Rugby World Cup 2023 – Preview

September 7, 2023

1 3 minutes read

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Preview

The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris on Friday, 8th September with host France taking on New Zealand in a blockbuster opening match. This edition of the World Cup will be the 10th edition with France hosting it for the third time. They co-hosted the 1991 World Cup and hosted the 2007 edition.

The 2023 World Cup will see 20 teams battling it out for the Webb Ellis Cup. Incidentally, this tournament will coincide with the 200th anniversary of the invention of rugby by William Webb Ellise in 1823.

Chile will be making their debut in this World Cup and Portugal will be making their second appearance after their last appearance in 2007. The other 18 teams are perennial qualifiers for the World Cup.

The 20 teams are divided into 4 groups – Pool A to Pool D with the top 2 from each pool qualify for the quarterfinals and the 2027 World Cup. 3rd placed teams in the Pool stage will also automatically qualify for the 2027 World Cup which will be hosted in Australia.

Pool A consist of host France, New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay and Namibia. The opening match between Les Bleus and the All Blacks will set the tone for this Pool. The winner of this game will likely finish top of Pool A. Italy, Uruguay and Namibia will look to upset the odds but on paper the 3rd ranked France and 4th ranked New Zealand look too strong for them.

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Pool B features reigning champions South Africa, world number 1 ranked team Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania. South Africa and Ireland are the world’s top 2 teams currently and their showdown on September 23rd will be an entertaining game to say the least. Scotland is expected to finish 3rd while Tonga and Romania will fight it out for 4th.

Pool C can be considered as the most open pool with Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal. In terms of world ranking, Fiji is 7th, Australia is 9th, Wales is 10th, Georgia is 11th and Portugal is 16th hence why experts are saying any 2 teams from this group can make the quarterfinals.

Australia are the only previous champions in this Pool and the Wallabies will look to Samu Kerevi and lean on his experience to guide them to the quarterfinals. 22-year-old Angus Bell, touted as a promising young talent will be making his World Cup debut in this tournament as well.

England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile have been grouped together in Pool D. England and Argentina lock horns in the opening match of the pool and traditionally encounters between the 2 countries in any sports have been feisty. England have won 19 out of the 26 games between the 2 nations and will be looking to make it a 20th win.

Japan, Samoa and Chile will be looking to prove that they are in this World Cup not to just make up the numbers and will look to upset the odds. Both Samoa and Japan have made it to the quarterfinals before and will look towards matching that feat.

The Rugby World Cup 2023 will start on September 8th until 28th October with the final taking place in Paris.