A tournament opener to get excited about, underdogs that will be full of confidence and how England can overcome their messy situation… Sir Clive Woodward’s World Cup lowdown
- The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be started by France and New Zealand on Friday
- There’s plenty to get excited about as the tournament prepares to get underway
- Here, Sir Clive Woodward has provided his lowdown on each of the groups
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
After what feels like weeks and months of preparations, planning and debate, the Rugby World Cup will finally get underway on Friday night.
New Zealand and France will face-off in the tournament’s opener, in a bid to top Group A, which promises to be an exciting affair.
Meanwhile, the likes of Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be looking to ensure their qualification through their respective groups.
And as for England, it’s yet to be seen how they will respond from their sorry August campaign but fans can still be optimistic about their chances.
So, here, Mail Sport‘s Sir Clive Woodward provides the lowdown on all the groups in the Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand will be hoping to win the fourth Rugby World Cup title of their nation’s history
However, they’ll have to overcome France in the tournament’s mouthwatering opener
GROUP A
Whoever wins Friday’s mouthwatering tournament opener between hosts France and New Zealand will finish top of Pool A. France have injury problems but the whole nation is behind them.
It could be an all-time classic because both teams play with such ferocious pace. France and New Zealand have players — Antoine Dupont, Damian Penaud, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan —who will light up this World Cup.
Italy are improving and have a wonderful player in Ange Capuozzo. They don’t have the ability to beat the big two but the Azzurri will still probably finish third. Uruguay and Namibia are not going to trouble the scorers until they play each other.
GROUP B
This pool is ridiculous. Ireland, South Africa and Scotland are ranked first, second and fifth in the world respectively. Then throw in Tonga. It is so competitive. If Tonga were in another pool, they could have caused a shock after benefiting from the change in eligibility laws, but I can’t see them qualifying.
One big team is not going to make the quarter-finals from this pool and Scotland are in danger. Ireland are Six Nations Grand Slam champions. South Africa are defending champions and look even stronger than in 2019.
The Springboks have fearsome physicality and iconic captain Siya Kolisi is back. Ireland and South Africa will qualify but there should be some fantastic games.
Ireland’s Andy Farrell will be hoping to beat the odds and triumph from their tricky group
GROUP C
This is wide open. Wales had an awful Six Nations but should fancy their chances of qualifying and in Warren Gatland they have a coach who knows what it takes at a World Cup. Australia have not won since Eddie Jones returned as head coach. Captain Will Skelton is their key figure.
Fiji are dark horses but the loss of their fly-half and guiding light, Caleb Muntz, to injury is a blow. Georgia beat Wales last autumn. They have a chance against Australia on Saturday but I wonder about their ability to beat other teams as the tournament progresses, given their lack of depth.
Two of Wales, Australia and Fiji will qualify and it is really tough to predict, as each of those three teams could well beat each other.
Fiji claimed a famous win over England last month and will be full of confidence.
Australia will be hoping to break their poor streak since the arrival of Eddie Jones
GROUP D
England go into the World Cup in a right mess. As I have maintained this summer, their first game against Argentina is like a World Cup final. It is that big.
Win that game and everyone will forget the misery of the August campaign. But lose to the Pumas — and that is entirely possible given their attack — and the pressure will increase on head coach Steve Borthwick and his players.
England are in the easier half of the draw. They need to beat two of Argentina, Japan and Samoa to reach the last eight, where they would likely play one of Wales, Australia or Fiji to reach a semi-final.
Michael Cheika’s Pumas are the main threat. Japan are not the side they were four years ago and Samoa are dangerous but beatable. It is a first World Cup for minnows Chile.
England are a mess right now and will be grateful to be on the easier half of the draw
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