POOL C

Wales

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: FOURTH COACH: WARREN GATLAND CAPTAIN: KEN OWENS

WEBSITE: www.wru.wales

WORLD RANKING: 9TH TAB ODDS: $41.00

In just four years, the rugby fortunes of Wales have taken a nosedive. The team nearly made the final of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, but has struggled to get near that standard since.

In 2019, coached by Kiwi Warren Gatland, Wales topped their pool after four wins, including a 29–25 victory over the Wallabies. In the quarter-final, Wales beat France in a thriller to move into a showdown with South Africa in the semi-final. Sadly, for Wales, the magnificent run to World Cup glory came to an end with a heart-breaking 19–16 defeat in Yokohama. The All Blacks then rolled them 40–17 in the play-off for third place.

That outstanding result in Japan means Wales has been seeded top of Pool C due to the seedings determined by the 2019 Rugby World Cup performances, rather than form leading up to this year’s tournament.

Gatland is back in charge after three years away from the role and certainly has his work cut-out for him. Wales barely fired a shot in the most recent Six Nations Championship, with just one unconvincing win over Italy, and are clearly going through a major rebuilding phase.

But Gatland has proved himself to be a master motivator of players in the past and he will have Wales fired up for their opening game against Fiji.

Players to watch include halfback Tomos Williams, midfielders Joe Roberts, Mason Grady and Max Llewellyn, winger Rio Dyer, lock Adam Beard and props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti.

The squad may lack some of the experienced players who have retired in the last 18 months but will play with youthful enthusiasm and energy. Wales may just surprise in France.

Georgia

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS COACH: LEVAN MAISASHVILI CAPTAIN: MERAB SHARIKADZE

WEBSITE: www.rugby.ge

WORLD RANKING: 11TH TAB ODDS: $501.00

Georgia has plenty to prove at this year’s Rugby World Cup. In April this year they defeated Portugal to win the Rugby Europe Championship. Georgia has now won 11 out of the past 12 Championships, which adds weight to the strengthening argument that they deserve to be involved in the Six Nations or at least to get far more test matches against the top tier-one nations. That win in the final against Portugal made it 29 matches unbeaten for Georgia and follows historic victories over Wales in Cardiff and Italy at home in 2022. Outstanding performances by their Under-20 side at the recent World Rugby Under-20 Championship played in South Africa shows good depth coming through the ranks. The latest Rugby Europe Championship title has also propelled Georgia to their joint highest ever World Rugby ranking of 11th.

The Lelos have come a long way since making their Rugby World Cup debut in Australia in 2003. The draw for Rugby World Cup 2023 has been kind and Georgia are in Pool C alongside Australia, Portugal, Fiji and Wales. If they play to their potential, then Georgia has every chance of continuing in the tournament past pool play.

Georgia have a powerful squad, with just one uncapped player in outside back Luka Khorbaladze proof of the experience that coach Levan Maisashvili has at his disposal. Most of his squad ply their trade with the top clubs in Europe. They will field a powerful pack, featuring No 8 Beka Gorgadze, flanker Beka Saghinadze, and props Guram Gogichashvili, Guram Papidze and Nika Abuladze. In the backs, influential halfback Vasil Lobzhanidze is a key player while centre and captain Merab Sharikadzem, fullback Davit Niniashvili and winger Akaki Tabutsadze are players to watch.

Fiji

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS

COACH: SIMON RAIWALUI CAPTAIN: WAISEA NAYACALEVU

WEBSITE: www.fijirugby.com

WORLD RANKING: 13TH TAB ODDS: $151.00

The Flying Fijians are hugely popular worldwide for their ability to score tries from anywhere on the field.

Coach Simon Raiwalui has a squad stacked with experienced campaigners playing in England and Europe, plus some newer faces who benefited from two years of Super Rugby Pacific exposure with Fijian Drua.

”I think it’s a great balance of players in the team. We know the different systems they play in, especially the Fijian Drua judging from the results that they have produced this year,” says Raiwalui.

“Making the quarter-finals in their second year only makes my selection of the team a daunting exercise. All those selected, from overseas or locally, deserve to be in the Flying Fijians squad.”

Utility back Semi Radradra, second-five Josua Tuisova and loose forward Levani Botia are three players Fiji can build their team around. Other players likely to push for starting positions at Rugby World Cup include hooker Tevita Ikanivere, loosehead prop Peni Ravai, loose forwards Peceli Yato, Levani Botia, Viliame Mata, halfbacks Frank Lomani and Peni Matawalu, first-fives Ben Volavola and Teti Tela, centres Iosefo Masi, former All Black Seta Tamanivalu and Waisea Nayacalevu, plus wingers Vinaya Habosi and Jiuta Wainiqolo.

Fiji has high hopes of getting through pool play. They are drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia and Portugal. The Fijians will be looking to replicate their 2007 World Cup campaign when they were also drawn alongside Australia and Wales.

