There is already a distinct pecking order in terms of which nations are favoured for success on the international arena, even though Tier 2 nations and below still need to finish qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
France is the team in the northern hemisphere that is most anticipated to win the 2023 World Cup thanks to their outstanding Six Nations campaign, which saw them produce their first championship and Grand Slam in 12 years. Les Bleus are not the only team, though, whose recent campaign has made the World Cup of the next year more apparent. The goal is to perform better than their fourth-place performance from the last time France hosted the championships in 2007, as they have never won the Rugby World Cup.
Along with the hosts of the competition, France, New Zealand, who have won the tournament a record three times, are favourites to win the title. The opening match of the pool stage, in which Les Bleus take on the All Blacks at the Stade de France, guarantees that everything gets off to an exciting start.
Italy was also included in this group, but with such strong competition, it will be difficult for the Azzurri to get to the knockout stage. At this early point of what has been an interrupted cycle, the defending champions South Africa are only the fourth favourites in the online betting odds for this competition. The Rugby World Cup winner is most likely to come from Pool A, according to the market.
According to sports betting specialised websites, where you can find the best promo codes for you to wager on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, France are the odds-on favourites to win the title for the first time in history. The All Blacks are the second-favourites, with favourable projections of reclaiming their crown. England, South Africa and Ireland are also among the top contenders for the upcoming World Cup.
France
Fabien Galthie’s France dominated the Six Nations with five straight victories and some exquisite rugby, and they are now the bookmakers’ favourites to win the 2023 World Cup. With notable players like Antoine Dupont, Gregory Alldritt, Romain Ntamack, and Melvyn Jaminet all being 25 or younger and the squad’s average age poised to hit a ripe 27 next year, there is intriguingly still plenty of room for this youthful team to grow.
Les Bleus did not perform flawlessly in the Six Nations, as evidenced by their problems against Wales in round four. Additionally, players and fans may have developed a weighty sense of entitlement due to their standing as favourites. However, it is challenging to state that any other northern hemisphere team is as well-prepared as they are for the World Cup, which is obviously taking place on their home ground as well.
New Zealand
Before South Africa’s victory three years ago, the perpetual World Cup favourites New Zealand won two consecutive tournaments. There are a number of concerns, however, that need to be remedied if they are to stand a chance of reclaiming the Webb Ellis Cup.
After a string of excruciatingly poor performances, including their first-ever three consecutive home Test losses and Ireland’s first-ever Test series victory, the All Blacks decided to stick with their under-fire manager Ian Foster. The loss to Argentina in August would have forced New Zealand’s decision-makers to reconsider their possibilities before it became too late, but Foster’s team responded with a 53-3 victory over the same opponents to move to the top of the Rugby Championship standings and send a message to their detractors.
England
The 2023 World Cup has long been emphasised by Eddie Jones as the culmination of his “New England” initiative, which aims to change England’s play to a more wide, open style. Despite a Six Nations campaign that never really got underway, his team is the third favourite for the championship next year.
Their third-place position was an improvement over 2021, but the 10-point total was the same in both years, suggesting that Scotland and Wales’ deficiencies were more to blame than England’s resourcefulness. However, the current team has some genuine talent, particularly the younger players like Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt, and Freddie Steward who will require some time to adjust to the new team dynamic and playing style. And as always, the person who writes Jones off is a courageous one.
