As good as the Rugby World Cup’s first two weekends have been, this one is of a suitably higher level of importance as the event builds towards the knock-out stage. It’s weekend that promises to at least partially answer some major questions.

The first is whether France can stay in the world cup it is hosting. To do so, it must beat Ireland tomorrow morning our time. Ireland’s lead-up form has been dreadful and Foxtel’s very credible Inside Rugby panel last night was unanimous in tipping France with two of the three going for 20+ margins. Yet, yet… somehow you have to suspect this Irish team is capable of doing much more than they have so far shown. It should be a cracker.

That match is the second instalment in a three-act drama to decide who plays the All Blacks in one quarter-final and who meets Scotland in another. There is every chance Group D, the “pool of death” will finish with no team undefeated – Argentina has already beaten France, France could beat Ireland and Ireland could do Argentina.

But the bigger question and the second one posed here is: What’s the future of northern hemisphere rugby when Ireland v France represents the cream of the crop and still doesn’t add up to much?

For Wallaby fans, the big one this weekend is whether Lote Tuqiri can keep his place in the Wallabies run-on side. Rugby Heaven runs a soft piece with the Six Million Dollar Man still promising to deliver – and he needs to.

The Inside Rugby analysis is the best going round at present. The most telling insight last night was Rod Kafer observing that it should have been Tuqiri scoring the sort of tries Rocky Elsom picked up against Japan, that our most highly-paid player just isn’t in the game.

The knives are out, glory is at stake – another sleepless weekend awaits.