RWC 2023: Get to know all 20 teams in action in France

The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on Friday. The 20 teams are divided into 4 swimming pools of 5.

Here is a take a look at all 4 swimming pools on the World Cup, with the teams’ prospects.

Pool A

New Zealand

World rating: Four

Best World Cup displaying: Champions (1987, 2011 and 2015)

Captain: Sam Cane

Coach: Ian Foster

Prospects: The All Blacks are outdoors favourites to win a fourth title. Often the usual bearers of the game, they’re now having to discover methods to counter different nations who’ve innovated their video games to swimsuit their gamers as an alternative of attempting to play just like the All Blacks. As they’re on the powerful facet of the draw, the three-time champions face the truth of a quarter-final exit.

France

World rating: Three

Best World Cup displaying: Runners-up (1987, 1999, and 2011)

Captain: Antoine Dupont

Coach: Fabien Galthie

Prospects: France have used the final four-year cycle main to their dwelling World Cup to perfection; they’ve improved their approach of enjoying which will depend on magic from marquee gamers and elevated their depth. They have crushed each tier-one nation in this era, in order that they have nearly as good an opportunity as anybody to win the event.

Italy

World rating: 13

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (9 occasions)

Captain: Michele Lamaro

Coach: Kieran Crowley

Prospects: The Italians have failed to make it previous the group levels in all their World Cup appearances. This yr in France gained’t be simple; they may look to punch above their weight in the hopes of advancing to the knockout levels. The gamers they’ve will give it their all, however they may fall in need of upsetting France and New Zealand.

Uruguay

World rating: 17

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (1999, 2002, 2015, 2019)

Captain: Andrés Vilaseca

Coach: Esteban Meneses

Prospects: The South American nation are possible to be the whipping boys of the pool, however they may put out shows which can be crammed with ardour. Even although they know their backs are towards the wall, they may need to go all out. Looking at their possibilities, their ardour may gasoline them to win towards Italy or Namibia which can carry nice comfort and reward for his or her efforts.

Namibia

World rating: 21

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (six occasions)

Captain: Johan Deysel

Coach: Allister Coetzee

Prospects: Nambia have been a continuing function on the Rugby World Cup since their first look in 1999. It has at all times been arduous for them on the international showpiece, however in France below the steering of former Bok boss Allister Coetzee and the nice participant base they’ve, there’s potential. They will need to make impression and maybe get one win below their belt and keep away from ending final in the pool.

Pool B

Ireland

World rating: One

Best World Cup displaying: Quarter-finals (seven occasions)

Captain: Jonathan Sexton

Coach: Andy Farrell

Prospects: This World Cup feels prefer it’s a now-or-never second for Ireland, and this could be their greatest likelihood to win the Webb Ellis Cup. Farrell’s workforce play systematic rugby that’s based mostly on gamers realizing their roles they usually have proven they’ll beat anybody on their day. It gained’t be simple progressing in the “group of death” however ought to they advance, their largest take a look at shall be to overcome their hoodoo in the knockout levels.

South Africa

World rating: Two

Best World Cup displaying: Champions (1995, 2007, 2019)

Captain: Siya Kolisi

Coach: Jacques Nienaber

Prospects: Going into this World Cup as defending champions, the Springboks shall be motivated to retain their title and be the second workforce to defend efficiently and the primary nation to win the Webb Ellis Cup 4 occasions. The gamers are in tune with the system, they usually know that in the event that they play to their strengths they may suffocate teams and show to a lot to deal with. Should the teaching employees discover the proper stability in workforce choice, they’ve likelihood of going all the best way.

Scotland

World rating: Five

Best World Cup displaying: Fourth place (1991)

Captain: Jamie Ritchie

Coach: Gregor Townsend

Prospects: The Scots are the “banana skin team” for Ireland and South Africa, who’re among the many favourites to win the event. As their rating suggests, Scotland have it in them to beat any facet on their day and their pool rivals know it. They shall be pushed to get a win over the Springboks first-up or Ireland as that can put them in a place to end in the highest two of the pool.

Romania

World rating: 19

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (six occasions)

Captain: Cristi Chirica

Coach: Eugen Apjok

Prospects: Romania return to the World Cup stage after lacking out on the 2019 version in Japan. Their ecstasy of returning to the World Cup although is met with sombreness as they’re in the “group of death”. The Europeans will in all probability exit the event in the pool levels and not using a single win. This doesn’t imply they don’t seem to be ok; it’s simply that the opposite teams are higher than them.

Tonga

World rating: 15

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (eight occasions)

Captain: Sonatane Takulua

Coach: Toutai Kefu

Prospects: Teams in Pool B will underestimate Tonga at their very own peril as they are going to be no pushovers in France. Tonga have been the largest benefactors of the adjustments World Rugby made concerning eligibility. They have in their squad former All Blacks Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa and lots of gamers who’ve an X-factor about them. Should the likes of Ireland, the Boks and Scotland play fringe gamers towards them, they is perhaps in for a shock.

