The 2007 Rugby World Cup runs towards the quarters-final

After the 31-5 win over Portugal on Wednesday, Italy are now clear second favourites in their race to finish as Pool C runners-up behind the All Blacks.
However, the Azzurri, who were crushed by New Zealand in their opening match and then defeated Romania and Portugal, are third in the group - two points behind Scotland and must win on Saturday if they want to achieve their first place in the knockout stages of a World Cup.

Meanwhile, Romania won 14-10 over Portugal and Australia have already booked a World Cup quarter-final clash after cruising to a bonus-point victory over Fiji yesterday.
Matt Giteau was the star of the show and celebrated his 50th Test cap by scoring two of Australia's seven tries in a personal haul of 27 points.

Then, last Friday France avoided a traumatic early World Cup exit and are now ambitious again despite the remaining threat of a quarter-final clash with New Zealand. A win with a bonus point over Georgia in their last Pool D match on September 30 would send France through to the last eight but to top their group they need Ireland to beat Argentina by more than seven points and with at least four tries, assuming Argentina's bonus-point win over Namibia last night. Otherwise they would finish second and face a probable encounter with the All Blacks in Cardiff for a place in the semi-finals. Finally, England will be just one victory away from a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals when they meet Tonga in Paris on September 28 after having beat Samoa by four tries to one in Nantes last saturday.