2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A Preview, Predictions & Odds

We have a 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A preview, along with all our predictions and betting odds ahead of the event in September.

Teams In 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A

There are five teams in Pool A of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Those teams are:

New Zealand

France

Italy

Uruguay

Namibia

Qualification From Pool A

The top two teams from Pool A will qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament while the bottom three teams will be knocked out.

France at 8/11 to win the pool and New Zealand, at Evens to win the pool, are the two raging hot favourites to qualify out of this pool for the knockout stages of the tournament.

2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A Preview

New Zealand

World Number 3 ranked New Zealand will be making their tenth appearance at a Rugby World along with going for their fourth success in the competition, having won it in 1987, 2011 and 2015.

Their last appearance at the tournament was in 2019 when they came in third place following a semi-final elimination at the hands of England. The Kiwis then won the third place match 40-17 against Wales to secure a bronze medal.

Head Coach Ian Foster has been in charge since 2020 and has come under increased pressure for his job throughout his tenure. His current Win-Rate of 69% is the fourth worst of any coach in the country’s history. Despite this, the decision makers at New Zealand Rugby have decided to back him for this tournament which will be his last time managing New Zealand before being replaced by Scott Robertson after the World Cup.

New Zealand have only played one game in 2023 so far which was a 41-12 victory away to Argentina in the first round of the 2023 Rugby Championship. They have two games remaining in that competition which they will play this July against South Africa and Australia.

The Kiwis commence their World Cup campaign against France on September 8th in the tournament’s curtain raiser.

France

World Number 2 France will be making their tenth Rugby World Cup appearance in September and will have the prestige of hosting the event for the second time, their first being in 2007.

Despite France being considered one of the powerhouses of International Rugby, they have never won the event, with their best finish being runners-up in 1987, 1999 and 2011. They will fancy themselves to go much further than their quarter-final exit in 2019 to Wales.

Fabien Galthié has been in charge of the French squad since 2019 with his highlight being the Six Nations victory and Grand Slam win in 2022. Galthie’s win-rate as French Head Coach of 80.56% is by far the best in the country’s history.

France have four wins from five matches in 2023, with their only defeat coming away to Ireland 32-19 during the Six Nations. Les Bleus will of course have the added benefit of being at home for every game at the 2023 World Cup which could prove the difference-maker as they seek their first-ever Rugby World Cup win.

Italy

World Number 14 Italy will be making their tenth World Cup appearance in September but will be hoping to upset the odds and get beyond the Pool Stage for the first time.

Kieran Crowley has been Head Coach since leaving Benetton Treviso in 2021. Under his tutelage, he has guided them to victories against two Tier 1 Nations, a 21-22 victory against Wales in the 2022 Six Nations and a 28-27 win over Australia during the November Series.

Italy aren’t at the level of the top nations but the signs are promising for the Azurri. And in the Six Nations this year, they drove France close at home, only losing 24-29 and coming within 17 points of their opposition in their remaining matches.

The Italians will be hoping for a competitive outing in this year’s tournament and it isn’t out of the question that they could give one of the top two nations in this pool a scare.

Uruguay

World Number 17 Uruguay will be making their fifth World Cup appearance in September but remain unlikely to get out of the Pool Stage for the first time.

Esteban Meneses has been in charge since 2015 and has guided them to two successive tournaments after a 1-1 series draw with the United States. They lost the first game 19-16 but won the second game 34-15. Uruguay won on aggregate points (50-34).

Uruguay’s best chance of getting points in this campaign will come against Namibia. They are likely to be well beaten by the top two teams in this pool but would have aspirations of giving Italy a competitive game.

Nambia

World Number (21) Namibia will be making their seventh World Cup appearance in September but also remain unlikely to get out of the Pool Stage for the first time.

You can expect them to battle with Uruguay for fourth place. Allister Coetzee has been Head Coach of Namibia since 2021. The African side qualified for the World Cup by winning the 2022 Africa Cup where they beat Kenya in the final 36-0.

2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A Betting Odds

Game of the Pool

France v New Zealand – 8.15pm, September 8^th.

Player to Watch

French scrum-half Antoine Dupont (26) is the best in his position in the world and consistently shows himself to be excellent defensively with freakish strength for his size.

Expect everything to go through him during this World Cup, and if he plays up to his ability then France should go close to landing their maiden Rugby World Cup victory.

Rugby World Cup Pool A Prediction

1st – France

2nd – New  Zealand

3rd – Italy

4th – Nambia

5^th – Uruguay

The first game between France vs New Zealand should decide the Pool A winner.

Italy will find themselves in purgatory, not strong enough to trouble the top two but far too good for the rest, while Namibia and Uruguay fight it out to avoid last place.

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