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France's opening World Cup clash with All Blacks just two years away
In exactly two years’ time, a blaring whistle will signal kick-off as France go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup.
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It’s been two years since the Springboks were crowned champions in Japan and, thanks to the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic, rugby is still yet to return to the heights of South Africa’s famous victory over England in front of 70,000-strong Yokohama crowd.
There are signs that the game is stirring once more, however, with the upcoming November internationals set to mark the first full-scale inter-hemisphere smorgasbord of matches since 2019.
Clashes between Australia and England, South Africa and Wales, and Japan and Ireland should all make for tense viewing, but the highlight of the coming international window will perhaps be the All Blacks’ impending clash with France, set for November 20.
After bowing out in the knockout stages of the 2019 tournament, both nations are starting to make massive strides ahead of their opening night fixture in 2023 and the coming match will give fans a taste of where their sides sit halfway through the current cycle.
While the groups for France 2023 were decided late last year, and the draw was unveiled earlier in 2021, there’s still much to be decided for the coming tournament.
In Pool A, New Zealand and France will be joined by their traditional World Cup rival, Italy, as well as the top emerging nations from Africa and the Americas.
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Those spots will likely be filled by Namibia and whoever emerges victorious between Uruguay and the winner of the current series being played between the USA and Canada.
Canada secured a surprise victory in the first match of the series last weekend and the Eagles will need to turn around a 13-point deficit in the return fixture on Saturday if they want to avoid a considerably more convoluted path to World Cup qualification.
South Africa, Ireland and Scotland will battle it out for the two spots in Pool B, alongside the top tier-two side from the Asia/Pacific region – likely Tonga – and the Europe 2 qualifier.
The Europe 1 qualifier, meanwhile, will join Wales, Australia and Fiji in Pool C, as well as the final qualifier from the ‘best of the rest’ repechage tournament set to be held next year.
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The two European emerging nations will also be decided in 2022, with aggregate results from two years’ worth of Rugby Europe Championship games to determine who will get the chance to play at rugby’s flagship tournament.
Georgia (five wins from five matches) and Portugal (three wins) are currently in the box-seat but Romania and Russia have games in hand and still hold their futures in their own hands ahead of next year’s Championship.
Finally, England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa will all fancy their chances of qualifying out of Pool D, and will be joined by one further side from the Americas.
While the full fixture list can’t be confirmed until the 20 qualified nations are determined, the opening game between Les Bleus and the All Blacks in Paris promises to spearhead what’s looming as the biggest Rugby World Cup of all-time.
2023 Rugby World Cup Pools
Pool A:
New Zealand
France
Italy
Americas 1
Africa 1
Pool B:
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Asia/Pacific 1
Europe 2
Pool C:
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Europe 1
Final Qualifier Winner
Pool D:
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Americas 2
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments