Rugby World Cup: What Scotland need to qualify, Ireland v South Africa preferred outcome and when next matches are

It may feel like an eternity since Scotland’s opening Rugby World Cup match against South Africa, but the good news is that Gregor Townsend’s men are back in action this weekend when they take on Tonga.

Finn Russell, left, and Jack Dempsey are likely to be back in action when Scotland take on Tonga on Sunday.

Come kick-off on Sunday, it will be a full two weeks since Scotland’s 18-3 defeat by the Springboks in their first Pool B match. So much rugby has been played since then that Scotland are the only team in the tournament not to have scored a try. Townsend and Co will be expecting that to change at the Allianz Arena in Nice, the venue for the match against the Pacific Islanders.

The situation is simple for Scotland: only a win will do. Ireland top the pool with ten points following their first two matches, while South Africa – the defending champions – are a further point behind. Both have played two matches and meet in what promises to be a firecracker of a match this Saturday at the Stade de France (kick-off 8pm). That match takes place the day before Scotland v Tonga (Sunday, 4.45pm) and the winner of that match will have all but secured their place in the top two of the pool and a berth in the quarter-finals.

From a Scottish perspective, there probably isn’t a favourable outcome when those two teams meet. All scenarios have their pros and cons. What is all but certain is that Scotland will need to win all of their remaining matches – Tonga, then Romania on September 30, and then Ireland on October 7 – if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

Scotland are due to name their team to face Tonga on Friday. Townsend has already intimated that it will be a strong line-up, with a bonus-point victory in their sights. It is more likely that a weaker team will be played against Romania, the whipping boys of the group, in Lille to keep the first XV fresh for the final group-stage match against Ireland. While Tonga showed flashes of danger against the Irish, Andy Farrell’s men ended up convincing 59-16 winners – and Scotland will be targeting an emphatic win as well.

Scotland are next due to hold a media conference on Thursday, starting off a hectic two-and-a-half week period that will define their 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup Pool B table

1 Ireland – 10pts, +117, played 2

2 South Africa – 9pts, +91, played 2

3 Scotland – 0pts, -15, played 1

4 Tonga – 0pts, -43, played 1

5 Romania – 0pts, -150, played 2