By Simon galinier
Published on 16 Dec 20 at 12:08
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Yes the XV of France already knows that he will have to fight against New Zealand and l‘Italy when World Cup 2023, organized on French soil, the Blues do not yet know the identity of two other opponents that they will have to face in this hen A. We just know that it will be there African first nation (Africa 1), behind theSouth Africa tempting for the title and already qualified, and the american first nation (America 1), behind theArgentine also qualified ex officio.
Opponents that the XV of France has become accustomed to meeting since the representative of the area Africa has faced the Habs four times in the past. This is even more true for the winner of the zone America since during the first 9 editions, the Blues have faced six times either the Canada, either the United States. Here is what could be these two teams qualified in Pool A of the 2023 World Cup.
The United States and Canada favorites; Outsider Uruguay
About the America zone, the qualification process has recently evolved to take into account the new restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. So instead of giving America 1 place to the winner of theAmericas Rugby Championship, as was the case before, qualification now involves two play-offs, explains the FFR.
The two 2021 champions of the North American competitions, Rugby Americas North and South America, South America Rugby, will therefore face each other during a double confrontation round trip to determine which will be the first qualified team in the region (America 1). The place ofArgentine being already guaranteed, since the Pumas will find theEngland, the Japan, l’Oceania 1 and theAmerica 2 in the hen D, another country of the American continent will find France.
It could be the United States where the Canada who are the two favorites to compile their ticket for the World Cup 2023 in France, or even theUruguay, an emerging nation of world rugby that created a sensation by beating the Fiji during the last World Cup in Japan. Behind the Chili, the Paraguay and the Colombia are leaving further afield to hope to qualify for their first World Cup.
???? We now know our group and our opponents for the World Cup which will take place at home in France!
See you in 2023! ????????✊# RWC2023 #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/skNCdI1M6i
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) December 14, 2020
Namibia should beware of Kenya and Algeria
Concerning the last ticket called “Africa 1”, it will be reserved for the winner of the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 which will oppose 14 African nations includingAlgeria, the Ivory Coast, the Ghana, the Kenya, Madagascar, the Morocco, the Namibia, l’Uganda, the Senegal, the Tunisia, the Zambia where the Zimbabwe. The future opponent of the XV of France is therefore probably among them.
The Namibia, the Zimbabwe and the Ivory Coast leave before the advantage of having already qualified for a World Cup. Five times for the Namibia (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015) of the captain and center of Colomiers, Johan Deysel, and the Bayonne hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, who is the big favorite of these African qualifiers, twice for the Zimbabwe (1987 and 1991) and once for the Ivory Coast (1995). The latter two nations, however, appear to be in decline.
Unlike the Kenya or evenAlgeria, who have great ambitions and could be the surprise guests of the next 2023 World Cup in France. Especially since the Kenyans, excellent on world rugby sevens circuit, participated in the last draft tournament for the 2019 World Cup in Japan, won by the Canada also facing theGermany and to Hong Kong.
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