Four groups, twenty teams: One of the most unpredictable rugby world championships ever kicks off in France on September 8 and there are many suitors. We’ve selected the hardest to predict matches.
Group A and Group B: the most balanced matches
The opening match of the rugby world championship will take place on September 8, 21 in group A against France and New Zealand. maybe it’s about that The most uncertain match of the entire first stage. On the one hand, the French home team, which is third in the world rankings and has a young team, has been built in the last five years ready to play with anyone whose only goal is to reach the world championship appointment.
On the other hand, fourth in the World Rugby rankings, the All Blacks are far from the glory of the absolute domination we witnessed from 2009 to 2017, but are still among the most credited contenders for ultimate victory. The final confrontation between the two XV dates back to November 2021St. Paris in Paris, where the match on September 8 will also be played. The French won the match played at Denis Stadium 40-25.
2023 Rugby World Cup, the most uncertain races
The tension of the first match will affect both teams, but France will have to cope with the enormous pressure from a country that expects an epic world cup from Les Bleus: anything can happenTherefore, make the necessary assessments before placing your bets on rugby.
Another extraordinary match will be on September 23, which will bring Ireland, which is ranked 1st and 2nd in the world rankings, against South Africa. They faced off in Groups A and B due to World Rugby’s draw very early (almost three years ago). the four strongest teams in the world At the moment, there is a situation that will be reflected in the quarter-finals; The two teams in the top 4 in the world will be eliminated from the semi-finals.
The fight for first place in group B is going to be really hell. Ireland has not lost a game since July 2, 2022lost to the All Blacks in the summer tour and then thirteen consecutive victories and winning the Grand Slam in the Six Nations tournament. The Springboks, who became champions following the Japan 2019 victory, instead beat the All Blacks 35 to 7 in the toughest ever defeat for the New Zealanders: a business card that definitively clarifies the Bokkies’ ambitions.
on paper, Ireland in training number 1 in the standings Slightly favored side, but the South Africans, led by captain Kolisi, are an experienced team with great power: it will be a massive battle.
Group C and Group D: Matches with the clearest predictions
Australia and Wales are the two teams that have gone through a complete restructuring, making it to the World Cup after a series of disastrous results over the past two years, but there is also the possibility of finding themselves in second place thanks to the self-destructing draw of World Rugby. final. The match to be played in Lyon on September 24 for the 3rd day in Group C, It will decide the fate of both teams..
The Wallabies, who are ninth in the world rankings, defeated Wales 39-34 in their last match against Wales in the test match of their European tour last November. Ranked tenth in the World Rugby rankings, one step behind the Australians, Wales achieved their final success at the 2023 Six Nations; An unconvincing 29v17 score was due more to Azzurri’s flaw than to the team’s quality. Red Dragons, This they work great complete a fundamental generational change.
If all goes as planned, the winner of this match will challenge Group D runner-up in the quarterfinals. It’s counterintuitive but inevitably achievable given the tournament’s format. Towards the semi-finals between Wales and Australia. That’s why the match on September 24 is likely to be dazzling as the teams struggle to make the unexpected fortune that comes from the strange nature of the group.
In Group D, England and Argentina are in the same position as Australia and Wales. In a group kissed by fate, they only need to pay attention to Japan, Samoa and Chile, two teams can target semifinals and then play them all.
England is experiencing one of the worst versions of the last two decades; An XV that struggled to find size and lost all reference after coach Eddie Jones was knocked down. He will challenge the sixth-placed Argentines, who are eighth in the standings and come to France knowing he can play their cards. The British start with some favorites by traditionbut on a technical level there’s more to Pumas right now. Kick-off will take place on September 9 at 21:00 at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille.
