Rugby World Cup 2023: England, Wales and Ireland to play in the quarter-finals

Ireland, England and Wales all have their eyes on the prize

The world's top men's rugby teams have been battling it out at the Rugby World Cup in France for the past month.

The pool phase ended last weekend, and now the remaining eight teams will begin the knockout stages in the quarter-finals, beginning this weekend.

They're all vying for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup - with 2019 champions South Africa also hoping they can defend their title.

Wales, Ireland and England are all through to the quarter-finals of the tournament after impressive performances during the pool stages.

So who is playing who, how are the home nations looking and who are you cheering on? Read on to find out more, join in our vote and have your say in the the comments.

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Wales

Wales will have to do without the injured Taulupe Faletau

Wales won all four of their group games, finishing top, and will hope to reach their third semi-final in the last four World Cup tournaments.

They'll face Argentina on Saturday afternoon for the first game of the knockout stages.

"We had a goal of making the quarter-finals which we have achieved. Now it's about building on that momentum," said coach Warren Gatland.

In team news, George North will become the first Welshman to appear in a fourth World Cup quarter-final and Liam Williams and fly-half Dan Biggar have been passed fit for the match in Marseilles.

However Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe, who produced a 23-point player-of-the-match performance against Australia, miss out as they are injured.

Ireland

Ireland beat Scotland during their final game of the pool stages

Ireland finished top of their pool and, like Wales, also won all their games.

They have the tough task of facing three-time World Cup winners New Zealand on Saturday night.

"There is massive belief in terms of the ability we have in the squad, and what we can do" said Conor Murray, who has played at four World Cups.

"The threat and the aura around the All Blacks is definitely still there. That's the challenge."

England

England also finished top of their pool, winning all of their games and they play Fiji on Sunday.

England suffered their first ever defeat against the Pacific Island nation in their final World Cup warm-up match.

But hooker Jamie George says England are "a much better team" than the one that lost to Fiji in August.

"It's an opportunity to put a few things right from that game, which was shocking," he said.

South Africa lifted the trophy in 2019

The final two teams in the knockout stages are France and the defending champions South Africa.

They'll be battling it out against each other on Sunday evening.

Four places in the semi-finals are up for grabs.