[ad_1]
- The Springboks will open their RWC 2023 account against Scotland in Marseille on September 10, 2023.
- The Boks will then face a qualifying team from Europe in Bordeaux on September 17, 2023, before facing Ireland in Saint Denis six days later (October 23, 2023).
- South Africa will conclude its Group B schedule against an Asia Pacific 1 qualifier in Marseille on October 1, 2023.
The dates and venues for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France were revealed by World Rugby on Friday.
The world champions Springboks will open their title defense against Scotland at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday 10 September 2023.
The Boks were previously drawn into Group B for the world event, with South Africa’s second game scheduled for Sunday, September 17 at the Stade de Bordeaux against a yet to be determined opponent from the Europe 2 qualifying region.
Six days later, on September 23, the Springboks and Ireland will meet for the first time in a World Cup when they meet at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, the scene of the memorable triumph of the South Africans. over England in the 2007 final.
The Boks then return to Marseille for their final group match against an Asia-Pacific 1 qualifier at the Stade Velodrome on October 1.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber welcomed the confirmation of the dates and venues of the RWC 2023 matches and said he will now give them more direction in their advance planning for France.
“Friday’s announcement is a very important milestone in our planning phase for the Rugby World Cup 2023,” Nienaber said in a press release.
“With the dates and venues of the matches now confirmed, the technical and management staff have a very clear idea of the preparations and the overall logistics of the team. For example, the schedule gives clarity on the number of response days between matches. , which in turn will influence our player wellness strategy for the team.
“And because the playing venues have been allocated, it means we can start with more intense planning around our logistics operations for things like team base camps.”
In Scotland and Ireland, the Springboks face two of the most formidable teams in world rugby in the span of 13 days in the group stage, yet Nienaber warned that every match would be vital in the preliminary stage.
“As I said at the time of the draw, being in the same group as Ireland and Scotland will be a huge challenge, but to win the tournament you have to be able to beat all the teams and we will be tested properly in the pool phases.” added the Springbok coach.
“The margin of error at any stage of the RWC is very small, so we will plan for each scenario, including a very difficult last group match against an Asia-Pacific qualifier that could be Samoa or Tonga.”
The 2023 World Cup begins on Friday, September 8, and the final is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, 2023 in the French capital of Paris.
Rugby World Cup 2023 match schedule to be played in France and released on Friday:
Group A
New Zealand, France, Italy, America Zone Qualifier 1, Africa Zone Qualifier 1:
September 8: Stade de France – France v New Zealand
September 9: Saint-Etienne – Italy – Africa 1
September 14: Lille – France v America 1
September 15: Toulouse – New Zealand v Africa 1
September 20: Nice – Italy v America 1
September 21: Marseille – France – Africa 1
September 27: Lyon – America 1 – Africa 1
September 29: Lyon – New Zealand v Italy
October 5: Lyon – New Zealand v America 1
October 6: Lyon – France – Italy
B Group
South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia / Pacific 1 qualifying zone, Europe 2 qualifying zone
September 9: Bordeaux – Ireland v Europe 2
September 10: Marseille – South Africa – Scotland
September 16: Nantes – Ireland v Asia / Pacific 1
September 17: Bordeaux – South Africa v Europe 2
September 23: Stade de France – South Africa – Ireland
September 24: Nice – Scotland v Asia / Pacific 1
September 30: Lille – Scotland v Europe 2
Oct 1: Marseille – South Africa v Asia / Pacific 1
October 7: Stade de France – Ireland – Scotland
Oct 8: Lille – Asia / Pacific 1 v Europe 2
Group C
Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1 qualifying zone, final qualifying round winner
September 9: Saint-Denis – Australia – Europe 1
September 10: Bordeaux – Wales – Fiji
September 16: Nice v Wales v Winner’s Final Qualifying Round
September 17: Saint-Etienne – Australia v Fiji
September 23: Toulouse v Europe 1 v Winner final qualifying round
September 24: Lyon v Wales v Australia
September 30: Bordeaux – Fiji v Europe 1
October 1: Saint-Etienne v Australia – Final qualifying round winner
October 7: Nantes – Wales v Europe 1
Oct 8: Toulouse v Fiji v Winner final qualifying round
Group D
England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania Zone 1 Qualifier, America Zone 2 Qualifier
September 9: Marseille – England v Argentina
September 10: Toulouse – Japan v America 2
September 16: Bordeaux – Oceania 1 – America 2
September 17: Nice – England vs Japan
September 22: Saint-Etienne – Argentina v Oceania 1
September 23: Lille – England v America 2
September 28: Toulouse – Japan – Oceania 1
September 30: Nantes – Argentina v America 2
Oct 07: Lille – England v Oceania 1
October 8: Nantes – Japan v Argentina
Quarter finals
October 14: Marseille – Group C Winner – Group D Runner-up
October 14: Stade de France – Group B Winner – Group A Runner-up
October 15: Marseille – Group D runners-up – Group C
October 15: Stade de France – Group A Winner – Group B Runner-up
Semifinals
October 20: Stade de France – Winner QF 1 – Winner QF 2
October 21: Stade de France – Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4
3rd place play-off
October 27: Stade de France
Final
October 28: Stade de France
