Rugby World Cup: the Blacks, the “Boks”, the Blues … Who are the main favorites?


Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: AFP
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09:11, September 08, 2023

There are 20 on the starting line, but only a handful of teams seem capable of lifting the prestigious Webb-Ellis trophy on October 28. A few days before the opening of the 2023 Rugby World Cup organized in France, Europe 1 draws up the list of favorites for the final victory, made up of two triple winners and two selections in search of a first global coronation.

France: the Blues are ready

In demonstration against Australia ten days ago (41-17), the Blues completed their preparation in the best possible way. At home, Fabien Galthié’s men, in search of a first star, will, as rarely in the past, become the scarecrow of the tournament. Because the results of the last two years are enough to make the competition pale. 20 victories in the last 22 matches, successes against the world’s greatest nations – New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa – a VI Nations tournament won and enhanced with the grand slam in 2022, a humiliation addressed to England at Twickenham last March (10-53). The list is too long not to make the XV of France a contender of choice for the major coronation.

And this despite the absence of Romain Ntamack, forfeited for the entire competition. The convincing outings of the Blues against the Fijians (34-17) then against the Wallabies dissipated some of the fears aroused by the injury of the Toulouse opener. This squad is overflowing with talent at all levels and the hypothesis – as dramatic as it may be – of the withdrawal of one of the centerpieces of this XV of France, was certainly one of the scenarios envisaged by the staff.

Ireland: the best team in the world, according to World Rugby

Number 1 in the world rankings, Ireland is the only team to have beaten the A team of the French XV over the last 24 months. It was during the last VI Nations tournament in Dublin (32-19). Like the Blues, the Clover XV also knocks out its opponents one after the other: 14 consecutive victories, including two on the All Blacks’ pitch last year.

The Irish have in their ranks a certain Josh Van der Flier, voted best player in the world by World Rugby this year. But also their long-time opener, Jonathan Sexton, the centerpiece of a perfectly oiled and dense collective on all lines. Before thinking about the coronation, however, the Irish will have to extricate themselves from a delicate group in which Scotland and South Africa also appear. A defeat against the Springboks, and a possible second place in Group A, could lead Andy Farrell’s men to a quarter-final against the French XV. A stadium of the competition which Ireland has faced seven times during the nine editions of the World Cup. A glass ceiling that will necessarily have to be broken to win a first supreme title.

Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong (left) and Connor Murray (right) celebrate victory at the last VI Nations Tournament
Credit: DAVID ROGERS / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

New Zealand: the wounded beast

To leave the All Blacks aside in a list of favorites for an international title would be reckless at best, ignorance at worst. However, these Blacks, in search of a fourth global coronation, are no longer elusive. This is evidenced by this defeat, the largest in their history, suffered against South Africa last Friday (7-35) for their final rehearsal before the opening match against the Blues on September 8. Their ninth defeat in two years, while France and Ireland piled up successes.

A form of relapse too, after a convincing Rugby Championship in July, during which they tormented Argentina and Australia and quite clearly dominated the Springboks 35-20. A dynamic that both reveals the constant threat that this team represents, but also the absences that these Blacks can sometimes experience. Against the Blues, Aaron Smith’s teammates will surely make a point of silencing the skeptics. During their last visit to the Stade de France, they suffered French lightning and left with 40 points in their bags. But this time, it is upset Blacks, touched in their pride who will appear against Fabien Galthié’s men. Enough to make them, perhaps, even more formidable.

South Africa: Retain the title

They too are chasing a fourth World Cup victory. Title holders, the Springboks will rely on a framework close to that which allowed them to triumph in Japan four years ago. The former Toulousain and Toulonnais Cheslin Kolbe, future Racing player Siya Kolisi, winger Makazole Mapimpi and second row Eben Etzebeth will come back to try to retain their world title. What only the All Blacks have managed to achieve in history (2011, 2015).

Sometimes irregular in their performances over the last 24 months (victories against the All Blacks, but also defeats against England and Wales), Jacques Nienaber’s men, placed in the Ireland group, could come across iron with the Blues from the quarter-finals. Otherwise, it will most likely be New Zealand. In any case, we are already salivating.





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