(*20*)Pool C

Wales

World rating: 10

Best World Cup displaying: Third place (1987)

Co-Captains: Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan

Coach: Warren Gatland

Prospects: Wales made it to the final 4 of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 they usually can replicate that feat once more in France. Even although they don’t seem to be the steady facet they have been 4 years in the past and have struggled considerably in current occasions, they are going to be up for it as their group is extensive open. They want to hit the bottom operating towards Fiji in their first sport and construct momentum that may carry them to the knockout levels.

Australia

World rating: 9

Best World Cup displaying: Champions (1991, 1999)

Captain: Will Skelton

Coach: Eddie Jones

Prospects: According to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones they’ve been written off by their media again dwelling and that’s alright. With Jones main them and former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen as a advisor, Australia pose a risk as a result of they’ve two males who know how to play the World Cup. Getting out of the pool is a precedence they usually have likelihood of reaching the semi-finals.

Georgia

World rating: 11

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (5 occasions)

Captain: Merab Sharikadze

Coach: Levan Maisashvili

Prospects: Georgia will really feel they’ve each likelihood of creating it out of their pool as there’s not a lot separating them from the others in phrases of high quality and rankings. As most of their gamers ply their commerce in France, they may hope to use their familiarity with the nation to their benefit. If they’ll carry their physicality in the massive video games, Georgia might be the shock bundle of the event.

Portugal

World rating: 16

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (2007)

Captain: Tomas Appleton

Coach: Patrice Lagisquet

Prospects: Portugal shall be making their second look at a Rugby World Cup in France this yr; their first was in 2007 when their European counterparts hosted as effectively. In 2007 they exited in the pool levels and they’re possible to do the identical this time round. This World Cup needs to be used as a stepping stone for the expansion of rugby in Portugal having missed out on utilizing the 2007 look to put in growth measures.

Fiji

World rating: Seven

Best World Cup displaying: Pool levels (eight occasions)

Captain: Waisea Nayacalevu

Coach: Simon Raiwalui

Prospects: Fiji are the highest-ranked facet in their pool going into this World Cup. They are trying like a correct workforce and have momentum and confidence behind them following their historic win over England at Twickenham in the warm-up matches. They are a workforce which have put everybody on discover. Having final made the quarter-finals in 2007, Fiji will really feel they’ve likelihood of reaching the final eight once more.

Pool D

England

World rating: Eight

Best World Cup displaying: Champions (2003)

Captain: Owen Farrell

Coach: Steve Borthwick

Prospects: The 2019 Rugby World Cup finalists shall be hoping to peak when this yr’s competitors begins. Since the Japan event England have been in transition and altered coaches through the course of. However, they’ve proven glimpses of excellence but in addition complacency in their sport not too long ago, so they may need to do away with any inconsistencies. England have an awesome shot at reaching the semi-finals as their facet of the draw favours them.

Japan

World rating: 14

Best World Cup displaying: Quarterfinals (2019)

Captain: Himeno Kazuki

Coach: Jamie Joseph

Prospects: Japan are the one nation who’ve had constant progress in the World Cup; in 2015 they upset the Springboks and in 2019 at dwelling achieved their best second in the sport after they made the final eight. Naturally, the semi-finals needs to be their subsequent goal however they may fall in need of that this yr. Realistically one of the best outcome they’ll get in this version generally is a third-place end in their pool.

Argentina

World rating: Six

Best World Cup displaying: Third place (2007)

Captain: Julian Montoya

Coach: Michael Cheika

Prospects: Los Pumas have recorded some superb outcomes in current years; they’ve defeated New Zealand, England, Australia and Scotland. This has allowed them to construct effectively in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in France. They have high quality gamers who’re pushed by ardour and they’re the proper match for his or her coach Michael Cheika. With their physicality, robust defence and aptitude, they’ve an awesome likelihood of enjoying in one other bronze medal match.

Samoa

World rating: 12

Best World displaying: Quarterfinals (1991,1995)

Co-Captains: Michael Alaalatoa and Chris Vui

Coach: Seilala Mapusua

Prospects: What’s a Rugby World Cup with out Samoa; they’re a workforce that followers world wide are keen on, they usually at all times carry loads of pleasure. They have a wealthy historical past on the World Cup; they’re regulars who at all times present some magic and let’s not neglect these bone-crunching tackles. As pool C is extensive open, Samoa needs to be assured and consider that a spot in the knockout levels may be very a lot inside attain.

Chile

World rating: 22

Best World Cup displaying: Debut

Captain: Martín Sigren

Coach: Pablo Lemoine

Prospects: Chile would be the solely debutants on the Rugby World Cup this yr. Being among the many teams to have certified reveals they’ve made super strides in current years. Expectations from the Chileans needs to be low although; the usual of rugby on the World Cup shall be excessive in contrast to what they’re used to. They ought to take this expertise in France as a studying curve and construct from it.