What to look out for this weekend at Rugby World Cup

The second round of World Cup matches begins on Thursday with hosts France facing Uruguay in Lille

The first week of the Rugby World Cup delivered plenty of skill, drama and talking points.

New Zealand ran in 11 tries in an emphatic win over Namibia on Friday.

This weekend, England, Ireland and Wales will bid to move a step closer to the quarter-finals after winning their first pool games, but Scotland have the week off.

Rugby World Cup fixtures, pools & BBC coverage

Saturday

Fixture: Ireland v Tonga (Pool B, Nantes, 20:00 BST, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra & BBC Sport website and app)

Background: World number one side Ireland cruised to a thumping 82-8 win over Romania to begin their tournament.

Ireland will be expected to extend their winning run to 15 matches against the Pacific Islanders but Tonga, who are yet to play a pool game in France, will pose a greater threat than Romania.

A change in rugby's international eligibility rules in 2021 means Tonga are able to call on a star-studded line-up as they pursue a first World Cup quarter-final.

Tonga's class of 2023 includes former All Blacks George Moala, Vaea Fifita, Malakai Fekitoa, Charles Piutau and Augustine Pulu, while ex-Wallabies lock Adam Coleman is also in the 33-man squad.

Sexton named in strong Ireland sideFormer All Blacks ready to cause upset for Tonga against Ireland

What to look out for: Tonga will perform their traditional Sipi Tau before the game in Nantes.

Sunday

Fixture: South Africa v Romania (Pool B, Bordeaux, 14:00 BST, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra & BBC Sport website and app)

Background: Defending champions South Africa saw off a spirited Scotland side with an 18-3 win in their opening game in the 'Pool of Death'.

The Springboks are among the favourites to win the tournament and become the most successful nation in World Cup history with four titles.

Romania have appeared at every World Cup but are not expected to add to their six previous tournament wins against the Boks.

Their finest moment at this event remains the biggest comeback in World Cup history as they overturned a 15-point deficit to beat Canada 17-15 in England eight years ago.

What to look out for: South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has selected four scrum-halves. Cobus Reinach starts at nine, with Jaden Hendrikse providing cover off the replacements' bench; Grant Williams shows his versatility by starting on the right wing, and Faf de Klerk will provide fly-half cover from the bench.

Fixture: Australia v Fiji (Pool C, Saint-Etienne, 16:45 BST, BBC Sport website and app)

Background: Fiji came so close to beating Wales on Sunday, but an unmarked Semi Radradra knocked the ball on with the tryline at his mercy in the final minute.

The Pacific Islanders are favoured by many to reach the quarter-finals, but need to beat Australia to have any realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Australia picked up the first win of head coach Eddie Jones' second spell in charge with a 35-15 win over Georgia in their opening game.

Victory for the Wallabies will almost certainly seal a place in the last eight.

What to look out for: Aussie wing Mark Nawaqanitawase is the man to watch. The youngster opened his try-scoring account in the win over Georgia and is set to threaten Fiji with his balanced running and potent finishing.

Fixture: England v Japan (Pool D, Nice, 20:00 BST, BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sport website and app)

Background: England lifted the gloom surrounding the team with a professional performance in their opening round 27-10 win over Argentina.

George Ford kicked all 27 points as the 14 men of England came from behind to beat the Pumas and put one foot in the quarter-finals.

Japan impressed on home soil as they reached a first quarter-final in 2019, four years after springing one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as they beat South Africa in 2015.

The Brave Blossoms beat debutants Chile in their opening game but England will be expected to claim victory in Nice.

What to look out for: If England are to advance deeper into the World Cup they must show they have the capacity to score tries. With Owen Farrell serving the final game of his suspension, this is Ford's chance to take centre stage once again.

England v Japan match preview, team news & statsListen: Rugby Union Daily podcast: The hero of MarseilleEngland definitely going to score tries - DalyCurry banned for England's next two World Cup games

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