The Rugby World Cup 2023 quarterfinal draw is complete with all four matches pitting northern hemisphere teams against sides from the south.

Ireland have got in early by naming their side 24 hours earlier than anticipated, with Andy Farrell receiving some welcomed news on the injury front. They’ve done so after a tweak to their training schedule, where they will have Thursday off.

The All Blacks will name their squad on Thursday, with tight-head prop Tyrel Lomax looming as a surprise inclusion after a leg injury last week.

Ireland’s Mack Hansen has been named to take on the All Blacks in their crunch World Cup quarter-final. (Photo by Franco Arland/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Despite South Africa typically naming their teams early in the week, Rassie Erasmus says they will keep their power dry and not name their side to take on host nation France until Friday.

“I think definitely, without a doubt tactical,” Erasmus told reporters on Tuesday.

“We have been mixing and matching for the last year just making sure every single position we are going to have somebody that is just as good ow we are not even sure who is the best. We are keeping out options open for a 7-1, 6-2 or 5-3 split with both Andre (Pollard) and Manie (Libbok) being available there is nobody there (garbled here)…tomorrow morning we will internally confirm that.

“I think we will have everyone available, and we will see what the French teams looks like. That will have further influence on us going 7-1 or 6-2.”

Check back here for teams and developing storylines as the week progresses.

QF 1: Wales vs Argentina, Sunday 2am AEDT, Marseille

How they got there: Wales topped Australia’s pool C by winning all four games including a thumping 40-6 win over the Wallabies. Argentina finished second behind England, beating Japan is a virtual sudden death game after also accounting for Samoa and Chile.

Storylines

Wales will be without No 8 Taulupe Faletau after he suffered a broken arm against Georgia. There are doubts over backup flyhalf Gareth Anscombe who suffered a groin injury in the warm up.

Argentina will have to assess star forward Pablo Matera, although coach Michael Cheika says the prognosis on his hamstring does not look good.

What they’re saying

Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit: “Argentina have got a good kicking game and they are a threat on the ball. “We are building nice momentum. We’re getting the job done and really looking forward to the quarter-finals.”

Argentina coach Michael Cheika: “What changes now is the mentality. I feel like some of our boys, if you look at the crowd here today, so many Argentineans who have put their savings together and come for this week, next week. I think they’ve felt a bit of that pressure. “Now everyone is happy, the crowd is happy, they’re into it, they’re ripe for the next stage, maybe we can just chill out and go for it, play some good footy and we’ll see where the cards fall, see how we go.”

Teams: TBC

Prediction: Wales by 5 points.

QF 2: Ireland vs New Zealand, Sunday 6am AEDT, Stade de France

Ireland has received a boost ahead of their quarter-final against the All Blacks, with wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe named in an unchanged XV from the one that easily dispatched of Scotland.

Both wingers were in doubt after Hansen felt calf soreness after returning to the field following a HIA check, while Lowe suffered an eye injury.

But Andy Farrell hasn’t hesitated in naming either despite Australian-born Hansen not training on Monday.

Ireland, however, have lost lock James Ryan because of a wrist injury. He is expected to be fit should Ireland reach the semi-finals for the first time.

It’s a quality looking line up, with only Robbie Henshaw the only other regular player in the matchday 23 that is missing following an injury at training last week.

Fellow Australian Finlay Bealham has been named on the bench.

How they got there: Ireland marched to a 17th-straight victory when they dominated Scotland, having laid down an early marker by beating South Africa to top pool B. New Zealand lost their opening game in pool A against France but dominated since then, including 25 tries in walloping Italy and Uruguay in their final two pool matches.

Storylines

New Zealand have doubts over props Tyrel Lomax and Fletcher Newell and are seeking revenge for a 2-1 series loss in NZ last year. Ireland have never won a knockout game at a World Cup and the world No.1 ranked team is on course for a record-breaking run of wins.

What they’re saying

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton: “We went to New Zealand [last year] and Andy [Farrell] told us he put us under the most pressure he could find. To go on a three-test tour but also do the midweek games, it was to test us and to make us learn.

“We learned so many lessons on that tour to take with us for the Six Nations, to win a Grand Slam. To put us in this situation again, to have to play them again. They have said it’s the one they want, they are hurting and they want to put it right. That is the biggest challenge in rugby, to beat them when they are in that frame of mind. Two teams will both be under pressure and it will be who copes with that the best.”

New Zealand coach Ian Foster: “It’s about treasuring each day and knowing that this is what we’ve worked for – the preparation that we’ve put in is to get us to this point – and to make sure that each day we get what we needed done at a really high level.

Ian Foster, Head Coach of New Zealand, looks on prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Pool A match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on September 08, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“It’s a phase of the tournament that we love, we love these big occasions – there’s no tomorrow to them. It just narrows down the focus, so keeping it simple like that is key for us.

“Everyone hopes they can go well in the play-offs, I guess we know that we can and we have, and we’ve got to rely on that and build on it.”

Teams

Ireland (1-15): Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Johnny Sexton (c), James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O’Brien

Prediction: Ireland by 7 points.

QF 3: England vs Fiji, Monday 2am AEDT, Marseille

How they got there: England were lucky to keep their perfect record intact with a one-point win over Samoa. Fiji beat Australia, Georgia and lost to Portugal, although a losing bonus point in that game was enough to get them through.

Storylines

England came into the tournament with woeful form, including a first-ever loss to Fiji at Twickenham. Sam Underhill has been called into the squad to replace injured Jack Willis. Centre Manu Tuilagi and hooker Jamie George picked up knocks in the victory over Samoa but both are expected to be fit.

Fiji were really poor before falling to to Portugal and coach Simon Rawalui will need to work on their composure this week.

What they’re saying

England coach Steve Borthwick: “There have been many times these players have been written off quite badly, there were many Ultimately there were many people that wrote that this team would not get out of the group stages and the team has progressed.”

Teams: TBC

Prediction: England by 10 points

QF 4: France vs South Africa, Monday 6am, St-Denis

How they got there: France topped their pool with a perfect record after overcoming the All Blacks impressively on opening night. They have done well to overcome the loss of Antoine Dupont, who is in contention for a return. South Africa lost a tight match to Ireland when their goal-kicking went awry and qualify as second in pool B.

Storylines

The recovery of Dupont from a facial injury suffered against Namibia is dominating French news, but Damain Penaud also limped off against Italy. South Africa have had a week off to prepare, and face a huge selection call.

What they’re saying

France assistant Karim Ghezal on the chances of Dupont playing: “His physical qualities are impressive. He’s worked hard physically, done a lot of running, a lot of speed work. Those are his strong points. The next step, is the appointment with his surgeon, who will decide. Physically, he hasn’t lost much in the week he’s been off, quite the opposite in fact. Physically, he’s in great shape.”

South Africa prop Vincent Koch: “We zoomed into our game this past week and the coaches came up with plans on where we can improve so that we are at the level we need to be for the quarterfinal and to be in a position to play our best rugby, and the players bought into it, so it was a good training week.”

Teams: TBC

Prediction: France by 3 points.