It’s lastly right here.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup has arrived, with 20 nations preventing for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup over the approaching seven weeks.
The quadrennial match can be hosted throughout 9 cities in France, culminating within the closing at Paris’ Stade de France on October 28.
The draw, primarily based on rankings from three years in the past, is bizarrely lopsided, with Ireland, South Africa and Scotland discovering themselves in the identical pool, whereas the game’s prime 5 ranked nations are preventing over two semi-finals spots.
It makes the 2023 version of the match one of the vital open in historical past, and all of it kicks off on Saturday morning when hosts France face the may All Blacks in Paris from 5.15am AEST.
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‘Huge privilege’: Issak desirous to carry out | 01:05
NEW ZEALAND
World Ranking: 4th
2023 Form: Four wins, one defeat
Group stage opponents: New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia
The All Blacks gained their twentieth Rugby Championship title earlier this 12 months, ending the match undefeated with three wins in three contests.
However, the three-time champions are coming off a heavy 35-7 loss to the Springboks at Twickenham, prompting French nice Olivier Magne to model New Zealand’s present squad because the “weakest in history”.
“South Africa’s display against New Zealand is significant for the world of rugby,” Magne stated.
“Now, isn’t this All Blacks team the weakest in history? I’m wondering. Really. I feel like New Zealand’s Rugby Championship wins were a bit of a sham.”
However, Wallabies icon Tim Horan praised the All Blacks’ skilled squad forward of the marquee match.
“Their depth of experience will be key,” Horan informed The Guardian.
“Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Dane Coles are playing their last World Cup, so New Zealand will want to get it done for those guys.”
Springboks thrash All Blacks earlier than WC | 00:48
FRANCE
World Ranking: third
2023 Form: Seven wins, two defeats
Group stage opponents: New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia
The host nation continues to be trying to find its maiden World Cup title after reaching the ultimate on three events.
France, who claimed a thumping 41-17 victory over the Wallabies final week, might not have a greater probability of lifting the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy than this 12 months’s World Cup marketing campaign in their very own yard.
Les Bleus have solely misplaced two Tests since July 2021, with their most up-to-date defeat at house coming 4 months earlier than that. Meanwhile, France have gained the final three editions of the Under-20 World Cup, which forebodes effectively for the hosts.
“The last few Under-20 World Cups they’ve won and the young, fearless players that are coming through, France represent that,” two-time World Cup champion Sonny Bill Williams informed AFP.
“For me they’re one of the favourites.”
Wallabies battered 2 weeks out from WC | 01:11
IRELAND
World Ranking: 1st
2023 Form: Eight wins, zero defeats
Group stage opponents: South Africa, Scotland, Tonga, Romania
Ireland has by no means made it previous the World Cup quarter-finals, a report they’ll be determined to resolve in France this 12 months.
The Six Nations champions, who’re undefeated in 2023, are the top-ranked rugby nation on this planet, and have been for greater than 12 months.
Irish rugby legend Paul O’Connell stated the present squad was higher than the gifted outfit he featured in in the course of the 2015 World Cup in England.
“This is a better team,” O’Connell declared.
“Physically, a lot of us were incredibly committed but these guys — there’s some serious athletes in the team, particularly in the forward pack.
“Guys that can accelerate quickly, they can change direction really quick.”
Ireland trio Jack Conan, Dan Sheehan and Dave Kilcoyne have been dominated out of Saturday’s World Cup opener towards Romania in Bordeaux.
SOUTH AFRICA
World Ranking: 2nd
2023 Form: Five wins, one defeat
Group stage opponents: Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania
The reigning champions are brimming with confidence after their report 35-7 victory over New Zealand at Twickenham.
Jacques Nienaber’s facet, who’ve secured 4 consecutive wins, seem like hitting kind simply on the proper time, ending second on this 12 months’s Rugby Championship, with their lone defeat being a 15-point loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.
“We are pleased with the squad depth we have built in the last few months, and we believe this group of players strikes the right balance to achieve the result we need,” Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber
“We’ve been building for this World Cup for the last four years and we are thrilled to get our campaign started.
“We are fully aware of the challenge that awaits us.”
Springboks crush Wales in WC warm-up | 01:24
ENGLAND
World Ranking: eighth
2023 Form: Three wins, six defeats
Group stage opponents: Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile
The 2019 World Cup finalists have endured a horror 24 months, with England shedding six of their 9 Tests since Steve Borthwick took over as head coach.
