Which are the teams to watch in Rugby World Cup 2023?
We know now that, for the first time since 1995, there will not be a team from the USA at the Rugby World Cup next fall. After a shock first elimination by Chile in the Americas qualifying, the Eagles had a shot at progressing through the repechage. A 16-16 draw with Portugal meant that the two sides were tied on points, wins and bonus points at the top of the pool, but Portugal’s better points difference meant that Samuel Marques’ last-play penalty goal was enough to take the European nation to the finals in France next year. Now, for fans of the Eagles, it’s a matter of taking to ukonlinecasinoslist.com and finding a team that will be good value to win next year.
It’s been quite a year, all things considered. France finally conquered their vertigo when it comes to winning the Six Nations; Italy added Australia to the list of top-tier nations they have beaten; Wales were defeated on home soil by Georgia; and the mighty All Blacks lost a series at home to Ireland – a team to whom they had never lost a single game before 2016. All of this means that next year’s finals – the first to feature Chile as a competing nation – will be very intriguing. Below, we will take a look not at the top three contenders, but at three teams you’ll want to keep an eye on next autumn.
Ireland
Between World Cups, Ireland are easily one of the best rugby nations in the world. As mentioned, they overcame the All Blacks in some style this past summer. They missed out on the Six Nations, narrowly, due to a loss in Paris that was competitive right down to the final whistle. However, at World Cups, a malaise comes over the Irish and they inevitably exit at the quarter-final stage. This time around, they have a tough group, facing defending champions South Africa and a dangerous Scotland, and the “reward” for getting out of that pool will be a meeting with France or New Zealand – the only two sides to have beaten them in 2022.
England
There is an interesting received wisdom revolving around the current English side that they’re avoiding peaking too early, as they don’t want to reveal their hand ahead of next year’s tournament. If that’s the case, they’re doing a great job of it; they lost to Scotland, Ireland and France during the Six Nations, and then to Argentina and South Africa in the Autumn tests, while requiring a high-octane three-try blitz late on to tie with New Zealand after the All Blacks had been reduced to 14 players. If England pull it off next year, it’s been the most impressive preparation ever. If they don’t, then maybe they just aren’t that good?
France
There’s a cliche in rugby that goes “You never know which French team is going to turn up”, and it probably went out of date about a decade ago when they stopped being maddeningly inconsistent and were just bad for a few years. Since the start of this decade, though, they’ve gone completely the other way. In every match, France have played winning rugby, but in that classically French way which actually entertains the fans. Scrum-half Antoine Dupont is probably the best player in the world right now, and plays a huge part in the swashbuckling team style that has delivered great results this year.
