RWC 2023 - Pools & Teams

Rugby World Cup Pool A is home to two of the tournament’s favourites: New Zealand and France. These two powerhouses and potential winners will battle Italy, Uruguay and a Rugby World Cup qualifier from Africa.

Meanwhile, Rugby World Cup Pool B is considered to be the ‘pool of death’. Although reigning champions South Africa will be expected to top this particular Rugby World Cup group, Ireland and Scotland will both have their sights on finishing second in the pool and qualifying for the knockout stage.

Rugby World Cup Pool C contains Wales, two-time champions Australia and a resurgent Fiji side who will be looking to cause an upset. These sides will be joined by two Rugby World Cup qualifiers.The final group, Rugby World Cup Pool D, contains 2019 finalists England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa and a qualifier from the Americas.

If we suppose the top-ranked teams each win their pools and the second-ranked teams finish runners-up then the quarter-finals in 2023 could look something like this…

• Australia vs Argentina

• Ireland vs New Zealand

• England vs Wales

• France vs South Africa

• Wales vs Argentina

• Ireland vs France

• England vs Australia

• New Zealand vs South Africa or

Ireland currently top the world rankings, but with No 2 France and No 3 New Zealand placed in the same pool, a tough quarter-final awaits should the Irish top their own group.

It means the World Cup opener between France and New Zealand is allimportant, with the loser likely to come up against the Irish or SA in the last eight. Ireland beat New Zealand on their own turf last year, an historic series victory that elevated them to the top of the world rankings.

Source: www.rugbypass.com, inews.co.uk