Rugby World Cup Schedule 2015: Updated Fixtures After New Zealand vs. Namibia

There were few surprises to be seen in Thursday's sole Rugby World Cup 2015 encounter as world No. 1 New Zealand romped past Namibia 58-14, but a host of more testing fixtures lie just around the corner.

The All Blacks did well to surpass Argentina in their first outing of the tournament but must still take on Georgia and Tonga before solidifying their place in the quarter-finals.

The rugby community will of course take interest in the reigning champions' journey, but a selection of fiercer ties takes place this weekend, particularly with England hoping to dismiss Wales at Twickenham, London, on Saturday.

Here's a look at the remaining fixtures to come in this year's rugby extravaganza, and we delve into some of this weekend's biggest headlines following New Zealand's comfortable victory over Namibia:

Date	Time (BST)	Home	Away	Venue
September 25	4:45 p.m.	Argentina	Georgia	Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
September 26	2:30 p.m.	Italy	Canada	Elland Road, Leeds
September 26	4:45 p.m.	South Africa	Samoa	Villa Park, Birmingham
September 26	8 p.m.	England	Wales	Twickenham, London
September 27	Noon	Australia	Uruguay	Villa Park, Birmingham
September 27	2:30 p.m.	Scotland	USA	Elland Road, Leeds
September 27	4:45 p.m.	Ireland	Romania	Wembley Stadium, London
September 29	4:45 p.m.	Tonga	Namibia	Sandy Park, Exeter
October 1	8 p.m.	France	Canada	Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
October 2	8 p.m.	New Zealand	Georgia	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
October 3	2:30 p.m.	Samoa	Japan	Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
October 3	4:45 p.m.	South Africa	Scotland	St James' Park, Newcastle
October 3	8 p.m.	England	Australia	Twickenham, London
October 4	2:30 p.m.	Argentina	Tonga	Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
October 4	4:45 p.m.	Ireland	Italy	Olympic Stadium, London
October 6	4:45 p.m.	Canada	Romania	Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
October 6	8 p.m.	Fiji	Uruguay	Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
October 7	4:45 p.m.	South Africa	USA	Olympic Stadium, London
October 7	8 p.m.	Namibia	Georgia	Sandy Park, Exeter
October 9	8 p.m.	New Zealand	Tonga	St James' Park, Newcastle
October 10	2:30 p.m.	Samoa	Scotland	St James' Park, Newcastle
October 10	4:45 p.m.	Australia	Wales	Twickenham, London
October 10	8 p.m.	England	Uruguay	Manchester City Stadium
October 11	Noon	Argentina	Namibia	Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
October 11	2:30 p.m.	Italy	Romania	Sandy Park, Exeter
October 11	4:45 p.m.	France	Ireland	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
October 11	8 p.m.	USA	Japan	Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
October 17	4 p.m.	B1	A2	Twickenham, London
October 17	8 p.m.	C1	D2	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
October 18	1 p.m.	D1	C2	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
October 18	4 p.m.	A1	B2	Twickenham, London
October 24	4 p.m.	Winner QF1	Winner QF2	Twickenham, London
October 25	4 p.m.	Winner QF3	Winner QF4	Twickenham, London
October 30	8 p.m.	Loser SF1	Loser SF2	Olympic Stadium, London
October 31	4 p.m.	Winner SF1	Winner SF2	Twickenham, London

Sam Burgess Watch Enters Overdrive

Sam Burgess' World Cup dream was realised last Friday when the league convert came on as a substitute during England's opening win over Fiji, but a start against Wales this Saturday is an entirely different point of intrigue.

Injury to standout centre Jonathan Joseph has seen Brad Barritt moved to 13 while Burgess slips into the XV, but ex-England international Will Carling told Breathe Sport he still can't understand the whole situation:

"

.@willcarling on Slammin' Sam Burgess... Is he ready to start against Wales on Saturday? #RWC2015 https://t.co/atGdu55Ag4

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) September 24, 2015"

England will have been pleased to hear Wales marvel Jonathan Davies would play no part in the World Cup, and Warren Gatland's side suffered another huge setback after a hamstring injury brought Cory Allen's competition to an end last weekend.

Burgess has done his part to stoke the fires of an already fierce rivalry, teasing the thought of not knowing who Scott Williams was after the Welshman insisted he'd prefer to face "Slammin' Sam" than Joseph, per the Irish Independent's Matt McGeehan:

"

Who's that?. Oh yes. Okay, yes. 

I don't believe what people say. I believe in Stuart. I believe what he's picked. It's their opinion. I believe in myself. I feel like I've got the respect of my team-mates and the staff here. That's the opinions that really count to me. I'll just wait and see on Saturday.

"

All the media talk is theatrical enough to add a bit of pre-match spice, but the pair will seek to let their play speak volumes regarding who should be more aware of whom at headquarters come Saturday.

As two terrifically physical, perhaps even defensive players, Burgess and Barritt make for a drastically different combination in Stuart Lancaster's midfield, with the only question now being as to whether they hold the keys to a much-needed win.

Springboks Pressure at All-Time High

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Rarely have South Africa felt a greater pressure placed upon them than the burden they face this weekend, hoping to put the demons of last Saturday's historic defeat to Japan behind them before taking on Samoa.

The reaction to that loss has been seismic in Springboks circles, with EatSleepRugby reporting that even immortal captain Jean de Villiers hasn't been safe from criticism:

"

A number of media outlets in South Africa are pushing for Jean de Villiers to be dropped from the Springboks side. pic.twitter.com/dlZFqhsviU

— EatSleepRugby (@eatsleeprugby) September 24, 2015"

Many thought South Africa would dust off the cobwebs of a winless Rugby Championship to nevertheless trump the Cherry Blossoms, but Samoa will have taken heart from that result, where the impossible suddenly became plausible.

With his side's toughest pool encounter out of the way, Japan coach Eddie Jones has been perfectly candid in claiming he hopes to see the Springboks and Samoa go hammer and tongs against one another at Villa Park, per ESPN: "Samoa in 10 days is key. If we knock them off we will have a fantastic chance. Hopefully South Africa versus Samoa is like a UFC fight, and they rough each other up. What comes around goes around."

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

A second successive defeat for South Africa would mean they risk missing out on the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since making their competition debut in 1995.

If the shock fall to Japan wasn't disastrous enough, that outcome would be considered an entirely different tragedy, with the Springboks facing a massive responsibility to ensure they save face against Samoa on Saturday.