As the rugby world eagerly anticipates the Rugby World Cup 2023, hosted by France, fans and teams alike are gearing up for a tournament filled with thrilling action, fierce competition, and unforgettable moments.
Opta’s tournament predictor has taken thousands of data points and run them through an AI supercomputer to simulate the Rugby World Cup 10 million times, giving a percentage chance of each team winning the tournament.
Can Les Bleus, a rugby powerhouse who will enjoy home advantage, win it all in front of their legion of French fans, led by their talismanic skipper Antoine Dupont? Are Ireland, our current favourites, poised to finally make the breakthrough after their Six Nations success? They are our favourites to win Pool B and make it into the quarter-finals.
Traditional rugby giants like New Zealand (the All Blacks), South Africa (the Springboks), England, and Australia (the Wallabies) are expected to be strong contenders yet again. These teams boast formidable squads and are known for their rich rugby heritage. The All Blacks, our second favourites, are always a team to watch, with their unmatched skill, depth, and experience. Aside from Ardie Savea one of world rugby’s best players, they also have Will Jordan, who we featured as part of our preview highlighting one player from every team to watch.
The 20 teams involved are France, Italy, Namibia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Ireland, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal, Wales, Argentina, Chile, England, Japan, and Samoa.
You can read our expert analysis here but make sure to bookmark this page for updated predictions and advanced team and players stats throughout the tournament.