It’s the sporting spectacle that seizes New Zealand’s imagination every four years. The All Blacks arrive at this year’s Rugby World Cup having rediscovered rich form. But the field has never been more even, with France and Ireland among the favourites to win and the Pacific Island nations boosted in their playing ranks. 

Across September and October, 20 of the world’s top rugby nations will head to France in the hopes of leaving the European nation with the title of world champions. 

Only four countries have ever had that honour, with New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa the only teams to have earned the right to host the Webb Ellis Cup aloft. 

Interestingly enough, with the draw being made so far in advance of the tournament, it has turned out that the teams currently ranked among the top five in the world all fall on the same side of the draw from the quarterfinals, while Ireland (1), South Africa (3) and Scotland (5) are all in the same pool. 

Elsewhere, some nations have received a boost in their talent pools for the tournament thanks to a change in World Rugby eligibility rules, which saw a shorter stand-down period implemented for athletes who have already represented another country at test level; former All Blacks lock Vaea Fifita will take the field for Tonga and ex-Wallabies first five-eighths Christian Leali’ifano is representing Samoa. 

The tone will be set from the opening match of the tournament when the All Blacks take on the hosts at Stade de France – the two favourites with the bookmakers getting an early opportunity to make their mark on the event. That will be the first of the 48 matches played across a 51-day period, with the final at the same venue on October 28 local time. 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9 

All Blacks 13 France 27 

Italy 52 Namibia 8 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10 

Ireland 82 Romania 8 

Australia 35 Georgia 15 

England 27 Argentina 10 

Japan 42 Chile 12 

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11 

South Africa 18 Scotland 3 

Wales 32 Fiji 26 

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15 

France 27 Uruguay 12 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16 

All Blacks 71 Namibia 3 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17 

Samoa 43 Chile 10 

Wales 28 Portugal 8 

Ireland 59 Tonga 16 

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18 

South Africa 70 Romania 0 

Australia 15 Fiji 22 

England 34 Japan 12 

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21 

Italy 38 Uruguay 17 

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22 

France 96 Namibia 0 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23 

Argentina 19 Samoa 10 

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24 

Midnight Georgia v Portugal, Toulouse 

4.45am England v Chile, Lille 

8am South Africa v Ireland, Saint-Denis 

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25 

4.45am Scotland v Tonga. Nice 

8am Wales v Australia, Lyon 

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28 

4.45am Uruguay v Namibia, Lyon 

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29 

8am Japan v Samoa, Toulouse 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30 

8am All Blacks v Italy, Lyon 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 

2am Argentina v Chile, Nantes 

4.45am Fiji v Georgia, Bordeaux 

8am Scotland v Romania, Lille 

MONDAY OCTOBER 2 

4.45am Australia v Portugal, Saint-Étienne 

8am South Africa v Tonga, Marseille 

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 

8am All Blacks v Uruguay, Lyon 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 7 

8am France v Italy, Lyon 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 8 

2am Wales v Georgia, Nantes 

4.45am England v Samoa, Lille 

8am Ireland v Scotland, Saint-Denis 

MONDAY OCTOBER 9 

Midnight Japan v Argentina, Nantes 

4.45am Tonga v Romania, Lille 

8am Fiji v Portugal, Toulouse 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 14 

4am Winner Pool C v RU Pool D, Marseille 

8am Winner Pool B v RU Pool A, Saint-Denis 

MONDAY OCTOBER 15 

4am Winner Pool D v RU Pool C, Marseille 

8am Winner Pool A v RU Pool B, Saint-Denis 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 21 

8am Semifinal 1 - Winner QF 1 v QF 2, Saint-Denis 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 22 

8am Semifinal 2 - Winner QF 3 v QF 4, Saint-Denis 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 28 

8am Bronze final, Saint-Denis 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29 

8am Final, Saint-Denis