The 2023 edition of the Rugby World Cup is around the corner and rather than sit on the fence, here are FIVE bold predictions ahead of the tournament in France.
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All Blacks will beat France in the opening match
The tournament will kick off with a blockbuster clash between France and New Zealand at the Stade de France on Friday, 8 September at 21:15 (SA time).
While the stadium will be packed to the rafters with passionate French fans, the All Blacks will find a way to win and set the tone for what will be a deep, but ultimately unsuccessful, campaign.
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Springboks won’t defend the Webb Ellis Cup
The tournament has come at the wrong time for a number of key Springboks, most notably Handre Pollard.
Add in the absence of Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager and even the most die-hard of Springbok fan will acknowledge that this may be a bridge too far for Siye Kolisi’s men.
They will beat Scotland in their opener (as well as Romania and Tonga), but suffer a defeat against Ireland and face the All Blacks in the quarter-finals where Jacques Nienaber’s men will also end up on the losing side.
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Referee controversy? YES
Sadly, that’s not even half a bold prediction. Rugby has been blighted by inconsistent refereeing, TMO decisions and judicial hearing verdicts in recent months – and years.
That’s not going to change during the World Cup, despite World Rugby claiming to have assembled the best-of-the-best team of match officials.
Springbok fans will cry foul and point to inconsistencies in law interpretations as they head home early from the tournament.
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England won’t reach the knock-out stage
This may well be welcomed by many and seen as justice having been served.
With England in woeful form of late, coupled with the fact they have lost key players Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola to bans, they will lose to Argentina in their opening match and then a combination of wins and losses by those two teams plus Japan and Samoa will see England eliminated on the tiebreaker to determine the final pool standings.
Sorry, not sorry.
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France will be crowned champions
Hosts France will meet the All Blacks in the final on Saturday, 28 October, once again at the Stade de France.
This time around, however, the French will have learned from their mistakes in the opening match and sneak a late victory.
Jaco Peyper won’t referee this match, instead England’s Wayne Barnes will take charge.
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How many of those bold predictions do you agree with? Do you have any predictions of your own?
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