Fiji recorded a famous 38–34 win over Wales to progress to the quarter-finals. With the depth of talent right across this year’s squad, and the recent decline of Wales, there is a real sense that qualification for the knockout stages could happen for Fiji.

Portugal

2019 WORLD CUP: DID NOT COMPETE AT RWC 2019 IN JAPAN COACH: PATRICE LAGISQUET CAPTAIN: TOMÁS APPLETON

WEBSITE: www.fpr.pt

WORLD RANKING: 16TH TAB ODDS: $501.00

Portugal became the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023. They secured a 16–16 draw in a nail-biting deciding match of the final qualification tournament against USA, who had only failed to qualify for one previous Rugby World Cup – South Africa in 1995.

Thanks to their superior points difference, Os Lobos only needed a draw at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai to advance to a second Rugby World Cup, and halfback Samuel Marques secured it with the last kick of the match.

Portugal return to the Rugby World Cup back in France, where their one and only appearance to date came in 2007. They will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s one of the best feelings in the world,” says Portugal captain Tomás Appleton. "For the rugby community this is amazing, we’ve been missing from Rugby World Cup for quite some time and we need a new generation to inspire the kids."

Wins over Spain, the Netherlands and Russia, and a bonus-point defeat to Romania in 2021, set Portugal up nicely for a tilt at the top two regional qualification spots.

Coach Patrice Lagisquet, who played 46 times for France, has outstanding attacking players in wingers Rodrigo Marta and Raffaelle Storti, plus centre and captain Appleton, to light up his backline. But the improvement in the forwards has been a major feature of his tenure as head coach, which began in 2019.

“The best job we have done with this team is to build up a strong scrum, have the capacity to play the mauls, to defend them well,” says Lagisquet.

England

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: RUNNERS-UP COACH: STEVE BORTHWICK CAPTAIN: OWEN FARRELL WEBSITE: www.englandrugby.com/home WORLD RANKING: 6TH TAB ODDS: $10.00

The media attention has died down since Eddie Jones left as England’s head coach late last year and ended up in charge of the Wallabies – and that is just the way Steve Borthwick likes it.

The new England head coach is a different character to Jones – as befits a man who made his name as a tough international lock who left the flash one-liners to others.

Borthwick was forwards coach under Jones and guided the powerful England pack to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan where South Africa proved too strong. So, England have a point to prove and a score to settle in France, but doubts remain whether they quite have the team to do it.

Borthwick’s men face Wales twice, Ireland and Fiji in August before launching their World Cup campaign against Argentina in Marseille on September 9.

England have some good depth across the squad. The backline has the aggressive Owen Farrell, likely to play second-five outside the brilliant talent of Marcus Smith, and George Ford is also top class. Halfback Ben Youngs is experienced and has a big-match temperament, while there is quality in the midfield with Manu Tuilagi and Ollie Lawrence.

There is ample strength across the loose forward mix among Jack Willis, Tom Curry, George Martin and Lewis Ludlam. Locks Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans and Joe Launchbury are strong lineout men, while hooker Jamie George will provide accurate service.

England’s props are typically strong with loose heads Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola battling it out for a start.

England are in Pool D, up against Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile, so should progress through to the quarter-finals.

Argentina

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS

COACH: MICHAEL CHEIKA CAPTAIN: JULIÁN MONTOYA

WEBSITE: www.uar.com.ar

WORLD RANKING: 7TH TAB ODDS: $31.00

Former Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika will lead Argentina to France with plenty of confidence that his team can improve on their best-ever Rugby World Cup performance last time the tournament was held there in 2007.

Argentina won the bronze medal that year after famously beating France 34–10 in the playoff for third place. This time, Argentina will face England, Japan, Samoa and Chile in Pool D, which they are favoured to progress out of to the knockout stages.

Los Pumas will be heading to the World Cup for the 10th time. South America’s top-ranked rugby nation has never failed to qualify for the tournament. Last year was a vintage season for Argentina. They enjoyed their first ever win over the All Blacks in New Zealand and victory over the Wallabies in the 2022 Rugby Championship, plus an historic victory over England at Twickenham.

That success will give Cheika’s players the self-belief they need to consistently perform well against the best teams in the world. There is no shortage of talent in the squad with a good balance of experience and youthful drive.

Outstanding captain and hooker Julián Montoya, first-five Santiago Carreras, centres/wingers Matias Moroni and Matias Orlando, winger Mateo Carreras, plus loose forwards Marcos Kremer and Facundo Isa have all performed outstandingly for their clubs at the top level in Europe.

Sevens stars Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía will push for starting places in the midfield or on the wing. Former captain and Crusaders loose forward Pablo Matera and the ageless Agustín Creevy will add huge influence to the leadership group. Halfback Gonzalo Bertranou is recovering from injury but has proven himself at international level.

Japan

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: QUARTER-FINALIST

COACH: JAMIE JOSEPH CAPTAIN: MICHAEL LEITCH

WEBSITE: http://en.rugby-japan.jp

WORLD RANKING: 10TH TAB ODDS: $201.00

Japan hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup superbly, with the on-field performances of the Brave Blossoms matching the off-field hospitality. They created a sensation in their group by going through unbeaten after defeating Russia, Ireland, Samoa and Scotland.

