Supporters get night vision

Ireland's main Pool D rivals will square off in the opening fixture of the 2007 Rugby World Cup on Friday, September 7th, at the Stade de France (8.0pm, Irish time).

The kick-off times for the tournament were confirmed by the IRB and Irish supporters who cannot travel to France - never mind publicans - will enjoy the fact that most of the Irish games will be played at night.

Eddie O'Sullivan's charges open their World Cup campaign on Sunday, September 9th, against Namibia in Bordeaux (7.0pm, Irish time) and then six days later take on Georgia at the same venue (8.0pm). Ireland take on the host nation at the Stade de France on Friday, September 21st (8pm).

Their pool fixtures culminate with the clash with Argentina nine days later at the Parc des Princes with a 4.0pm kick-off.

The World Cup final will be played at the Stade de France on Saturday, October 20th, with a 8.0pm (Irish time) kick-off.

World Cup - Starting Times

Pool A

Sat Sep 8th:England v USA, Lens 17.00

Sun Sep 9th:South Africa v Samoa, Paris** 15.00

Wed Sep 12th:USA v Repechage 2 Montpellier 13.00

Fri Sep 14th:England v South Africa St Denis 20.00

Sun Sep 16th:Samoa v Repechage 2 Montpellier 15.00

Sat Sep 22nd:South Africa v Repechage 2 Lens 13.00

Sat Sep 22nd: England v Samoa Nantes 15.00

Wed Sep 26th: Samoa v USA St Etienne 19.00

Fri Sep 28th: England v Repechage 2 Paris 20.00

Sun Sep 30thSouth Africa v USA Montpellier 19.00

Pool B

Sat Sep 8th:Australia v Japan Lyon 14.45

Sun Sep 9th:Wales v Canada Nantes 13.00

Wed Sep 12th: Japan v Fiji Toulouse 17.00

Sat Sep 15th: Wales v Australia Cardiff*** 15.00

Sun Sep 16th: Fiji v Canada Cardiff*** 14.00

Thu Sep 20th: Wales v Japan Cardiff*** 21.00

Sun Sep 23rd:Australia v Fiji Montpellier 13.30

Tue Sep 25th:Canada v Japan Bordeaux 17.00

Sat Sep 29th:Australia v Canada Bordeaux 14.00

Sat Sep 29th:Wales v Fiji Nantes 16.00

Pool C

Sat Sep 8th:New Zealand v Italy Marseille 12.45

Sun Sep 9th:Scotland v Repechage 1 St Etienne 17.00

Wed Sep 12th:Italy v Romania Marseille 19.00

Sat Sep 15th:New Zealand v Repechage 1 Lyon 12.00

Tue Sep 18th:Scotland v Romania Edinburgh*** 21.00

Wed Sep 19th:Italy v Repechage 1 Paris 19.00

Sun Sep 23rd:Scotland v New Zealand Edinburgh*** 17.00

Tue Sep 25th:Romania v Repechage 1 Toulouse 19.00

Sat Sep 29th:New Zealand v Romania Toulouse 12.00

Sat Sep 29th:Scotland v Italy St Etienne 20.00

Pool D

Fri Sep 7th:France v Argentina St Denis* 20.00

Sun Sep 9th:Ireland v Namibia Bordeaux 19.00

Tue Sep 11th:Argentina v Georgia Lyon 19.00

Sat Sep 15th:Ireland v Georgia Bordeaux 20.00

Sun Sep 16th:France v Namibia Toulouse 20.00

Fri Sep 21st:France v Ireland St Denis 20.00

Sat Sep 22nd:Argentina v Namibia Marseille 20.00

Wed Sep 26th:Georgia v Namibia Lens 17.00

Sun Sep 30th: France v Georgia Marseille 14.00

Sun Sep 30th:Ireland v Argentina Paris 16.00

Quarter-finals

Sat Oct 6th, QF1:W pool B v RU pool A Marseille 14.00

Sat Oct 6th, QF2:W pool C v RU pool D Cardiff 21.00

Sun Oct 7th, QF3:W pool A v RU pool B Marseille 14.00

Sun Oct 7th, QF4:W pool D v RU pool C St Denis 20.00

Semi-finals

Sat Oct 13th, SF1:W QF1 v W QF2 St Denis 20.00

Sun Oct 14th, SF2:W QF3 v W QF4 St Denis 20.00

Third and fourth place play-off

Fri Oct 19th:Paris 20.00

Final

Sat Oct 20th:St Denis 20.00

*St Denis venue - Stade de France

**Paris venue - Parc des Princes