The 2023 Rugby World Cup is almost here, with teams from around the world gathering in France to compete for the Webb Ellis Cup. Preparations are complete, and now it’s time for the real challenge.
Let’s dive into the details of Pool A and get you ready for the action!
Rugby World Cup 2023:
Pool A
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is upon us, and we’re here to give you the lowdown on Pool A. Let’s start with the teams:
NEW ZEALAND (All Blacks)
Coach: Ian Foster
Captain: Sam Cane
Best finish: Champions in 1987, 2011, 2015
How they qualified: Automatically qualified as bronze medalists from the 2019 Rugby World Cup
Player to watch: He’s a force to be reckoned with in the back-row, a game-changer known for his relentless talent.
The All Blacks had a nearly perfect lead-up to the World Cup until they suffered a shocking 37-5 defeat by the Springboks at Twickenham. This loss raised questions, but they remain a formidable team.
What are they aiming for: The All Blacks aim for nothing less than their fourth Rugby World Cup title. They’re determined to put aside a challenging 2022 season and show their strength in France.
FRANCE (Les Bleus)
Coach: Fabien Galthie
Captain: Antoine Dupont
Best finish: Runners-up in 1987, 1999, 2011
How they qualified: Automatic qualification as tournament hosts
Player to watch: While Antoine Dupont is a star halfback, keep an eye on Matthieu Jalibert, who will step into the fly-half role. He brings a unique style and swagger to the game.
France is hosting the tournament, and they have a strong squad. Their opening match against New Zealand will set the tone for their campaign.
The All Blacks and Les Bleus are the teams to watch in Pool A. Stay tuned for more Rugby World Cup updates!
France’s Build-Up to the Rugby World Cup:
France has had an impressive lead-up to the Rugby World Cup. They’ve won 17 out of 20 matches since March 2021 and were ranked No. 1 in the world in 2022. Despite the loss of Romain Ntamack, they have strong fly-half options in Matthieu Jalibert and Antoine Hastoy. France is known for winning close games, as seen in their last-minute victory over the Wallabies. In their final warm-up match against Australia, they showcased their destructive abilities, with Thomas Ramos excelling in kicking, and their backline slicing through the Australian defense.
What They’re Aiming For:
France aims to break their “always the bridesmaid” reputation. Despite reaching the Rugby World Cup Final three times, they’ve never won the Webb Ellis Cup. In 2023, as the host nation, they are determined to become World Champions. Anything less than that, especially after their rise to No. 1 last year, would be a disappointment. Their first match against the All Blacks will set the tone for their knockout stage path, which could include Ireland or South Africa in the quarters. Winning the World Cup at home is their ultimate goal.
Italy:
Coach: Kieran Crowley
Captain: Michele Lamaro
Also known as: Azzurri
Best finish: Yet to make it out of the pool stage, with the exception of 1999.
Italy’s Build-Up:
Italy had a notable year in 2022, securing surprising victories over Wales and Australia. However, their form in 2023 has been less impressive. They enter the tournament on a two-game win streak, defeating Romania 57-7 and Japan 42-21. While these wins boost their confidence, their performance in other matches, including Six Nations losses and World Cup warm-up defeats against Scotland and Ireland, raises concerns. Italy’s key player to watch is Ange Capuozzo, a young fullback who made a strong impact in 2022.
What They’re Aiming For:
Italy’s primary goal is to progress beyond the pool stage, something they haven’t achieved often. However, with New Zealand and France in their pool, this will be a challenging task. They’ll be satisfied with claiming a scalp against either France or the All Blacks and finishing third in the pool.
Italy’s Aims:
Italy’s primary aim is to achieve something they haven’t done frequently: advance beyond the pool stage. However, given the challenging pool they are in, it would be considered a significant achievement if they make it to the knockout stage. Claiming a victory over either France or New Zealand would be a cause for celebration for the Azzurri. Nonetheless, finishing third in the pool is the most likely outcome, considering the strength of their opponents.
Uruguay:
Coach: Esteban Meneses
Captain: Andres Vilaseca
Also known as: Los Teros
Best Performance: Uruguay has participated in four Rugby World Cups so far – in 1999, 2003, 2015, and 2019. Out of these, they achieved victory in one tournament, and they couldn’t secure a win in the 2015 World Cup.
