The biggest celebration of the oval ball sport is here – the Rugby World Cup 2023 is just a few months away as France prepares for another edition of history. After a tournament that went into the history books in 2019 Japan as a landmark celebration in the sport, the focus is on the defending champions South Africa to make it count as they look to retain the William Web Ellis Trophy.
The Springboks, led by Siya Kolisi last time were the underdogs but brought out scintillating playing in the knockout stages to finally disown England in the finals to take home their third world cup, having won in 1996 and 2007.
The Springboks have a rare chance to be the only nation to win four titles if they progress to the finals this time, but their path to glory doesn't seem straightforward.
In the last four years, there have been quite a few developments in the northern hemisphere nations, with the likes of Ireland and France coming up as favourites ahead of the defending champions.
With the tournament played in France, which is familiar ground for England, Ireland, Wales and hosts France, expectations are on the northern hemisphere teams to dominate.
In the build-up to the world cup, fans have flocked to ticketing platforms to book their Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets to catch a glimpse of their favourite teams in action and this trend is expected to rise with more tickets set to be released in the upcoming months leading up to the trophy.
The most successful team in Rugby Union, the All Blacks, are also back hunting to regain their form ahead of the world cup, something they've failed to achieve in the past seasons. Under Ian Foster, the 2022 season was one run the team would want to erase from their accolades.
A 2-1 series loss against Ireland at home – the first time they've lost a series to Ireland, followed by losses to Argentina and South Africa- were the highlights of their season. But a new year with the world cup gives new hope to the side, and are still favourites.
The All Blacks are always an excellent team, and Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets for their games are in high demand despite their lacklustre form.
Siya Kolisi back at training
Kolisi is determined to regain fitness in time for the Rugby World Cup. He suffered a knee injury during the Sharks' match against Munster in the United Rugby Championship last month, resulting in him undergoing surgery at the beginning of this month.
It was a big blow for the side to lose the likes of their inspirational skipper, leading many with Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets in disappointment, but the recovery posts have brought back hope.
Kolisi recently shared a video on social media titled ‘Day 17', where he is seen on a Wattbike, displaying fluid movement, a cheerful expression, and even flexing.
Regarding his national team involvement, Kolisi joined the Springboks this week for the first of two preparation camps scheduled for the upcoming international season.
He was invited to participate in the camp alongside 15 players based in South Africa and Japan. The Stormers players were separate from the camp while preparing for the United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Munster.
Springboks Training Camp in full swing
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber expressed his satisfaction with having injured players like Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth present at the squad's camp. Nienaber stated that it is a bonus to have them around as they can participate in team meetings. In contrast, the medical team has already begun working with them on their respective recoveries.
Upon arriving in Durban, there was a palpable sense of excitement among the players and the team management as they returned to the national set-up.
Nienaber acknowledged the significance of the upcoming season, which includes the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, and the prestigious international tournament in France. He highlighted the enthusiasm displayed by the players to get back on the training field, indicating their eagerness for the journey ahead.
Now that these players have fulfilled their commitments to their respective franchises and clubs, the focus is on the upcoming international season. The collective attention is now firmly set on the challenges and opportunities ahead as they prepare for important competitions.
All Blacks need Beauden Barrett
The possibility of Beauden Barrett missing out on the All Blacks' World Cup squad was once deemed highly unlikely, but the landscape has changed. In rugby, performance holds significant importance, and New Zealand fans expect nothing less than the very best donning the esteemed black jersey as they strive for rugby immortality in France.
When considering who truly stands as the best, it becomes apparent that “there's no one else” but Barrett, making his inclusion a necessity for the All Blacks, according to former All-Black Justin Marshall.
Marshall believes that Barrett should be selected for this year's World Cup alongside the incumbent Richie Mo'unga and the currently impressive Damian McKenzie.
Marshall explains that taking at least three fly-halves is crucial, with McKenzie as a versatile option who can play at both fly half and fullback, adding an X-factor to the team. Marshall emphasizes the importance of getting the right jersey on McKenzie.
However, Barrett stands out as a unique case, capable of seamlessly adapting week after week and delivering exceptional performances in the fly-half position.
Furthermore, when assessing the available options, Marshall firmly believes that Barrett's skill set surpasses others, making him an indispensable asset to the team. In Marshall's view, having someone like Beauden Barrett is an essential element for a successful World Cup campaign.
The flyhalf scored a famous try in the 2015 World Cup final against rivals Australia and was later crowned World Rugby's Player of the Year on two occasions.
Only two other players – All Blacks legends Dan Carter and Richie McCaw – have been named the world's best on multiple occasions.
If Richie Mo'unga did “fall over” in France and injure himself, then Barrett is the type of player the All Blacks know they can call upon to do a job on the big stage.
“Should Richie Mo'unga fall over, would you trust Damian McKenzie or whoever else you want to pick to go out to guide the team in a Rugby World Cup final when you've got a guy that's been to two World Cup finals before to get the job done?” he added.
Ireland prepping for World Cup
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) recently confirmed the dates and opponents for Ireland's two home warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup. The first fixture will occur in Dublin on Saturday, August 5, where Italy will visit Aviva Stadium.
During the 2023 Six Nations, Ireland managed to secure a victory over Italy in Rome but needed a late try from Mack Hansen to secure the win.
Two weeks later, on August 19, Steve Borthwick's England team will come to Lansdowne Road to test their skills against the reigning world number-one team.
There were previous speculations about a potential third warm-up game in France, closer to the World Cup itself, and World Rugby has confirmed this speculation.
Ireland's third warm-up game will be against Samoa on Saturday, August 26, at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger in Bayonne. Samoa's current squad features players like Michael Ala'alatoa from Leinster, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen from Ulster, Chris Vui from Bristol Bears, and UJ Seuteni, who is expected to play for La Rochelle in the upcoming Champions Cup final.
Although an official announcement date for Ireland's 33-man World Cup squad has not been confirmed, it will likely be revealed before the game against Samoa in France.
Following the warm-up matches, Ireland will commence their 2023 World Cup campaign against Romania in Bordeaux, two weeks after the Samoa game. The pre-tournament games will be a good visualization of Ireland's performance and what fans with Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets can expect when the finals kick off in France.
Summary of Ireland's World Cup warm-up fixtures:
Ireland vs Italy: Saturday, August 5, at Aviva Stadium
Ireland vs England: Saturday, August 19, at Aviva Stadium
Ireland vs. Samoa: Saturday, August 26 at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger (Bayonne)
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