Fixtures
France v Georgia
Marseilles, 2pm
ITV1 from 1.30pm

Ireland v Argentina
Paris, 4pm
ITV1 from 1.30pm

South Africa v United States
Montpellier, 7pm
ITV4 from 6.30pm

Talking point
Irish media once spared their rugby heroes the particular brand of tabloid scrutiny that their footballer counterparts suffered so intensely. Not any more. Gambling debts, a withering marriage and a collapse in confidence: Ronan O’Gara has been accused of each in a tumultuous preparation for a match in which Ireland must score four tries and win by seven points to qualify for the last eight. They need their fly half to put all the rumours to the back of a possibly troubled mind.

Clash of the day
Agustin Pichot (Argentina) v Eoin Eddan (Wasps)
Leaving aside the intriguing match-up between O’Gara and Juan Martin Hernandez, the scrum-half battle should prove the most compelling encounter. Pichot adds excellent kicking ability to a traditional complement of No 9 talents and is pivotal to Argentina's scrum-based approach. Called up suddenly in place of Peter Stringer, Reddan will test Pichot in defence but sorely lacks international experience. Will the Wasps man handle pressure he has never previously faced?

Editor's choice
Stuart Barnes identifies George Smith as Australia's dangerman and insists Lewis Moody plays for England in the quarter-final.

Quote of the day
"England have an outside chance of upsetting the odds against Australia if they can keep the tempo high, get their back-line firing and their support runners in place." - Jeremy Guscott