Rugby World Cup: the tops and flops of the 2023 edition

The Springboks on top of the world. South Africa won its fourth world title on Saturday evening at the Stade de France, dominating New Zealand in a suspenseful final (12-11). The South Africans were able to defy the odds, notably by eliminating the Blues at home, and with their captain Antoine Dupont, coming back from afar for this quarter-final. A meeting which will be remembered for its faults in the refereeing which cost the French XV dearly. After the outcome of the Rugby World Cup in France, Europe 1 lists the good and bad points of the competition.

The tops:

The Portuguese sensation

While the (long) group stages of this World Cup were coming to an end and eyes were already turned to the future, few would have imagined that this Fiji-Portugal, with almost no stakes, would offer a historic moment. And it is indeed the Portugal, one of the Little Thumbs of the competition, who was the protagonist. By snatching victory with a final try scored one minute from time, the Wolves offered themselves their very first success in the World Cup. The dreamed end point for a Lusitanian generation at the end of its journey which must now be renewed.

HISTORY
LOBOS!!! pic.twitter.com/qiKCPdSeev

— Portugal Rugby (@PortugalRugby) October 8, 2023

The Louis Bielle-Biarrey revelation

Skip partials to participate in a World Cup. This is the unusual experience experienced by winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who became, at 20 years and 87 days old, the youngest French player to play a match in the most prestigious competition. And this even though it did not even appear in Fabien Galthié’s initial plans. Aligned from the start against Uruguay (27-12), during the second group match, the Bordeaux player in the red helmet distinguished himself and scored his first try in Blue. Enough to shake up the hierarchy and settle comfortably in the coach’s starting XV.

Antoine Dupont: fear and express return

While the Blues played their rugby without firing a shot against a weak team from Namibia (96-0), the atmosphere suddenly cooled in the aisles of the Stade Vélodrome. Pinned to the ground, the captain of the XV of France, Antoine Dupont, had just crossed paths with his Namibian counterpart Johan Deysel, author of a poorly controlled tackle.

And while the diagnosis revealed a maxillo-zygomatic fracture, many feared that the number 10’s World Cup would be dotted. It did not happen. The brilliant scrum-half recovered much more quickly than expected and finally received the green light from his surgeon to lead his troops in the quarter-finals against the Springboks. For an outcome which, unfortunately, will not have rewarded the efforts made.

South Africa on the throne of world rugby

Beating the All Blacks in the final of a World Cup is (really) not easy, but in addition to having achieved this feat on Saturday at the Stade de France, the Springboks allow South Africa to settle down at the top of international rugby, with a fourth world title, one more than their New Zealand counterparts. A victory which will therefore be a landmark in the history of the oval.

The Flops

Cruel outcome for the Blues

This was supposed to be their year. That of a golden generation, perhaps one of the most brilliant that French rugby has ever known. All the parameters, or almost all, seemed to come together for the blue jersey to welcome a first star. But this Sunday, October 15, the dream suddenly ended.

Facing South Africa, the reigning world champion, the Blues will ultimately have little to reproach themselves for. No doubt they lacked a hint of realism and success against these terribly opportunistic and lethal Springboks in key moments. Certain arbitration decisions, contentious and often unfavorable to the French XV, will also have contributed to writing the nightmare scenario. A slight elimination (28-29) at the gates of the last square.

The consequences of an early draw

In terms of sport, three years is an eternity. However, this is the time that elapsed between the draw for the 2023 World Cup groups and the 2023 World Cup itself. Enough to give rise to certain incongruities since the headliners on January 1, 2020 are no longer necessarily those of September 8, 2023. This is why France and New Zealand were in the same group, just like Ireland and ‘South Africa.

While, in the other part of the table, the moribund English benefited from a very accessible group and a quarter-final against Fiji to reach the semi-final. Inconsistencies which could be partly erased for the next World Cup, the draw for which will take place, this time, a year and a half before.

Australia has lost its rugby

Once the stronghold of world rugby, Australia showed a very sad face on the French lawns. Handicapped by major absentees, including captain Will Skelton, the Wallabies were ejected from the group stages, notably suffering a historic setback against Wales (40-6). Also defeated by Fiji (15-22), Australia, world champion in 1999, came out through the back door and must now work to rebuild a competitive team before hosting the 2027 edition on home soil.

A controversial arbitration

It is customary to say that the man in black is always right on a rugby field. A principle that it has sometimes been difficult to follow to the letter during this World Cup. Notably at the final whistle of the France-South Africa quarter-final, won by the Springboks at the end of a sumptuous confrontation, unfortunately tarnished by several contentious decisions, often in favor of the 2019 world champions. In total, World Rugby has counted five errors, three of which benefited South Africa.

We can also mention the final on Saturday evening, refereed by the Englishman Waynes Barnes, and which was no exception. During this clash between New Zealand and South Africa, New Zealand captain Sam Cane was sent off in the first half after a high tackle on South African center Jesse Kriel, while South African Siya Kolisi only received a yellow card for a similar action. Also, the charge with the elbow of second line Eben Etzebeth on an opposing player was not even seen on video. Decisions which animate criticism of refereeing during this World Cup.