It’s finally here.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup has arrived, with 20 nations fighting for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup over the coming seven weeks.
The quadrennial tournament will be hosted across nine cities in France, culminating in the final at Paris’ Stade de France on October 28.
The draw, based on rankings from three years ago, is bizarrely lopsided, with Ireland, South Africa and Scotland finding themselves in the same pool, while the sport’s top five ranked nations are fighting over two semi-finals spots.
It makes the 2023 edition of the tournament one of the most open in history, and it all kicks off on Saturday morning when hosts France face the might All Blacks in Paris from 5.15am AEST.
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‘Huge privilege’: Issak eager to perform | 01:05
NEW ZEALAND
World Ranking: 4th
2023 Form: Four wins, one defeat
Group stage opponents: New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia
The All Blacks won their 20th Rugby Championship title earlier this year, finishing the tournament 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 great Olivier Magne to brand New Zealand’s current squad as the “weakest in history”.
“South Africa’s display against New Zealand is significant for the world of rugby,” Magne said.
“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’ experienced squad ahead of the marquee tournament.
“Their depth of experience will be key,” Horan told 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 before WC | 00:48
FRANCE
World Ranking: 3rd
2023 Form: Seven wins, two defeats
Group stage opponents: New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia
The host nation is still searching for its maiden World Cup title after reaching the final on three occasions.
France, who claimed a thumping 41-17 victory over the Wallabies last week, may not have a better chance of lifting the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy than this year’s World Cup campaign in their own backyard.
Les Bleus have only lost two Tests since July 2021, with their most recent defeat at home coming four months before that. Meanwhile, France have won the last three editions of the Under-20 World Cup, which forebodes well 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 told 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 never made it past the World Cup quarter-finals, a record they’ll be desperate to resolve in France this year.
The Six Nations champions, who are undefeated in 2023, are the top-ranked rugby nation in the world, and have been for more than 12 months.
Irish rugby legend Paul O’Connell said the current squad was better than the talented outfit he featured in during 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 ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup opener against 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 record 35-7 victory over New Zealand at Twickenham.
Jacques Nienaber’s side, who have secured four consecutive wins, appear to be hitting form just at the right time, finishing second in this year’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: 8th
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 losing six of their nine Tests since Steve Borthwick took over as head coach.
Last week, England suffered a humbling eight-point to Fiji at Twickenham, which came after a record 53-10 defeat to France during the Six Nations.
To make matters worse, England captain Owen Farrell will miss group stage matches against Argentina and Japan due his dangerous tackle ban.
However, Borthwick remains optimistic of England’s chances, citing the “experienced, talented people” in his squad.
“We’ve seen signs of growth in certain areas and other areas have dropped off,” Borthwick said.
“They are determined to make sure they play to their potential … I’m very confident these players will perform.”
AUSTRALIA
World Ranking: 9th
2023 Form: Zero wins, five defeats
Group stage opponents: Wales, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal
Nothing has gone right for the Wallabies since Eddie Jones took over as head coach earlier this year, but Australia can take comfort in their fortuitous draw.
The Wallabies have never missed a World Cup quarter-finals, a record that is unlikely to change unless they suffer heavy defeats to Fiji and Wales.
Jones has yet to register a victory since he stepped into the Wallabies coaching role, but the Australian offered a word of warning ahead of the quadrennial tournament.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win,” Jones told reporters last month.
“Tell us we’re terrible and we will prove you wrong.”
Eddie’s experiment continues ahead of WC | 01:11
SCOTLAND
World Ranking: 5th
2023 Form: Six wins, three defeats
Group stage opponents: South Africa, Ireland, Tonga, Romania
Scotland has emerged as a dark horse ahead of this year’s World Cup, toppling France in Edinburgh and rising to an all-time high of fifth on the world rankings.
However, the Scottish have been dealt a brutal draw, facing powerhouse nations South Africa and Ireland in 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 said.
“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 full of praise for Scotland ahead 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 said.
“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: 6th
2023 Form: Two wins, three defeats
Group stage opponents: England, Japan, Samoa, Chile
The Pumas arrive in France with perhaps their strongest squad in World Cup history.
Argentina, coached by former Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika, proved they were no easybeats by toppling England at Twickenham last year, also defeating Australia in Sydney during the recent Rugby Championship.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s dominant scrum remains their biggest weapon, as identified 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: 7th
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, but both sides will be weary of the threat Fiji poses.
The Fijians, fresh off a historic 30-22 victory over England at Twickenham, possess a dynamic, exciting brand of rugby, and they’re more than capable of causing an upset.
However, they were dealt a massive blow earlier this week when fly-half Caleb Muntz, who scored 15 points against England last month, was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury.
“It’s most devastating for us as a group and for Caleb,” coach Simon Raiwalui said.
“We feel for him as a young man that he misses the opportunity so close to the Rugby World Cup.”
Fiji have previously qualified for the quarter-finals on two occasions, 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 previous World Cup have dropped out of the top ten of the world rankings, now sitting below three of their four opponents in the group stage.
Japan suffered defeats in three of their four warm-up games, including 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 explained.
However, the Japanese have a knack of causing World Cup upsets, defeating Ireland and Scotland in the group stage of the 2019 tournament and more famously stunning South Africa four years earlier.
