The last round of pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in France continues this evening with a game that will hold a lot of significance.

The hosts, France, will take on the Azzurri of Italy in Lyon, and this could turn out to be very interesting indeed.

The pressure in Pool A has been on the All Blacks throughout the World Cup after losing to the French in the opening game. Last night’s 73-0 win by the All Blacks has shifted all of that pressure squarely onto the shoulders of the Les Blues.

Italy vs. Namibia - Getty

Should Italy pull off an unlikely, but not impossible victory tonight, they can eliminate the French and potentially face the Springboks in the quarter-finals.

This game in Lyon kicks off at 21:00 tonight.

Meanwhile, tomorrow night at Stade de France it’s the big one in the Pool games with the world number one, Ireland facing Scotland.

There are so many permutations and this one game will determine the fate of Ireland, Scotland and the Springboks.

The Ireland coach, Andy Farrell, said with all the scenarios that can play out, for them it’s as simple as they have to win.

“We want to win. It’s a massive game, so important to us and obviously to the travelling fans and the people back home,” said Farrell.

“Fortunately we have Iain Henderson who is good at maths so we're across everything as far as that's concerned.

“But the easiest thing is to make sure we perform well and deserve to win the game outright.”

Gregor Townsend - RWC

The Scots themselves stand a very realistic chance of going to the quarter-finals. For them the simplest route to the knockout stage is to beat the Irish by eight points or more.

In doing so they will need to ensure that Ireland don’t get a bonus point from the game.

For the Springboks to be eliminated, the Scots will have to get a bonus point and beat the Irish by at least 21 points, which also seems unlikely, yet stranger things have happened at World Cups.

The Scottish coach, Gregor Townsend, said despite them going into the match as the underdogs, they’ve managed to upset the applecart before and they can do it again.

“Well, why not? The players have performed in massive games before,” said the former Scottish international fllyhalf.

“We were underdogs but we have broken records before, whether it was not winning in Paris, not winning at Twickenham, we hadn't beaten England for seven or so years.

“This is another opportunity to break another record. We believe in them, we believe in where they are mentally as a group and where they are physically. They are ready to play their best rugby.”

This big game in Paris kicks off on Saturday night at 21:00.

In some other games that will be interesting, Japan will be up against Argentina, and should Fiji claim a win against Portugal on Sunday night, the Wallabies will be knocked out of the World Cup.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport