In the event of two sides finishing level, the first criterion for deciding the final rankings will be the result of the head-to-head match between the two. In the event of Argentina, France and Ireland finishing level, they will all have recorded one win each against each other, and then the final rankings would be determined by points difference.
Argentina: Even if France record a bonus-point win over Georgia, a bonus-point defeat against Ireland would be enough to ensure Argentina qualify as the pool winners.
In that scenario, 15 points would be beyond Ireland's scope and is the maximum France can obtain, in which case the Pumas would go through on the basis of their win over France.
A defeat by more than seven points to Ireland, coupled with a bonus-point win for France, would mean Argentina finish second and would face the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
The only way Argentina can finish third and be knocked out of the tournament would be for France to beat Georgia with a bonus point and Ireland to score four tries and deny the Pumas a bonus point.
France: Any kind of victory over Georgia is certain to earn Les Bleus a place in the quarter-finals, albeit most probably as runners-up, and a clash against the All Blacks in Cardiff next Saturday night.
For them to win the pool and stay in Paris for the quarter-finals, against Scotland or Italy, France must obtain a bonus-point win and hope Argentina lose to Ireland by more than seven points, as in the event of Argentina finishing level with France on 15 points the Pumas would top the pool by dint of winning the tournament's opening match.
Ireland: Were Georgia to do the unthinkable and beat France it would mean any kind of victory over Argentina would put Ireland through. Failing that, Ireland must hope that France beat Georgia and obtain a bonus point for scoring four tries or more.
A French win, without a bonus point, would effectively mean Ireland would be out of the tournament even before the kick-off in the Parc des Princes. In that scenario, even if Ireland beat Argentina with a bonus point, while denying the Pumas one, that would ensure a three-way tie.
As the current points differences of the three contenders stands at Argentina (+95), France (+94) and Ireland (-3), Eddie O'Sullivan's team would have to beat Argentina by at least 50 points.
In that scenario too, were Argentina to obtain a bonus point in losing to Ireland they would top the pool, and France would go through ahead of Ireland by dint of their win last weekend.
If France beat Georgia with a bonus point, then the only way Ireland can go through is by beating Argentina by more than seven points and scoring four tries, while also ensuring the Pumas don't score four tries.
