Select Edition

Select Edition

Northern
Southern
Global
NZ
France
IrelandJapanNew ZealandScotland

Ireland, Scotland or Japan: Who will play the All Blacks in World Cup quarter-final?

By Online Editors
TJ Perenara leads an All Blacks haka. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

NZ Herald

The All Blacks will be eagerly awaiting the announcement on whether tournament organisers will call off tonight's Japan v Scotland game.

The All Blacks will face the runners up of Pool A, having qualified top of their Pool B.

If the Japan v Scotland match does go ahead, then the nature of the result of tonight's clash will determine the All Blacks' opponent, with the potential for Ireland, Japan and Scotland all to be tied on equal points. (Ireland clinched a quarter-final spot and currently sit top of Pool A after beating Samoa.)

Here are the scenarios and what it means for the All Blacks:

Game is cancelled – All Blacks play Ireland

Tournament organisers will decide today if the Japan v Scotland match in Yokohama will go ahead after inspecting the damage from Typhoon Hagibis and checking the safety and transport situation.

If the game is called off, the match will be deemed a 0-0 draw and each team will be awarded two points.

Continue reading below...

That would leave both Ireland and Japan tied on 16 points in Pool A, and knockout the Scots.

Japan will top the group and face the Springboks (Pool B runners up) because of the head-to-head tiebreaker, having beaten Ireland earlier in their pool matchup.

Ireland will be left with a tantalising quarter-final against the reigning world champions.

Japan win – All Blacks play Ireland

If Japan win, they will win the pool outright and will book a spot against Pool B runners up South Africa. Ireland, as Pool A runners up, will face the All Blacks.

Scotland win, Japan get no bonus points – All Blacks play Scotland

If Scotland win and stop Japan from getting any bonus points in the match, Scotland will go through as Pool A runners up regardless of the margin of victory – again because of the head-to-head tiebreaker of beating Japan.

Scotland win without bonus point, Japan get bonus point – All Blacks play Japan

If Japan manage to get one losing bonus point – either by losing by seven points or fewer, or scoring four tries – and Scotland don't get one, then Japan will finish runners up behind Ireland and will face the All Blacks in the quarters.

Scotland win without bonus point, Japan get two bonus points – All Blacks play Ireland

In the unlikely event that Scotland win without a bonus point and Japan get two losing bonus points (lose by seven points or fewer as well as score four tries), then the hosts will be tied on points with Ireland in the pool, and win the group by head-to-head tiebreaker.

Scotland win with bonus point, Japan get bonus point – All Blacks play Scotland

This scenario would mean Scotland will pip Japan for second spot, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker.



"https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12275987">This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.

Watch - Oita at Night:

Trending on RugbyPass

1

South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

2

All Blacks assistant labels Italy game 'messy'

3

Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' weaknesses

4

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy

5

Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby

More News

Latest Comments

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series
T
TI 13 minutes ago

BB can’t pass? Right…

Go to comments
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability
J
JW 13 minutes ago

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


They boy's trucked it up a bit against Italy in the redzone, and against France, wasn't that effective without the right players probably.


Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


This years team wasn't burdened overly with injuries but they were in every position Razor might have wanted to try and development, severely limiting options. I'm not defending Razor as there was also plenty of other opportunity to make up for it and he was a little gunshy, but I'm also not going to overly criticise him because he chose cohesion over a black slate.

How long are we going to keep blaming All Black failings on Ian Foster.

I think more and more people are on board with it being time to try alternatives, but then again, how would they have reacted to a loss against Italy? 😉

Go to comments