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Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup 2023
Favourites to win? Could this be one of the most open World Cups for a long time?
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<blockquote data-quote="TRF_stormer2010" data-source="post: 1098649" data-attributes="member: 39190"><p>Indeed very open. My 2 cents:</p><p></p><p>Ireland are along with France the form sides and right up there BUT both will need to be mentally strong. I almost feel like the French would be more of a threat outside of home as that if anything just adds to the expectation. Ireland have to buckle their trend of underperforming at RWCs. The end of year tours will be interesting that's sure.</p><p></p><p>That said, Ireland aren't the only ones with RWC trends to buckle. SA need to be able to back up a RWC win whereas our ***les have been 12 years apart. I feel its a blessing in disguise that we aren't going in as favorites even if we are going in as defending champions. Our biggest asset is that our play style is proven to be effective in knock out rugby and we should be able to get the juices flowing which is when we play our best rugby. England I feel might also look to be out of form but I'll back them to be formidable in the RWC for the same reasons I'd back SA and I'd back both ahead of Ireland even if the form books say no. </p><p></p><p>Another reason I'd back England to go far, but counter-intuitively this might count against them for the actual ***le, is that they have a relatively easy draw going into the Semi's whereas only two of France, Ireland, NZ and SA will make the semi's which is crazy and those sides will go into the semi's having gone through a monumental QF whichever sides that might be. So here for that fact alone Aus and Wales have a huge leg up for going deep and then I suppose anything can happen on the day. The draw just further opens up the field. </p><p></p><p>NZ will be competitive. Its as simple as that they have so much talent in key positions.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TRF_stormer2010, post: 1098649, member: 39190"] Indeed very open. My 2 cents: Ireland are along with France the form sides and right up there BUT both will need to be mentally strong. I almost feel like the French would be more of a threat outside of home as that if anything just adds to the expectation. Ireland have to buckle their trend of underperforming at RWCs. The end of year tours will be interesting that's sure. That said, Ireland aren't the only ones with RWC trends to buckle. SA need to be able to back up a RWC win whereas our ***les have been 12 years apart. I feel its a blessing in disguise that we aren't going in as favorites even if we are going in as defending champions. Our biggest asset is that our play style is proven to be effective in knock out rugby and we should be able to get the juices flowing which is when we play our best rugby. England I feel might also look to be out of form but I'll back them to be formidable in the RWC for the same reasons I'd back SA and I'd back both ahead of Ireland even if the form books say no. Another reason I'd back England to go far, but counter-intuitively this might count against them for the actual ***le, is that they have a relatively easy draw going into the Semi's whereas only two of France, Ireland, NZ and SA will make the semi's which is crazy and those sides will go into the semi's having gone through a monumental QF whichever sides that might be. So here for that fact alone Aus and Wales have a huge leg up for going deep and then I suppose anything can happen on the day. The draw just further opens up the field. NZ will be competitive. Its as simple as that they have so much talent in key positions. [/QUOTE]
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Rugby World Cup 2023
Favourites to win? Could this be one of the most open World Cups for a long time?
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