With many of the quarter-final slots having been taken on Friday and Saturday, Sunday brings a trio of decisive group fixtures as the likes of Samoa and Tonga jockey for position in the last eight.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s action…
Lebanon v Jamaica - Group C
Where: Leigh Sports Village, Leigh.
When: 12pm (GMT)
TV: BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Paki Parkinson (New Zealand)
Last meeting: N/A - First meeting
Lebanon’s RLWC so far: Lost to New Zealand 12-34, Beat Ireland 32-14
Jamaica’s RLWC so far: Lost to Ireland 2-48, Lost to New Zealand 6-68
Victory for Lebanon would book them a quarter-final spot, and a busy weekend for coach Michael Cheika. Besides leading the Cedars, he is also the Argentina rugby union coach and they have an autumn international fixture against England at Twickenham on Sunday, November 6. If Lebanon qualify for the last eight, they will be up against Australia on Friday, November 4. Cheika will be in for a big 48 hours!
After Ben Jones-Bishop's try against New Zealand, Jamaica will be hoping for another spirited performance in their final group fixture in Leigh. While they are huge odds to actually win the game, another clever tactical approach could yet bag the Reggae Warriors another couple of scores and a bunch more memories to take home with them.
Sportsman stat: Since the return to a finals tournament format in 1995, Russia hold the record for the most points conceded in a group stage with 224 in the 2000 event. Jamaica look to be safe from ignominy, as they would have to concede 109 points to Lebanon to set a new low.
Betfred odds: Lebanon 1/500, Jamaica 28/1, draw 80/1
Tonga v Cook Islands - Group D
Where: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough.
When: 2:30pm (GMT)
TV: BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Last meeting: Tonga 28-8 Cook Islands (Campbelltown, 2015)
Tonga's World Cup so far: Beat Papua New Guinea 24-18, Beat Wales 32-6
Cook Islands' World Cup so far: Beat Wales 18-12, Lost to Papua New Guinea 16-32
Tonga are big favourites to wrap up their group campaign with a third straight win, with their performance against Wales suggesting they are slowly beginning to find their stride ahead of the knockout rounds. They will received the massive boost of a return for inspirational captain Jason Taumalolo after serving a suspension for an incident playing for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL.
Tony Iro's side will be hoping to spring a surprise in order to elongate their interest in this year's competition. They would have seen their second game - against Papua New Guinea - as their real must-win fixture in their quest for a last-eight spot, and having lost to the Kumuls 32-16 they now find themselves up against it.
Sportsman stat: Tonga have won 11 of the 12 previous meetings between these two nations, with the Kukis' only success coming in the Pacific Rim Championship in 2004 when they came out 18-10 victors. Hull Kingston Rovers' former Betfred Super League star Byron Ford was one of their tryscorers.
Betfred odds: Tonga 1/150, Cook Islands 12/1, draw 50/1
Samoa v France - Group A
Where: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
When: 5pm (GMT)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Todd Smith (Australia)
Last meeting: France 6-22 Samoa (Perpignan, RLWC 2013)
Samoa’s RLWC so far: Lost to England 6-60, Beat Greece 72-4
France's RLWC so far: Beat Greece 34-12, Lost to England 18-42
Matt Parish is under pressure to get his Samoa side through this fixture and into the next round after their nightmare start to the competition at St James' Park against England. Following that 60-6 reverse on opening day they bounced back to hammer Greece and a victory over Laurent Frayssinous' France would see them at least head into the knockout phase with a bit of momentum.
For France this is a chance to see where they really stand in the international arena at this moment in time. A victory over Samoa would be their biggest statement on the World Cup level since the change to a finals format in 1995.
Sportsman stat: Samoa have won three of the four meetings between these two nations. The only side they have a better record against over at least four games in Niue, an island country with a population of just 1,937.
Betfred odds: Samoa 1/150, France 12/1, draw 50/1
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
