Rugby World Cup Fixtures 2015: Key Battles in Week 3 Matches

Week 3 of the Rugby World Cup 2015 will provide the most intriguing and important battles of the pool stages. What is also certain is that they will be the most thunderous. In particular, whet your appetite for Nemani Nadolo versus George North and Mamuka Gorgodze's clash with Jacques Burger.

If that were not enough, Italy versus Ireland will (injury permitting) exhibit the two best No. 8s in the northern hemisphere this decade: Sergio Parisse and Jamie Heaslip.

The back row also provides one of the most important battles of the mammoth England versus Australia match: Chris Robshaw against Michael Hooper and David Pocock.

Lastly, Scotland will aim to beat South Africa and top Pool B. Their key man, Jonny Gray, has the unenviable task of trying to get the better of the Springboks’ Eben Etzebeth.

These battles are not for the faint-hearted.

George North vs. Nemani Nadolo

The modern game is used to giants on the wing, but has there ever been a more gargantuan face-off than the one in prospect at the Millennium Stadium, Wales, when George North will go head-to-head with Nemani Nadolo?

The 240-pound, 6'4" North has 25 tries in 55 test matches. Meanwhile, the 275-pound Nadolo, also 6'4", has 16 in 22.

Along with smashing into each other, they will look to test each other out in the air. Fiji might be particularly partial to this tactic given Nadolo’s excellent claim over Anthony Watson in their match against England (see video above).

Brace yourselves: This one is going to be seismic.

Mamuka Gorgodze vs. Jacques Burger

If North vs. Nadolo is the battle in the backs, in the pack, it has to be Gorgodze vs. Burger.

Although they play in different positions (Burger on the flank, Gorgodze at No. 8), with Gorgodze being Georgia’s premier ball-carrier and Burger as Namibia’s defensive linchpin, the two are going to constantly collide.

Burger was named in the top five players at the 2011 World Cup, and Gorgodze will be aiming to make a similar impact for an underdog nation at this World Cup.

Chris Robshaw vs. Michael Hooper and David Pocock

Matt Dunham/Associated Press/Associated Press

Hooper (left) and Pocock (right) give Australia a potent duo at the breakdown.

England vs. Australia: Australia have the better backs whereas England traditionally dominate the Wallabies in the tight five. This makes the battle of the back rows all the more important, and in particular, the battles of the open sides.

In that contest, England captain Chris Robshaw will have his work cut out containing opposite number Michael Hooper and Hooper’s team-mate David Pocock. Robshaw’s task is especially mammoth given that neither of his fellow back rowers—Tom Wood, Ben Morgan or Billy Vunipola—offer much at the ruck.

With Robshaw also an important ball-carrier at close quarters and a leading tackler, not to mention a lineout option, are England asking too much of their skipper?

Eben Etzebeth vs. Jonny Gray

Scotland, confident and composed, take on unpredictable but fired-up South Africa on Saturday in a match that has become the key battleground for topping Pool B. In terms of matchups, given both sides’ physicality and South Africa’s greater talent in the backs, Scotland will have to edge the battle upfront.

Gray and Etzebeth are key to their sides’ hopes, each combining athleticism with aggression at close quarters. Likewise in the scrum, an area Scotland will need to target and have to drive their front rows forward.

Sergio Parisse vs. Jamie Heaslip

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press/Associated Press

Heaslip (8) combines with Cian Healy to tackle Sergio Parisse.

Sergio Parisse is the key man for Italy whenever he plays, so Italy will be praying for his return from injury. Against an Ireland side that coach Joe Schmidt has moulded into excellent pragmatists, the battle for hard yards in the forwards will be central to the contest. Nobody does more of that for Italy than Parisse.

Jamie Heaslip, meanwhile, can rely on plenty of support from Sean O’Brien, but he will be expected to carry Ireland over the advantage line.

Parisse, despite being far from full fitness, will have to do much of the work himself if Italy are going to give themselves any chance of avoiding defeat and keeping their slim hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.

Ireland may decide to focus on other areas, but this is a battle a Parisse and Italy must win.