pen: Pollard (4/4) 3', 13', 19', 34' |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 80,065 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) [27] |
New Zealand | South Africa |
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Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
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