Rugby

Jake White on 2023 World Cup: ‘No one knows what to expect’

The 2007 World Cup-winning coach has backed the Boks to go all the best way, however ‘you possibly can say that a few half a dozen groups out in France’.

Jake White has backed the Springboks to win the 2023 World Cup, however says even rank outsiders like England and Fiji will probably be a menace for the defending champions in France.

The world champions will go into the match because the second-ranked crew as World Rugby’s rankings acquired a significant shake-up after the ultimate spherical of warm-ups final week.

Twickenham was the scene of not one however two momentous matches lower than 24 hours aside because the All Blacks suffered the worst defeat of their historical past to the Boks, earlier than Fiji shocked England.

Also, World Cup hosts France in Paris handed Australia and Eddie Jones a fifth successive defeat this 12 months.

Winning and shedding

With defeat to Fiji, England have dropped to eighth within the rankings – the one time the Roses have been as little as this earlier than was within the aftermath of the 2015 World Cup after they grew to become the primary host nation to be knocked out within the pool stage.

The report thrashing by the Boks of the All Blacks was a super means for the Webb Ellis Cup holders to serve discover of their intentions forward of a title defence they begin towards Scotland in Marseille on 8 September, however writing for RugbyPass.com, White is cautiously optimistic about SA’s possibilities.

The final time the World Cup was held in France, the Boks gained the match. Here is then coach Jake White with Bryan Habana and John Smit. Picture: Tertius Pickard / Gallo Images

“What makes sport so intriguing is that you never know what boost you’ll get from winning a game and conversely what negatives you’ll get from a heavy defeat,” the previous Bok coach, now Bulls director of rugby, writes.

“For that motive, we’re about to discover out much more about this present All Blacks crew.

“Every Springbok fan is now super-pumped for this World Cup. Someone requested me whether or not the Boks might win the match? One hundred p.c they’ll win it, however you possibly can say that a few half a dozen groups out in France, even the outsiders, like Scotland, Australia or Wales.

“Will they win it? Probably not, however they might. Look on the Wallabies, they’ve barely gained a recreation within the final two years. Look at England. They are bang out of shape however a couple of bounces of the ball go their means they usually’re closing in on a World Cup remaining.

“This last year has seen some incredible results. When you see what Fiji, Georgia and Italy have done and even Samoa, who gave Ireland a fright last weekend. No one knows what to expect which is why it could be the best World Cup yet.”

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished right here with permission. For the unique story click on here.


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