Yahoo News Rugby World Cup 2019 fixtures: Where to watch England vs Australia in London
The Rugby World Cup is hotting up this weekend, with the first of the quarter finals taking place on Saturday morning.
England line up against old rivals Australia in the highest-profile game of the tournament so far, kicking off bright and early at 8.15am.
We’ve seen some good rugby in the early stages of the tournament – as well as some notable upsets – and Japan have proven themselves excellent hosts, but this is the point things step up a notch. After a dismal showing in 2015, England will feel the onus is on them to make amends in this year’s knock-out stages.
Eddie Jones’s men go into Saturday’s game as favourites, following a string of victories over recent months. Their form, however, often tends to go out the window against their rivals from the southern hemisphere.
England progressed as winners of Pool C, two points ahead of France, following wins against Tonga, the United States and Argentina, while Australia lost their opening game against Wales and required wins against Fiji, Uruguay and Georgia to qualify for the knock-out stages.
England have had a week longer to prepare for the tie than Australia, after their group stage game against France was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis.
It’s the biggest fixture of the year so far for English rugby fans, and there will be plenty of venues opening their doors early to show the game on Saturday morning. Below our picks for where to watch.
Flat Iron Square
This popular spot is showing every single game of the tournament, having undergone a Japanese-style makeover to mark the occasion. There are ten traders and three restaurants here, with plenty of breakfast options too. In terms of atmosphere, this one’s going to be pretty hard to beat.
64 Southwark St, SE1, flatironsquare.co.uk
The Prince
Fans can grab a breakfast beer and a burger at lovely old Fulham pub the Prince, which is also running a special brunch menu in collaboration with resident restaurant Wildcard. The pub is opening its doors from 7.30am this Saturday.
14 Lillie Rd, SW6 1TT, theprincelondon.com
Broadleaf
Broadleaf is one of the smartest sports bars in the city, tucked away just around the corner from Liverpool Street station. The botanical-themed main bar is a plush space to relax during the game, and the hearty Rugby World Cup breakfast menu is worth making the early morning trip for alone.
Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2N 1HN, broadleaflondon.com
Long Arm Pub & Brewery
Long Arm marks one of the best sports pubs in central London, delivering all the essentials – big screens, plenty of space, as well as good World Cup breakfast packages.
64 Southwark St, SE1 1RU, longarmpub.co.uk
The Ship
This rugby favourite draws in big crowds on game days, and it’s throwing its doors open early for this Saturday's game. The Ship has a lovely outdoor with views of the river area too, just in case you need to catch your breath after the full-time whistle. They’ll be serving breakfast from 8am, too.
41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18 1TB, theship.co.uk
Skylight Rooftop
Fans can enjoy brunch while watching the early kick-offs at this Tobacco Dock venue, before heading upstairs and enjoying one of the best views of the city. The game is ticketed, so make sure to book here.
Tobacco Dock, Pennington St entrance, E1W 2SF, skylightlondon.com
The Clapham Grand
They love a bit of rugger down in Clapham, and the Grand offers the biggest screen in the area, coming in at a whopping 24ft. Tickets start from £4, and holders must be inside the venue by kick off. They're serving breakfast, too.
21-25, The Clapham Grand, SW11 1TT, claphamgrand.com
Boxpark
The Boxparks in Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley are hosting screenings of the game, with the in-house vendors offering some of the best food and drink options in the list. The football World Cup screenings last summer were some of the liveliest around, and we wouldn’t bet against this Saturday being any different.
Various locations, boxpark.co.uk
Greenwood
Victoria sports bar Greenwood is always one of the most reliable options for sport in the city, and Saturday’s game will be no exception. There's a strong drinks selection, and a solid range of match day favourites on offer from the kitchen too, including special breakfast and drinks packages for bigger groups. This weekend is set to be busy, so book tickets in advance here.
170 Victoria St, SW1E 5LB, greenwoodlondon.com
