INCLUDING SKY SPORTS LISTINGS Irish eyes
RUGBY
RUGBY WORLD CUP South Africa v Ireland
Scotland v Tonga
Wales v Australia
Sky Sport 1, 7.30am, Monday (live)
* All Rugby World Cup matches live on Sky Sport 1. WOMEN’S
New Zealand A v Samoa
RANFURLY SHIELD/NPC Wellington v North Harbour
NPC
Counties Manukau v Manawat
Taranaki v Auckland
Waikato v Otago
Southland v Bay Of Plenty
Auckland v Northland
Sky Open and Sky Sport 1, 7pm, Friday (live)
HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP South Canterbury v Mid Canterbury
Buller v West Coast
LEAGUE
NRL
Second preliminary final:
NETBALL
NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND First test: Sky Open and Sky Sport 1, 3.30pm, Sunday (live)
Second test: Sky Open and Sky Sport 1, 7pm, Wednesday (live)
CRICKET
WOMEN’S: SOUTH AFRICA v NEW ZEALAND
First ODI:
Second ODI:
MOTORSPORT F1: Japanese Grand Prix
All Blacks fans will be keeping a close eye on the Rugby World Cup pool B match between South Africa and Ireland on Sunday.
Unless there are upsets along the way, the winner of this match is likely to finish first in pool B and the loser will be runner-up. Consequently, this should determine which team the All Blacks will face in the quarterfinals.
France and New Zealand are poised to finish first and second respectively in Pool A and, in the quarterfinals, they will play either of the two teams finishing first and second in Pool B – most likely South Africa and Ireland. However, Scotland and Tonga in that same pool could cause a surprise or two.
Ireland are a talented team but they have a poor record at World Cups. They have never yet gone past the quarterfinals so perhaps this could be the year to turn that around.
2007: 2011: 2015: 2019:
Ireland’s best finishes
Quarterfinals (lost to Australia 33-15) Quarterfinals (lost to Australia 19-18) Quarterfinals (lost to France 36-12) Quarterfinals (lost to Argentina 28-24) Quarterfinals (lost to France 43-21) Did not advance from pool play Quarterfinals (lost to Wales 22-10) Quarterfinals (lost to Argentina 43-20) Quarterfinals (lost to New Zealand 46-14)