2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B :Important Information

The Rugby World Cup 2023 is getting closer, and people around the world are getting more excited.

Can France win the tournament while playing on their home turf? Will the Springboks or All Blacks win the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time? Can Ireland, who are currently at the top of the world rankings, perform well in the World Cup for the first time?

We’ll find out the answers to these questions in the next few months. But for now, let’s take a look at what’s coming up in Pool B!

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023:

South Africa

Coach: Jacques Nienaber

Captain: Siya Kolisi

Best finish: They won the Rugby World Cup in 1995, 2007, and 2019.

How they qualified: They’re automatically in because they are the defending champions.

Build-up: South Africa’s coach, Jacques Nienaber, named his World Cup squad early, making some notable omissions like Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, and Lood de Jager. They had a good start to the year, winning three out of four games, including victories against Argentina and Australia but losing to the All Blacks in New Zealand. Captain Siya Kolisi made an impressive comeback from a knee injury in a big win against Wales. The team also had a convincing 35-7 victory against New Zealand, showing they are well-prepared for the World Cup. There have been some concerns about the goal kicking of fly-half Manie Libok, but he’s gaining experience in recent warm-up games.

Player to watch: Keep an eye on Canan Moodie. He’s a 20-year-old winger who made a big impact in 2022, scoring a memorable try against the Wallabies in Sydney. Moodie has a great combination of size and speed, making him a threat both when carrying the ball and in the air. This is crucial for the Springboks, who often use scrum-half Faf de Klerk’s box kicks. Moodie has shown his skills in recent games, like South Africa’s 52-16 win over Wales and their victory against the All Blacks when he played at center. He’s one of the rising stars of the tournament.

Expectations for South Africa: It’s tough to imagine South Africa losing to both Ireland and Scotland, despite the talents of those teams. The real challenge for South Africa will likely come in the quarterfinals, assuming they qualify. They are likely to face either France or New Zealand, and that’s where things get interesting. The demanding pool stage may either catch up with them or prepare them for a thrilling clash with one of the tournament favorites. Nevertheless, South Africa comes into the competition in excellent form, playing the kind of rugby that wins knockout matches at the World Cup. Springbok fans will anticipate their team making history by becoming the first to win the Webb Ellis Cup four times.

Ireland

Coach: Andy Farrell

Captain: Jonny Sexton

Best finish: They reached the quarterfinals.

How they qualified: They reached the quarterfinals in 2019.

Build-up: Ireland enters the World Cup with high confidence, having secured three more wins after their Six Nations Grand Slam earlier in the year. They have an impressive streak of 14 straight Test victories, beating teams from the top 10 in world rugby, except for Argentina. Interestingly, Argentina has been a challenge for Ireland in past World Cups. One issue Ireland faced was the absence of playmaker and captain Jonny Sexton, who received a three-week ban for verbal abuse towards officials after the European Champions Cup final. Given his age at 37, this break may have been a blessing in disguise. Ireland plays an organized, efficient style of rugby, built around Sexton, a mobile forward pack, and complemented by skillful finishers like Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan.

Player to watch: Keep an eye on Josh van der Flier. He’s the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year and represents a new generation of Irish talent that has flourished under Andy Farrell. Van der Flier is a disruptive force at the breakdown, a diligent defender, and an underrated ball-carrier. He embodies the modern back-rower who excels in all aspects of the game. If Ireland aims to progress beyond the quarterfinals for the first time, you can be sure that van der Flier will play a crucial role.

Expectations for Ireland: Ireland is currently the world’s number 1 ranked team under Farrell’s leadership. However, there’s a lingering sense of uncertainty among Irish fans when it comes to the World Cup. This is because Ireland has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in a Rugby World Cup. Will this year be different? It’s not guaranteed, especially considering they might face a decisive match against Scotland in their final pool game, followed by a quarterfinal against either France or the All Blacks a week later. Irish fans are cautious and won’t take anything for granted. Ireland’s World Cup draw in 2020 was challenging, but their confidence has reached new heights after making history with a series win in New Zealand and a Six Nations Grand Slam. Anything less than a trip to the final in France would be seen as a missed opportunity. It might take some time for Ireland to build a squad as strong as the one they have now.

Scotland

Coach: Gregor Townsend

Captain: Jamie Ritchie

Best finish: They reached the semifinals in 1991.

How they qualified: They finished third in their pool.