The glorious run saw Japan become the first Asian team to get through to the knockout stages, but it came to an end against a ruthless South African side who won 26–3 in the quarter-final on their way to winning the tournament.

This year Japan face England, Argentina, Samoa and Chile in Pool D. The clash between Japan and England is being touted as one of the games to watch in pool play, especially as Japan’s distinctive attacking style proved too good for England’s close rivals Ireland and Scotland four years ago.

Japan is coached by former All Blacks Jamie Joseph and his assistant Tony Brown, who together masterminded the team’s performances in 2019. Joseph has made Japan competitive in the forward exchanges and the natural flair the players have is fully encouraged by Brown.

There is a solid group of experience in the squad with prop Keita Inagaki (45 caps), hooker Shota Horie (68), Australian-born lock James Moore (13), powerful flanker Kazuki Himeno (25) and talismanic loose forward and captain Michael Leitch (78) leading the forwards. Fullback Ryohei Yamanaka (27), winger Kotaro Matsushima (47), centre Ryoto Nakamura (33), first-five Rikiya Matsuda (29) and halfback Yutaka Nagare (30) are quality players. In preparation for the Rugby World Cup, the Brave Blossoms played the All Blacks XV on 15 July in Kumamoto (losing 41–27) and now have Pacific Nation matches against Samoa, Tonga and Fiji in July and August. That is followed by an away game against Italy, before settling into their Rugby World Cup camp.

Samoa

2019 WORLD CUP PLACING: POOLS COACH: SEILALA MAPUSUA CAPTAIN: MIKE ALAALATOA

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/manusamoa

WORLD RANKING: 12TH TAB ODDS: $501.00

Manu Samoa has produced two of the greatest performances in Rugby World Cup history when making the quarter-final stages of the 1991 and 1995 tournaments.

Since those heady days though there has not been a great deal for fans to cheer about at recent tournaments. This year’s squad, coached by Seilala Mapusua, is arguably the strongest assembled by Samoa since the 1990s, which is bad news for Pool D opponents England, Argentina, Japan and Chile.

There are plenty of big-name stars including former All Blacks Lima Sopoaga, Charlie Faumuina and Steven Luatua, ex-Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano and USA Eagles prop Titi Lamositele, who all benefit from the change to World Rugby’s eligibility rules.

Chris Vui, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Tim Nanai-Williams, Jordan Taufua, Michael Alaalatoa, Jack Lam and So’otala Fa’aso’o will add experience to a squad that also includes a strong contingent from Moana Pasifika.

Former basketball star Theo McFarland has been a star for Saracens in England and should be fully fit after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

“I want us to become a dangerous team and I was hoping to fly under the radar, but they may be paying more attention to us after our selections. When you look back to the 1991 Samoa team, they are the guys who put us on the rugby map and we aim to take the best prepared team ever to a World Cup and we will be trying to emulate the ‘91 team,” says coach Mapusua.

“Our game management is something I have really tried to target and having Lima and Christian in the squad to be able to handle those pressure moments has lifted the rugby IQ of the team.”

Chile

2019 WORLD CUP: DID NOT COMPETE AT RWC 2019 IN JAPAN COACH: PABLO LEMOINE CAPTAIN: MARTIN SIGREN

WEBSITE: www.chilerugby.org

WORLD RANKING: 22ND TAB ODDS: $5001.00

The growth of rugby in South America over the last decade can be characterised as an upward surge. The appearance of three teams for the first time at Rugby World Cup 2023 is evidence that the game is booming in South America.

Chile, known as Los Cóndores, will make their debut at the finals in France. To get there, they defeated Canada and USA. First up were Canada, the losers of the Americas 1 play-off. Canada won the first leg 22–21 but Chile triumphed 34–15 a week later, thanks to 23 points by Santiago Videla that ended Canada’s ever-present record at the Rugby World Cup.

In the Americas 2 play-off against USA, Chile lost the first game 22–21 at home in Santiago before coming from a 20-point deficit to defeat the USA 31–29 in Colorado and qualify with a narrow 52–51 aggregate.

Chile faces tough competition from England, Japan, Samoa and Argentina in Pool D. Emerging from the tournament with a victory will be an impressive achievement. Having the chance to test themselves against South American neighbours Argentina is another bonus.

The rise of Chilean rugby really began in 2016 when they were inducted into the Americas Rugby Championship – an international competition that included Argentina, Brazil, Canada, USA and Uruguay. Then in April 2019, South America’s first professional league was launched, including the Chilean team Selknam that reached the 2022 grand final.

Pablo Lemoine has been Chile’s head coach since 2012 and played for Uruguay at the 1999 and 2003 tournaments, while captain Martin Sigren is a highly respected loose forward who has proven himself in England.

Their expertise will be vital in guiding the inexperienced Chile side through unchartered territory.