The highly anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup in France is set to kick off this week, featuring four top contenders. However, two of these favorites will face an early exit in the quarterfinals, as they are clustered in two of the four pools.
The teams to watch in this tournament are the top-ranked Ireland, defending champions South Africa, host country France, and perennial powerhouse New Zealand. In the knockout stage, the winner of Pool A will face the runner-up of Pool B, and vice versa. According to the rankings, if the group stage were to play out as expected, New Zealand would play Ireland and France would play South Africa in the quarterfinals.
Although these four teams are the favorites, there are other contenders in the tournament who have the potential to upset the top seeds. Let’s take a closer look at the teams in each pool, along with their World Rugby rankings.
Pool A consists of France (ranked 3rd), New Zealand (ranked 4th), Italy (ranked 13th), Uruguay (ranked 17th), and Namibia (ranked 21st). The opening match between France and New Zealand is expected to be a thrilling encounter and could be a preview of the final. Both teams have world-class talent across multiple positions, with players like Antoine Dupont and Beauden Barrett making a significant impact.
Italy, Uruguay, and Namibia are unlikely to pose a threat to the top seeds in this pool. Italy has shown improvement in recent years but has never defeated New Zealand and has a poor record against France. Uruguay may have a chance against Italy, but their main objective will likely be to secure a win against Namibia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
In Pool B, we have Ireland (ranked 1st), South Africa (ranked 2nd), Scotland (ranked 5th), Tonga (ranked 15th), and Romania (ranked 19th). This pool is being dubbed the “Group of Death” due to the presence of three strong teams. Ireland and South Africa are the favorites, but Scotland has proven its prowess with recent victories over England and Wales.
Ireland is hoping to overcome its reputation as a favorite that falls short in the quarterfinals. With uncertainty surrounding their captain and key playmaker, Jonathan Sexton, Ireland will rely on comfortable wins against Romania and Tonga to regain their confidence.
South Africa is known for its rugged defense and powerful forward pack. However, with their top scorer from the 2019 tournament, Handré Pollard, out due to injury, their goal-kicking might suffer in close matches. They do have a young and dynamic backline that could change the game.
Even Tonga has the potential to cause upsets in this pool. With several former All Blacks and Wallabies in their squad, they have strengthened their team under the new World Rugby eligibility rule changes.
Pool C consists of Fiji (ranked 7th), Australia (ranked 9th), Wales (ranked 10th), Georgia (ranked 11th), and Portugal (ranked 16th). This pool is expected to be highly competitive, with no clear front-runner. Australia, with its rich World Cup history, is undergoing a rebuilding phase under new coach Eddie Jones. Wales, a traditional power, has had its fair share of challenges but is aiming to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Fiji, known for their physicality and flair, showcased their abilities with impressive wins over Japan and England in recent matches. They have a strong forward pack and speedy backs who can make game-changing plays. Portugal secured their spot in the World Cup with a draw against the United States.
Finally, Pool D consists of Argentina (ranked 6th), England (ranked 8th), Samoa (ranked 12th), Japan (ranked 14th), and Chile (ranked 22nd). Argentina and England are expected to advance from this pool, but Samoa has the potential to cause upsets, especially after defeating Japan recently. Samoa has added experienced former All Blacks and Wallabies to their squad, providing a wealth of knowledge and skill.
England, the 2003 champions, have a strong lineup but come into the tournament with some concerns in certain positions. Argentina has the talent to go far but needs to address their penalty issues. Japan, on the other hand, is not in great form leading up to the tournament.
As the 2023 Rugby World Cup unfolds, fans can expect thrilling matches, potential upsets, and standout performances from players across all the teams. The tournament promises to be a spectacle of skill, determination, and unforgettable moments.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