Build-up: Scottish rugby is in a better place now than it has been for a while. There’s a sense of optimism and genuine belief in the team. They’ve resolved issues with star player Finn Russell and have a familiar playing group at their disposal. Scotland finished third in this year’s Six Nations and have a team built from improved pathways and shrewd recruitment from abroad. The only setback was the unexpected retirement of fullback Stuart Hogg, but Blair Kinghorn’s emergence has softened the blow. Scotland prepared for the World Cup by defeating Italy and Georgia and splitting a two-Test series with France.

Player to watch: Fly-half Finn Russell is a must-watch player. He’s one of the most exciting talents in world rugby, known for his unpredictable and dazzling style of play. Now that his differences with Coach Townsend have been resolved, Russell has the freedom to play his unique game. He keeps opposition defenses on their toes, although it can sometimes backfire. When Russell is in form, he can almost single-handedly win a Test match. He’s also a reliable goal kicker.

Expectations for Scotland: Scotland faces a tough challenge in their World Cup group. They are ranked fifth in the world and have been drawn with Ireland and South Africa, two teams they’ve struggled against recently. Their first match against South Africa could be an opportunity for an upset, perhaps drawing inspiration from Japan’s Miracle of Brighton in 2015. If Scotland manages to advance from Pool B, it would be a remarkable achievement in itself.

Tonga

Coach: Toutai Kefu

Captain: Sonatane Takulua

Best finish: They reached third place in their pool in 2007 and 2011, winning two games.

How they qualified: They qualified through the Asia/Pacific +1 region.

Build-up: Tonga had a challenging couple of years due to COVID, with limited opportunities to play. However, they’ve made the most of World Rugby’s eligibility changes, allowing players to represent a second nation they have a familial link to after a three-year stand down. This has boosted Tonga’s talent pool, with players like Charles Piutau, Vaea Fifita, and Malakai Fekitoa joining the squad. The inclusion of Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific has also provided a pathway for Tongan players. Unfortunately, Israel Folau couldn’t overcome a knee injury to participate in his second World Cup, and George Moala’s suspension for a lifting tackle is another setback.

Player to watch: Keep an eye on Vaea Fifita, especially in the forward pack. He’s a former Hurricanes back-rower who showed immense promise when he scored a brilliant solo try on his All Blacks debut in 2017. However, he fell out of favor under Steve Hansen due to his versatility. Now, after several seasons in the northern hemisphere, he’s a key figure for Tonga. His 50-meter try against Canada in a warm-up game demonstrates his talent.

Expectations: Tonga is expected to have no trouble defeating Romania. Their primary goal might be to disrupt the plans of the Springboks, Scotland, or Ireland in the pool stage. While it might be challenging for Tonga to secure a win against these strong teams, their matches against Tonga, and their ability to secure bonus points, could play a crucial role in determining which teams advance from Pool B. Tonga has a history of causing upsets, such as their stunning victory over France in 2011, which ultimately led to France losing the final by a single point.

Romania

Coach: Eugen Apjok

Captain: Christian-Marian Chirica

Also known as: Stejarii (The Oaks)

Best finish: Romania reached third place in their pool in 1987, 1991, and 1999, securing one win.

How they qualified: They qualified through the Rugby Europe qualifiers.

Build-up: Romania is making their return to the World Cup after missing the 2019 tournament, mainly because of Spain’s player eligibility issues. They finished third in the Rugby Europe Championship and were promoted to second place after Spain’s disqualification for fielding an ineligible player with a forged passport. However, Romania’s joy at qualifying has been dampened by a series of poor results, including heavy losses to Georgia and Italy. While these teams are improving, they are not at the same level as South Africa, Ireland, or Scotland, which Romania will face in their pool.

Player to watch: Keep an eye on talented center Taylor Gontineac, who will be tasked with creating some threats in midfield for Romania. Gontineac, the son of Romanian rugby legend Romeo Gontineac, came through Clermont-Auvergne’s academy and has since played in France’s Pro D2 league.

Expectations: Romania’s best chance for a win in the tournament appears to be their final pool match against Tonga in Lille. However, even that seems like a challenging task, considering Tonga’s talented squad. Romania’s strategy might revolve around shutting down Tonga’s ball-carriers and capitalizing on any penalty opportunities they get. It’s expected to be a tough month for the Oaks in France.