Qualification Process: To earn their place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Uruguay competed in the Americas region qualifications. This competition involved teams like Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia, the USA, and Canada. Uruguay secured their spot in the World Cup by defeating Chile and Brazil. They then advanced to a play-off match against the USA, where they emerged victorious, earning the title of Americas 1 for the first time in their history.Uruguay won the play-off against the USA to qualify for the World Cup as Americas 1 for the first time in their history, with a 50-34 points aggregate.
Uruguay’s Build-Up:
As a tier 2 nation, Uruguay has played eight Tests in two years, three of which were in the last month. Despite having a shorter lead-in to the tournament, they are pleased with their three wins this year, especially against pool opponents Namibia. They displayed well-executed tries, utilizing their powerful forwards for mauling and their agile backline for slicing through Namibia’s defense. The squad faced some challenges with injuries and suspensions, including Santiago Civetta’s Achilles injury and Franco Lamanna’s three-year suspension for a doping violation. Nevertheless, Uruguay brings a squad with significant World Cup experience, with many players continuing from the 2019 World Cup.
Player to Watch:
Santiago Arata is a highly sought-after scrum-half playing in the French Top 14. He will have the opportunity to showcase his talent on rugby’s grandest stage. Arata had several impressive seasons at Castres and is well-known among French rugby fans. He played a crucial role in Uruguay’s surprising victory over Fiji in Japan four years ago and is expected to be a pivotal figure again this year. Known for his precise passing, vision around the ruck, and willingness to make big tackles, Arata will add excitement to the tournament.
Uruguay’s Goals:
Uruguay’s main objective is to achieve significant success at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They have set their sights on securing automatic qualification for the 2025 World Cup, which they believe is achievable through impressive performances in their pool matches. Despite being in one of the tournament’s toughest pools, their priorities are clear. They aim to make a mark by defeating Italy and Namibia, which would be considered a significant achievement. Their focus is on the key matches against France, Italy, and Namibia, and they hope to replicate their World Cup warmup victory against Namibia.
Namibia:
Coach: Allister Coetzee
Captain: John Deysel
Also known as: Welwitschias
Best finish: Competing at six World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019); Namibia is yet to secure a win.
How they qualified:
Namibia secured their place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup by competing in the Africa region qualification process. They achieved this by defeating Kenya 36-0 to win the Rugby Africa Cup 2022. The qualification journey began in 2021 with 12 participating teams, including Namibia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, Zambia, Ghana, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Uganda, and Cote D’Ivoire. Namibia’s successful progression through the 2021 tournament involved victories over Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and finally Kenya.
Namibia’s Preparation:
As a tier 2 nation, Namibia had limited opportunities to prepare for the World Cup in 2023. They played only four matches this year to fine-tune their squad ahead of the tournament. These games yielded a mix of results for the Welwitschias, including a hard-fought two-point victory over Chile and three losses. Their defeats came against Argentina XV, the United Rugby Championship side Vodafone Bulls, and their pool opponents Uruguay.
One notable aspect of Namibia’s build-up was their ability to mount a comeback against Chile, overcoming a 19-point deficit to secure a narrow win. However, there were concerns, particularly in their defense, as they struggled to contain Chile’s attacking plays. Additionally, their opponents, Uruguay, also found ways to exploit Namibia’s defense, particularly in the backs, and posed challenges in shutting down their lineout maul.
Player to Watch: Divan Rossouw
A standout player to watch for Namibia is Divan Rossouw, known for his versatility and impressive performances. He delivered a man-of-the-match performance during Namibia’s World Cup qualifying match against Kenya. Despite only recently making his debut for Namibia, Rossouw has already made a significant impact, with several try-scoring contributions to his name.
Rossouw’s strengths lie in his ability to break open games through his remarkable ball-running skills. He had to make a tough choice in 2019, opting for his studies over participating in the World Cup that year. However, in 2023, Rossouw is set to be one of Namibia’s standout players, showcasing his talent as a threat to the opposition. His versatility allows him to play at both wing and fullback positions. He is likely to feature in the No. 15 jersey, where his exceptional vision and ability to handle high balls will be key assets for Namibia.
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