2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

My report cards for each team

Knockout qualifiers

New Zealand - only a win will be seen as success. Talk of demise greatly exaggerated.

South Africa - same as NZ. Will have huge retirements in next few years.

England - will be happy where they got but will know draw was kind and playing style needs to become more varied.

Argentina - same as England

Ireland - ultimately disappointed to go out when they did but played great rugby and firmly at the top table

France - same as Ireland, but expect them to get a bit of 6 nations dominance in next 2 years anyway

Fiji - massive potential and talent but need to cut out mistakes and inconsistencies to be competitive. Hope they get more exposure in next 4 years

Wales - lucky to top group and great win v Australia but could have easily lost v Fiji and did lose only other serious match v arg. Disappointing.

Non qualifiers

Scotland - not quite there like they thought they might be. Played to their potential last few years but peaked and still not a threat at business end

Italy - no meaningful wins since 2015 world cup up until very recently but proved a false dawn. Extremely feeble efforts v NZ and France, never going to win but could have competed at least

Samoa - time to take advantage of new rules and get some big names playing, guys currently close to NZ level but not being picked. Not ABs from 8 years ago. Need better discipline too

Tonga - similar to Samoa, the big names they got in are well past it but might be a start at least.

Japan - fell away from the heights of 4 years ago, maybe no surprise there. Have the resources to stay competitive at least.

Namibia and Romania - both very poor

Uruguay,Chile and Portugal - be very proud. Small nations, small resources, big hearts. Portugal in particular play outstanding rugby but can't compete physically at 15s

Australia - please sort yourselves out. Grew up watching some great teams and players and now are a poor shadow. Get rid of Jones too if he's not already gone. Biggest disappointment of the entire tournament

Georgia - again disappointing, one of the teams touted as genuine tier 1 inductees but hasn't happened yet. Plenty of power but that's all.

I think both these facts about the World Cup are commonly accepted:

1. We had our best ever team
2. These were the worst New Zealand, England and Australian teams to enter a World Cup

The South African team also wasn't considered great by their standards, Wales and Scotland average and France a bit unknown.

I think the tournament has backed up fact number 2 above. It has been quite poor on quality, only a handful of good matches. Unfortunately, we didn't live up to our billing as the best team inn the World. Will there ever be an opportunity again where all these countries have such poor teams by their standards? It was there for the taking, even a dreadful England nearly made the final. We're going to look back on this World Cup with huge regret.

NZ will hammer SA in the final.

A South African player flopped over the ruck in the last minute and just lay in there wrong side. As the panel said on VM, it’s a penalty in any other minute of the game.

I didnt hear it during the game, but seems Bongi might be in a bit of trouble, if proven true.

I think the 1999 Aus team has a strong argument for best of all time. Tri Nations, WC and Lions wins in a short space of time

Not at all all accurate statement. SH had the advantage from getting a jump into professionalism

Hugely interested then. England is the home of Rugby. The 5 nations back then were hugely involved from the start..France and England came close in 1987 and 1991 respectively. France and England making finals.