Rugby World Cup Tickets: Which rugby nation will be the best in the world by 2023?
The Six Nations concluded on Halloween before the first
round of the Autumn Nations Cup took place at the weekend just gone. In
virtually COVID-free Australasia fans have attended four Bledisloe Cup games on
either side of the Tasman and seen Argentina and Australia record shock wins
over the All Blacks.
As we near the end of the first (disrupted) year of this
impending World Cup cycle, we edge closer to the British and Irish Lions tour
of South Africa and slowly move towards the next Rugby World Cup in France in
2023. Based on the current form and some predictions, I look at which teams
will have a credible case to claim the World Rugby No. 1 ranking come 2023.
South Africa Rugby World
Cup
The World Cup winners are going to give us no sign of their
game plan and long-term strategy for 2023 given their request to abandon the
Rugby Championship. The next scheduled game they have is in August 2021 against
the British and Irish Lions. I would think (and hope) that Rassie Erasmus and
co are smart enough to arrange some Test preparation for the Boks before they
play some battle-hardened northern hemisphere players.
The challenge the Boks face is how they integrate exciting
talent and older club players into their camp. Duane Vermuelen, Frans Steyn and
Willie Le Roux are all at the back end of their glorious careers. It is time
for Damien Willemse, Warrick Gelant, Curwin Bosch and Aphelele Fassi to be
given more than a short cameo in Test rugby.
Perhaps overseas-based players like the Du Preez brothers,
Jono Ross, Marcell Coetzee, Rohan van Rensburg and Jan Serfontein can even
return to the party to give the Boks some new dynamism without sacrificing too
much experience.
New Zealand Rugby World
Cup
Never doubt New Zealand. They may be in a spot of bother,
but I truly believe they will still be a serious team come 2023 regardless of
who their coach is. New Zealand will keep on rolling out world-beating talent –
think of how good Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu and Akira Ioane
could be by the time they are given sufficient game time.
The big issue the All Blacks must address, however, is the
forward pack. Many Roar commenters say the All-Blacks pack has no
mongrel or brute force about it in comparison to Ireland, England and South
Africa. A new enforcer at No. 6 is needed since Ardie Savea cannot continue to
pack down at No. 8. Having Akira Ioane in the equation adds some depth to both
No. 6 and No. 8. As Sotutu gets more game time, come France 2023, we could see
a Savea (No. 6)-Cane-Sotutu back row.
England Rugby World Cup
Eddie Jones faces the wanted problem of having too much
talent to select from. England is a young and upcoming team in most positions.
The improvements of Exeter and other teams have led to the improved argument of
the Willis and Simmonds brothers, the Curry Brothers, Alex Dombrandt and Max
Malins to launch serious claims for starting jerseys.
What I fear for England is that Jones may not blood all of
these young talents. Eddie Jones is a fantastic coach, but one of his only
weaknesses is his player development and selection policy. It reminds me of
Jose Mourinho in how he chose players out of position rather than young
prospects to keep Chelsea and Manchester United winning big games.
Jones’s selections of Curry at No. 8, Joseph on the wing and
Slade at No. 12 may temporarily work for a few games, but I am not convinced
this is a process worth repeating over getting new faces in the team. However,
they are still a very awesome outfit with great depth in the back row and back
three.
France Rugby World Cup
Allez Les Bleu. The French have been targeting 2023 much
like the England and Wales Cricket Board targeted 2019 as their best
opportunity to finally win a World Cup. While there will be no super overs in
the final in France, France is already looking like a champion team.
With having one of the best, if not the outright best,
academy and youth international teams in the world, like England and New
Zealand, the talent will always be there. France just needs to carefully manage
new prospects and, injury permitting, they are in with a serious chance of
glory come 2023.
Australia Rugby World
Cup
Dave Rennie may have a current record of 1-1-2, but there is
some feeling of optimism in Australian rugby. Like Donald Trump’s trade policy,
they are prioritizing national talent. Instead of loosening their overseas
selection policies, the Wallabies have kept the faith in new guns like Harry
Wilson, Matt Philip, Hunter Paisami, Liam Wright, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and
Lachie Swinton in the forwards. Wilson and Philip play as if they have 30 caps
already.
In the backs, there is strength in depth at No. 9 with Nic
White, Tate Mcdermott, Jake Gordan, and Joe Powell. Dave Rennie must sort out
who plays No. 10, with Noah Lolesio, Reece Hodge, Will Harrison, Matt Toom’ua
and James O’ Connor all valid options and with some needing more exposure.
The Wallabies forwards are improving massively and already
have a decent scrum. Foreign influxes of Sean McMahon, Will Skelton and Rory
Arnold may come, but for now, the Wallabies are doing a good enough job. Don’t
forget Suni Venial is expected to play for the Reds next year.
What they need to do
Win a Six Nations. Finishing the top three may becoming regular for Ireland,
but as Scotland, France and England improve, their task will only be harder.
Next year they have favorable games, facing England and France at home, but
Farrell’s men need to gain the consistency to reap the potential benefits of
establishing a serious team.
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discounted prices. Fans can book Rugby World Cup 2023 Tickets on www.sportticketexchange.com.
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