Last week, England suffered a humbling eight-point to Fiji at Twickenham, which got here after a report 53-10 defeat to France in the course of the Six Nations.
To make issues worse, England captain Owen Farrell will miss group stage matches towards Argentina and Japan due his harmful sort out ban.
However, Borthwick stays optimistic of England’s probabilities, citing the “experienced, talented people” in his squad.
“We’ve seen signs of growth in certain areas and other areas have dropped off,” Borthwick stated.
“They are determined to make sure they play to their potential … I’m very confident these players will perform.”
AUSTRALIA
World Ranking: ninth
2023 Form: Zero wins, 5 defeats
Group stage opponents: Wales, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal
Nothing has gone proper for the Wallabies since Eddie Jones took over as head coach earlier this 12 months, however Australia can take consolation of their fortuitous draw.
The Wallabies have by no means missed a World Cup quarter-finals, a report that’s unlikely to alter until they undergo heavy defeats to Fiji and Wales.
Jones has but to register a victory since he stepped into the Wallabies teaching function, however the Australian supplied a phrase of warning forward of the quadrennial match.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win,” Jones informed reporters final month.
“Tell us we’re terrible and we will prove you wrong.”
Eddie’s experiment continues forward of WC | 01:11
SCOTLAND
World Ranking: fifth
2023 Form: Six wins, three defeats
Group stage opponents: South Africa, Ireland, Tonga, Romania
Scotland has emerged as a darkish horse forward of this 12 months’s World Cup, toppling France in Edinburgh and rising to an all-time excessive of fifth on the world rankings.
However, the Scottish have been dealt a brutal draw, going through powerhouse nations South Africa and Ireland within the group stage.
“People aren’t talking about Scotland a lot, but Scotland can beat any of those teams,” Australian World Cup champion John Eales stated.
“If they were on Australia’s side of the draw they’d probably be the favourites on our side with how well they’ve been playing.”
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber was filled with reward for Scotland forward of their World Cup opener in Marseille.
“Scotland are a quality team with a strong pack and skilful backs, and they play with a lot of intensity, so we need to be sharp on attack and defence,” Nienaber stated.
“They have proved in the last few seasons that they can beat any team, and with this being the opening game of the World Cup for both sides, they will be equally as charged up as us for the match.”
ARGENTINA
World Ranking: sixth
2023 Form: Two wins, three defeats
Group stage opponents: England, Japan, Samoa, Chile
The Pumas arrive in France with maybe their strongest squad in World Cup historical past.
Argentina, coached by former Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika, proved they had been no easybeats by toppling England at Twickenham final 12 months, additionally defeating Australia in Sydney in the course of the latest Rugby Championship.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s dominant scrum stays their largest weapon, as recognized by veteran England tighthead prop Dan Cole.
“You look at their team in the Rugby Championship, they’re dangerous,” Cole warned.
“If you have one scrummage where you are not fully focused, they will do you damage and get stuck into you.”
FIJI
World Ranking: seventh
2023 Form: Four wins, one defeat
Group stage opponents: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal
It’s assumed that Wales and Australia will qualify for the knockouts from Pool C, however each side can be weary of the risk Fiji poses.
The Fijians, contemporary off a historic 30-22 victory over England at Twickenham, possess a dynamic, thrilling model of rugby, they usually’re greater than able to inflicting an upset.
However, they had been dealt a large blow earlier this week when fly-half Caleb Muntz, who scored 15 factors towards England final month, was dominated out of the World Cup resulting from a knee harm.
“It’s most devastating for us as a group and for Caleb,” coach Simon Raiwalui stated.
“We feel for him as a young man that he misses the opportunity so close to the Rugby World Cup.”
Fiji have beforehand certified for the quarter-finals on two events, in 1987 and 2007.
JAPAN
World Ranking: 14th
2023 Form: One win, three defeats
Group stage opponents: England, Argentina, Samoa, Chile
The hosts of the earlier World Cup have dropped out of the highest ten of the world rankings, now sitting beneath three of their 4 opponents within the group stage.
Japan suffered defeats in three of their 4 warm-up video games, together with a brutal 42-21 loss to Italy.
“The warm-up games, as much as you want to win them all, we tried different things, we tried different selections. We were working on some things that needed to be fixed and grow as a team,” defence coach John Mitchell defined.
However, the Japanese have a knack of inflicting World Cup upsets, defeating Ireland and Scotland within the group stage of the 2019 match and extra famously beautiful South Africa 4 years earlier.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
