With the Six Nations Championship now at a detailed, the eye of the rugby-playing world is popping to the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in September.
With lower than six months to go till the primary recreation in Paris, now could be the time to take an in depth have a look at the perimeters combating for this yr’s title.
#1 France
Contemporary from humiliating England at Twickenham within the Six Nations, France will enter the 2023 Rugby World Cup as favorites.
Though they’ve by no means gained the Rugby World Cup, France has been constructing in the direction of this match for the final 4 years. Plus, in Antoine Dupont, they’ve an undoubted star of the sport who was voted the 2021 World Participant of the 12 months.
Rugby legend Matt Dawson even described his efficiency in opposition to England, saying: “…he’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane… it was like watching Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator the place all the pieces goes digital.”
Added to this, not solely is the French group in superb type, however they’re additionally the match hosts. So, a highly-skilled Les Bleus facet will likely be backed ferociously by their ardent followers.
The one damaging for France is that although they’ve crushed South Africa and Australia within the final yr, they had been handily crushed by Eire on this yr’s Six Nations Championship.
#2 New Zealand
Champions in 1987, 2011 and 2015, New Zealand is understandably one of many favorites to raise the Webb Ellis Cup this October. With an skilled and gifted squad together with high stars resembling Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett, the All Blacks will likely be powerful to beat.
Regardless of struggling within the early a part of 2022 (the All Blacks misplaced 4 of their first six video games), they ended the yr with a seven-match unbeaten run. Plus, they as soon as once more claimed victory within the Rugby Championship, beating South Africa, Argentina, and Australia.
With France going into the match as favorites, the strain will largely be off New Zealand, who can concentrate on enjoying their finest rugby.
#3 South Africa
The 2019 Rugby World Cup winners have an excellent likelihood of repeating their success in 2023. Nonetheless led by inspirational captain Siya Kolisi and following a powerful collection win in opposition to the British and Irish Lions in 2021, the Springboks stay a pressure to be reckoned with.
This yr’s version of the Rugby Championship will go a good distance towards figuring out their standing for the match. Nonetheless, the comfy victories final yr in opposition to New Zealand and Australia recommend that the Springboks are nonetheless one of many southern hemisphere’s finest sides.
#4 Eire
Contemporary from a glowing efficiency within the Six Nations and admirably led by coach Andy Farrell, Eire are the perfect facet on the planet, in line with the World Rankings.
Nonetheless, though they’ll undoubtedly head into the match as one of many favorites, two elements might maintain them again. Firstly, though Eire has reached the quarter-final stage of the Rugby World Cup seven instances up to now, they’ve by no means progressed previous it. Because of this, they’ve by no means needed to cope with the strain of acting on the world’s largest stage.
Secondly, though they’re world primary, the draw has been significantly unkind to Eire, who should face South Africa and Scotland of their pool. Progress from this stage and so they’ll then probably face both New Zealand or France within the quarter-finals. If Eire is to win the Rugby World Cup this yr, they’ll must do it the laborious approach.
The Verdict
After developing quick in 1987, 1999, and 2011 Rugby World Cup finals, 2023 would be the yr that France lastly lifts the Webb Ellis Cup.
A talented group full of match-winners like Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, and Grégory Alldritt, France may also have the benefit of enjoying their massive matches in entrance of a ferocious house crowd. That is significantly the case with their opener in opposition to New Zealand and the ultimate, performed in entrance of 80,000 screaming French followers on the Stade de France.
Nonetheless, the match’s opening recreation between France and New Zealand, which is held on eighth September, will probably go a big approach in the direction of figuring out the match’s champions. Ought to the All Blacks emerge from Paris victorious, it’s going to blow the competitors extensive open.
This text was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
