2023 Rugby World Cup knockout stage


The knockout stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the pool stage. Played from 14 to 28 October, the knockout stage ended with the final, held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There was 8 matches in the knockout stage, including a third-place play-off played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.

Format

The knockout stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was contested by the eight teams that qualified from the pool stage, the top two teams from each of the four pools. Matches in the knockout stage were played to a result; if the scores were tied at the end of 80 minutes, a 10-minute period of extra time was played; if scores remained level after extra time, an additional 10-minute "sudden death" period would be played, and the first team to score any points wins. If the score still remains tied, a kicking competition will ensue. All times listed are local in Central European Summer Time.

Qualified teams


Wales were the first side to secure qualification to the knockout stage after their record breaking victory over Australia in the pool stage. England became the next side to qualify for the quarter-finals four days later after Japan's victory over Samoa in Pool D. This result also meant England were the first team to be guaranteed top seed. New Zealand secured their place in the knockout stage after their pool match win over Uruguay. Hosts France also confirmed their place the following day after their victory over Italy. Ireland and South Africa both qualified from Pool B simultaneously following Ireland's victory over Scotland. Argentina edged Japan to progression from Pool D following their victory over the Brave Blossoms in their final match. In the last match of the pool stage, Fiji were narrowly defeated by Portugal in Pool C but still qualified for the knockout stage ahead of Australia based on their head-to-head record against the Wallabies who suffered elimination from the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time.
PoolWinnersRunners-up
A
B
C
D

Bracket


Quarter-finals

Wales vs Argentina


Notes:

Ireland vs New Zealand



England vs Fiji



France vs South Africa



Semi-finals

Argentina vs New Zealand


Notes:
  • With this victory, New Zealand advanced to a fifth World Cup final – a new record for final appearances at the tournament.
  • Facundo Isa earned his 50th test cap.
  • Will Jordan equalled the World Cup record of 8 tries scored at a single tournament.
  • After receiving a yellow card in the 66th minute, Scott Barrett did not return to the field, despite the sin bin period elapsing with 4 minutes still remaining on the clock. This meant that New Zealand finished the match with 14 players.

England vs South Africa


Notes:

Bronze final: Argentina vs England


Notes:
  • England finished as bronze medallists for the first time in World Cup history.
  • Tom Curry earned his 50th test cap.

  • The crowd of 77,674 was the biggest ever crowd for a Rugby World Cup third-place play-off/bronze final, surpassing the previous record of 62,712 set at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Final: New Zealand vs South Africa


Notes:
  • South Africa became the first team to win a fourth World Cup title.
  • South Africa became the first team to win successive World Cup titles away from home.
  • South Africa became the second team to retain the World Cup.
  • This was the third time that the World Cup final winner earned their victory without scoring a try – a feat previously achieved by South Africa in 1995 and 2007.
  • Sam Cane became the first player to receive a red card in a World Cup final.
  • The four cards issued in the match set a new record for most cards issued in a World Cup final. There had been just one card issued across the previous nine finals – a yellow card against New Zealand's Ben Smith in 2015.
  • This was the first World Cup final in which both finalists had lost a match during the pool stages.
  • This was the first World Cup final in which all four match officials were appointed from the same union.
  • Brothers Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Scott Barrett all started for New Zealand – the first time that three siblings played in a World Cup final.