Rugby World Cup 2019: Five games you must watch in Week Two

With only six games scheduled before the next scheduled Rugby World Cup rest day - and no All Blacks fixtures - the next few days will give fans a chance to catch their breath after hectic opening week.

We suggest you give Saturday's late South Africa v Namibia game a miss - the latter are paying $151 to win at the TAB - which leaves these five encounters to get hyped about.

Argentina v Tonga
 

4:45pm, Saturday, September 28

TAB: Argentina $1.01 Tonga $12

The Tongans haven't shown anything recently to suggest they can topple a tier-one nation and the Pumas were a tad unlucky to lose their opener against France, after rallying from 17 points down to lead with little more than 10 minutes remaining.

Does that smell like an upset in the making to you?

This looms as a banana-peel game in Argentina's bid to topple England and sneak into the final eight.

Japan v Ireland
 

7:15pm, Saturday, September 28

TAB: Japan $7.50 Ireland $1.07

Despite losing their top world ranking, the Irish were probably the most convincing of the tournament contenders in their opening game, dispatching Scotland with absolute disdain. 

While the home team fancy their chances of progressing from Pool A, their best chance would be toppling the Scots, not Ireland.

Still, this will be an early gauge of how realistic those hopes are against quality opposition.

Japan have never finished within 16 points of Ireland in seven previous meetings.

Georgia v Uruguay

6:15pm, Sunday, September 29

TAB: Georgia $1.16 Uruguay $4.85

Realistically, as the fourth and fifth-ranked teams in Pool D, neither should progress to the quarter-finals. The best they can probably hope for is a third-place finish to secure a spot at the next tournament, as Georgia did four years ago.

That should make for an entertaining spectacle between two rivals trying their utmost to crack the next level.

Georgia hold a 3-2 head-to-head advantage in previous meetings, but the odds on Uruguay have shortened considerably since their upset of Fiji.

Australia v Wales

8:45pm Sunday, September 29

TAB: Australia $2.08 Wales $1.69

This top-of-the-table clash in Pool D will likely decide who crosses over against England or France in the quarter-finals - barring upsets in their respective groups.

The Wallabies have dominated this rivalry over the years, winning 13 of their last 14 meetings, but Wales prevailed last time they met at Millennium Stadium last November.

Although they were nearly toppled by the Fijians in their tournament opener, at least Australia have that behind them and can now start planning for the next stage.

That may make this contest more important for Wales, who would be very nervous indeed against the Pacific Islanders or Uruguay, if they were to lose here.

Scotland v Samoa
 

11:15pm, Monday, September 30

TAB: Scotland $1.10 Samoa $6.30

The Scots are vulnerable, after their less-than-convincing outing against Ireland. They have Japan and perhaps Samoa nipping at their heels for the second spot out of Pool A - and both those teams have a history of upsetting higher-ranked rivals at World Cups.

Samoa have only once beaten Scotland in 11 encounters, but came within three points in pool play at the last World Cup. They've since plummeted down the world rankings, but can revisit former glory days with victory here.

Essential Guide to 2019 Rugby World Cup

Everything you need to know about rugby and the World Cup...

The ninth Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 20 in Japan - the first time it has been hosted in Asia.

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