England enter this game as red hot favourites. Not only have they won every match against Australia of this World Cup cycle, but that includes three wins in Australia. England cruised through their pool and their only tier one test against Argentina turned into a hammering, seeing off the South Americans 39-10.

However, Australia have a lot of great personnel. On the rare occasions they do click they are a force to be reckoned with, as they showed when they put a record score over the All Blacks (47-26) in August. If anything is likely to lift their game, it’s a match up again their old rivals the English.

What’s more, England may be undercooked. Even as they eased past Argentina, the victory was caveated by a red card to an Argentinian forward. The big showdown against France never happened owing to a typhoon. The resulting extra rest might prove a blessing, or a curse.

Prediction: England by 12

New Zealand vs Ireland

Win record in past five games: New Zealand 3-2 Ireland

A few years ago, this would have been a mouth-watering prospect. Ireland had just come off their second ever win over the All Blacks, their first coming just two years before, and looked set for world domination. Since then, the Irish have not hit the same heights. They struggled in the Six Nations and lost to Japan in the pool stages.

They have a wealth of experience and if they hit the form they know they can, they may well win. But likewise, they could also lose by 20 points if they put in a performance similar to their Six Nations game against Wales (25-7) or against England in the warm-up game (57-15).

New Zealand on the other hand have been tearing through the pool stages. Questions about their fallibility in the build-up were answered when the beat the much-fancied South African team 23-13, and have since been effectively rotating their squad.

However, when they lost to France in the 2007 quarter-final, having swept past Scotland in the pool stages, they looked out of gear, as a result of not been tested properly. Perhaps the few weeks since their opening game against the South Africans is too long and Ireland can catch them cold?

Prediction: New Zealand by 18

Wales vs France

Win record in past five games: Wales 4-1 France

The past five results may well reflect well on the Welsh, but they have been close affairs. The biggest margin has been just nine points.

The Welsh showed great fortitude in the pool games, seeing off a spirited come back from Australia and coming from behind to beat a Fiji team packed with talent. If it is tight again, you’d fancy the grand slam champions to see it out.

But the French media at least seem happy to play the Welsh. The consensus is this French team have one big performance in them and they were lucky to have the England game cancelled, so they can save their one showing for the Welsh. The men in red will be hoping this is not the case.

Prediction: Wales by eight

Japan vs South Africa

Japan and South Africa have only played twice, and both have won once.

Japan sent shock waves through the rugby universe when they beat South Africa in the opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, 32-34. They have proved it was no fluke by beating recently number one ranked team in the world Ireland, and then Scotland in a high stakes pool deciding game.

South Africa have also been going from strength to strength. They are one of the favourites to win the tournament, even though they lost a pool game to New Zealand.

Japan play manic but incredibly disciplined and accurate rugby. They hold possession for huge sections of the game. Their scrum-half, Yutaka Nagare, who played 50 minutes against Scotland, did not kick the ball once.

The South African forwards are huge though, so Japan may struggle to dominate possession in the same way and generate the quick ball that unleashes their wingers. In September, Japan proved no match for the South African physicality and lost 41-7.

But if they can do it against the well-drilled physical Irish pack, there’s no reason they cannot replicate it once again. Every rugby fan in the world, except South Africans, will hope this is the case.

Prediction: South Africa by 15