SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has welcomed the news that his team will face reigning champions South Africa on the opening weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. 

The full fixture schedule for the tournament was unveiled yesterday, with the Scots learning that they will face the Springboks in Marseilles on Sunday 10th September, then have two weeks to recover and prepare for their next match against the Asia/Pacific 1 qualifier – likely to be Tonga – in Nice on Sunday 24th September, followed by the Europe 2 qualifier – likely to be Spain based on recent form – in Lille on Saturday 30th September. 

If the tournament goes according to current form, the second qualifying spot from Pool B will then be decided in a winner-takes-all showdown between Scotland Ireland at Stade de France in Saint Denis (Paris) on Saturday 7th October. 

The Scots endured a miserable start to the 2019 World Cup when they were blown away by Ireland in their opening game and didn’t really recover, leading to an early exit from the tournament at the end of the pool stage after another thumping defeat to Japan. So, Townsend is acutely aware that they will have to hit the ground running this time. 

“It doesn’t get any more exciting than facing the world champions in your opening game, but it is an opportunity I know our players will be keen to embrace,” he said. “I’ve no doubt our fans, and players, will also relish the chance to be part of matches in some impressive stadiums across France, which all adds to the World Cup experience. 

“We, of course, played Ireland at the last Rugby World Cup in Japan and the two sides know each other pretty well from our Guinness Six Nations encounters.  Whoever qualifies for the remaining two spots in Pool B will have quality and we know that to win World Cup matches you have to be playing your best rugby throughout the duration of the competition.” 

If Scotland do manage to win their pool, they will return to Stade de France to face the runner-up of Pool A – containing New Zealand, France and Italy – on Saturday 14th October at the quarter-final stage. If they finish second, it is the same venue but a day later, against the winner of Pool A. 

The semi-final on that side of the draw is at Stade de France on Friday 20th October, with the final is on Saturday 28th October. 

Meanwhile, as mouth-watering a prospect as the Scotland versus South Africa game is, it is likely to play second-fiddle in the hype stakes on that opening weekend to the opening match of the whole tournament, which sees hosts France and three-times Champions New Zealand on Friday 8th September in Stade de France. 

Meanwhile England face a tricky start to the tournament with Argentina standing in their way in Marseille on Saturday 9thSeptember, followed by Japan in Nice on 17th September. 

Kick-off times for all 48 fixtures will be confirmed in due course, and ticketing details will be announced on 4th March. 

Full draw

Pool A 

September 8: Stade de France - France v New Zealand 

September 9: Saint-Etienne - Italy v Africa 1 

September 14: Lille - France v America 1 

September 15: Toulouse - New Zealand v Africa 1 

September 20: Nice - Italy v America 1 

September 21: Marseille - France v Africa 1 

September 27: Lyon - America 1 v Africa 1 

September 29: Lyon - New Zealand v Italy 

October 5: Lyon - New Zealand v America 1 

October 6: Lyon - France v Italy 

Pool B 

September 9: Bordeaux - Ireland v Europe 2 

September 10: Marseille - South Africa v Scotland 

September 16: Nantes - Ireland v Asia/Pacific 1 

September 17: Bordeaux - South Africa v Europe 2 

September 23: Stade de France - South Africa v Ireland 

September 24: Nice - Scotland v Asia/Pacific 1 

September 30: Lille - Scotland v Europe 2 

October 1: Marseille - South Africa v Asia/Pacific 1 

October 7: Stade de France - Ireland v Scotland 

October 8: Lille - Asia/Pacific 1 v Europe 2 

Pool C 

September 9: Saint-Denis - Australia - Europe 1 

September 10: Bordeaux - Wales v Fiji 

September 16: Nice - Wales v Winner final qualifying round 

September 17: Saint-Etienne - Australia v Fiji 

September 23: Toulouse - Europe 1 v Winner final qualifying round 

September 24: Lyon - Wales v Australia 

September 30: Bordeaux - Fiji v Europe 1 

October 1: Saint-Etienne - Australia v - Winner final qualifying round 

October 7: Nantes - Wales v Europe 1 

October 8: Toulouse - Fiji v Winner final qualifying round 

Pool D 

September 9: Marseille - England v Argentina 

September 10: Toulouse - Japan v America 2 

September 16: Bordeaux - Oceania 1 v America 2 

September 17: Nice - England v Japan 

September 22: Saint-Etienne - Argentina v Oceania 1 

September 23: Lille - England v America 2 

September 28: Toulouse - Japan v Oceania 1 

September 30: Nantes - Argentina v America 2 

October 7: Lille - England v Oceania 1 

October 8: Nantes - Japan v Argentina 

Quarter-finals 

October 14: Marseille - Pool C winner v Pool D runner-up 

October 14: Stade de France - Pool B winner v Pool A runner-up 

October 15: Marseille - Pool D v Pool C runner-up 

October 15: Stade de France - Pool A winner v Pool B runner-up 

Semi-finals 

October 20: Stade de France - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2 

October 21: Stade de France - Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4 

Third place play-off 

October 27: Stade de France 

Final 

October 28: Stade de France