2023 Rugby World Cup: Picking the 5 Front-Runners & Why

We say it every time, but it’s true: the Rugby World Cup 2023 will likely be the most tightly-contested World Cup in history, with the northern hemisphere, which has traditionally been quite underwhelming at past World Cups, now offering some serious threats, along with the southern hemisphere landscape being shaken up by some big moves. Looking at who stands the best chance of nabbing the William Webb Ellis trophy, we’ve highlighted some of the teams that will likely make their mark in France come September.

France

Everyone has been thinking it for a while, and after their thrashing performance against England in Round 4 of the Six Nations, France is looking like the favourite for this year’s Rugby World Cup. With players like Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont settling into their roles and acting as a key combination, France is a concern for any team who comes up against them. Add in the fact that they’re hosts, France will be extremely comfortable in their own stadiums, have the crowd at their back, and benefit from knowing the conditions. Of course, heavy lies the crown, and the French have an immense amount of expectation on them, which could work for or against their composure. Their depth is also a question, as any injury to a key position could possibly derail their chances.

South Africa

Of course, it’s hard not to throw the Springboks into the hat of likely winners. The South African side will head to France to defend the trophy, and the squad itself will most likely be filled with previous winners from 2019’s tournament. South Africa has arguably the best depth, with 2 or 3 world-class players in line for every position, along with a coaching staff who have literally done the job before; so it’s not about potential, but rather about getting the timing and combinations correct. If the Springboks are able to maintain their physicality against stronger opposition this time around, and manage to still strike on those counter-attacking opportunities that seem to produce most of SA’s tries, it’s going to be a tough task for anyone facing Jacques Nienaber’s men.

Ireland

The no. 1 team in the world are there for a reason. Ireland has been the most consistent team in the last couple of years, rarely losing a game, and even beating France 32-19 in Round 2 of the Six Nations. The likes of Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, James Lowe, and Hugo Keenan are so key to their attack, and every time they touch the ball, something happens. They also have a powerful forward pack which can keep up with the biggest and toughest in the world. There’s no doubt that their timing is right, so it’s just about player management and keeping their core players uninjured as they go back to their respective clubs before the World Cup. While other teams are still working out their selection and combos, Ireland has it down perfectly.

New Zealand

While they seem to have slipped out of the limelight, it would be foolish to think that the All Blacks are not in the running for the World Cup. New Zealand may have lost some of their trophy-laden stalwarts in recent years, but never forget, they still have some World Cup champions in the likes of Beauden Barrett and Sam Whitelock, who can lead their respective troops in the backs and forwards. The All Blacks might not be as sharp as they have been in years gone by, but they are going to be in the mix, as even their B-side can cause massive trouble for any nation; and close followers of World Cups know that utilising your larger squad (even a second side) while managing your key players is how you win a World Cup.

Argentina

Next to Scotland, easily the most improved side in world rugby is that of Argentina. The South Americans have been taking big-name scalps slowly but surely over the past couple of seasons and now know how to beat any team in the world. If they can keep their discipline in check and use their core competency of speed, muscle, and skill, they may surprise everyone at this year’s tournament and beat their third and fourth-place finishes in 2007 and 2015 respectively. Michael Cheika’s influence on the side seems to be coming to fruition as of late, and the combination of style and Aussie-coached grit could see them come away with the prize in France.

Dark horse: Wallabies

We’re going to give the Wallabies the dark horse moniker for this year’s tournament. While Australian rugby seems to be somewhat in disarray with what the union’s overarching plan is, the Australian players have a knack for pulling a rabbit out of the hat when they have their backs against the wall. Sadly, some of their key players — Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, and Samu Kerevi — are still recovering from injury or dealing with controversy, so it’s hard to know their effectiveness at this stage. However, there are some great Australian players floating around the world, and if Eddie Jones can rally them in time, and simply give them the freedom to play what they see, the Wallabies could pounce out of the shadows and be unexpected but feared contenders in this year’s tournament.

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