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Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan vs South Africa: Kick-off time, where to watch, team news and odds for quarter-final clash

The two teams meet in Tokyo at 11.15am on Sunday 20 October

Sunday 20 October 2019 11:15 BST

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Japan rescue crews search for typhoon survivors

Japan and South Africa meet in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday as the hosts look to create more history at the tournament.

Jamie Joseph’s men beat Scotland 28-21 in a thrilling encounter last weekend to secure their first-ever place in the last eight.

The fixture faced the threat of cancellation due to Typhoon Hagibis, which would have seen Japan qualify to the knockout stages regardless, but the green light was given on the morning of the match.

Whereas the hosts qualified top of Pool A, having won all four of their games, South Africa finished second in Pool B, one point behind rivals New Zealand.

Sunday’s quarter-final will be the first time the two sides have met at the World Cup since Japan’s famous win over the Springboks in 2015. They did, however, face off earlier this summer in a World Cup warm-up, with Rassie Erasmus’ men romping to a 41-7 victory.

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

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1/16Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

Rugby World Cup team of the pool stage

With the 40 pool matches of the Rugby World Cup in the bag, who makes our best team of the pool stage? Click through the gallery to see each player.

AFP via Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

1. Joe Marler (England)

Not so long ago the loosehead was in international retirement, yet now he finds himself as one of just five players to have started all three of England’s pool games. Marler stood up to take on responsibility in the absence of first-choice Mako Vunipola, and ensured that his absence did not become a weakness.

AFP via Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

2. Shota Horie (Japan)

Arguably the player of the pool stage. Horie’s familiar locks have made him famous for more than just his rugby skills, but it is what he is doing on the field that he deserves praise for. Standout performances against Ireland and Scotland tell you all you need to know about his form so far.

Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Furlong was outstanding against Samoa and has provided strong consistency across the pool stage to help Ireland get back on their feet. With most tighthead props being rotated game by game, it makes selection rather tricky to look for standout moments, but Furlong’s two crunching runs in his most recent outing see him stand out from the rest.

EPA

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

4. Luke Thompson (Japan)

The 38-year-old is defying Father Time at this year’s World Cup and has been one of their standout players so far. His defensive effort has been supreme with the numbers to back it up, while he is also a key reason why Japan now have a strong set-piece.

AFP/Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

5. Lood de Jager (South Africa)

Has stood out from the shadow of Eben Etzebeth to be South Africa’s leading second row so far this tournament. Finally looks to be delivering on the potential that he’s been earmarked as having for some time, and is learning how to make the most of his towering frame.

PA

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

6. Michael Leitch (Japan)

Captain fantastic and a hero to the Japanese people, who bello “LEITCH!” every time he gets the ball. Carries ferociously like it’s his last chance to touch the ball, and has led Japan’s defensive effort with honour.

AFP via Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

7. Justin Tipuric (Wales)

The flanker was brilliant against Australia to help them to victory and was trusted to lead the team against Uruguay in order to provide his nous and intelligence to help see Wales to top spot.

AFP/Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

8. Kazuki Himeno (Japan)

Is emerging into one of the most impactful forwards at the World Cup with a lovely blend of raw power and gifted handling making him a handful for opponents to stop, as both Samoa and Scotland discovered.

Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

9. Yutaka Nagare (Japan)

A lot of what Japan have achieved at this World Cup is down to the speed in delivering the ball that Nagare is able to provide. Slow him down and teams will work out how to beat Japan, but so far no one has managed to do that and Nagare has punished them for it.

AP

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

10. George Ford (England)

A bright light in what has not been a shimmering campaign so far for England, but the way he has surged back into the mix after losing his place to Owen Farrell last year has been impressive. Captain on occasion, leading fly-half on the rest, Ford has even crossed the whitewash twice to get his account off to a strong start.

AP

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

11. Semi Radradra (Fiji)

The man pushing Leitch as the player of the tournament. Radradra was unstoppable against Wales and battered the Wallabies defence with his power running on the opening weekend. The biggest shame is that he is going home from the tournament already, but his impact has been felt by many a defender already in Japan,

REUTERS

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

12. Ryoto Nakamura (Japan)

The centre has made a name for himself at the World Cup, with his ability to blast through tackles standing out as a key reason why Japan are able to get over the gain line so often.

Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

13. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)

There are not as many New Zealanders on this list as you’d usually expect, but then the All Blacks have been going through the motion since the victory over South Africa three weeks ago. Not Lienert-Brown though, as he has stood out as one of the best performers of the tournament so far.

Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

14. Kotaro Matsushima (Japan)

Five-try Kotro leads the way at the Rugby World Cup, with only Wales’s Josh Adams able to match his haul at the tournament so far. Matsushima brings a huge work rate to the back-field and has an incredible ability to bounce off much bigger tacklers than he is, which says a lot about his skills and strength in the tackle.

Getty Images

Team of the pool stage: Rugby World Cup 2019

15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

Barrett may not have played for a few weeks after being rested against Nambia and having the final game with Canada cancelled, but the brilliant display against the Springboks at the strat of the tournament should be forgotten.

AFP/Getty Images

When is it?

Japan vs South Africa kicks off at 11.15am BST (Japan Standard Time) on Sunday 20 October.

Where can I watch it?

ITV1 will be broadcasting the match, with coverage starting at 10.45am. Alternatively, you can stream it via the ITV Hub on your laptop, smartphone or laptop.

Teams

Japan: Yamanaka; Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Fukuoka; Tamura, Nagare; Inagaki, Horie, Koo, Thompson, Moore, Leitch (c), Labuschagne, Himeno.

Replacements: Sakate, Nakajima, Ai Valu, Van der Walt, Lelei Mafi, Tanaka, Matsuda, Lava Lemeki.

South Africa: Le Roux: Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk, Mtawarira, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (c), Du Toit, Vermeulen

Replacements: Marx, Kitschoff, Koch, Snyman, Mostert, Louw, H Jantjies, Steyn

Japan will be looking to create more history when they take on the Springboks (Getty Images)

Odds

Japan to win: 9/2

Draw: 40/1

South Africa to win: 1/6

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