[ad_1]
All Blacks coach Ian Foster.
The All Blacks stayed behind to watch a tough group match with host France at the Rugby World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, as England and Australia secured a “dream trip”, but champion South Africa plunged into the deadliest group of the tournament.
New Zealand coach Ian foster, under fire after a first mixed season in charge, he admitted that the three-time World Cup champions faced a challenge from an increasingly impressive France and its home fans.
READ | World Cup Group: Yes, a kill group … but Boks can kill it
The All Blacks beat France in the 1987 and 2011 finals, but lost to Les Bleus in the 1999 semi-finals and 2007 quarters.
“You can see that France is really building a team at a time of great depth. You can see that all their planning is around 2023,” Foster said after Monday’s draw in Paris.
“We expect a vibrant French team in a country that loves their rugby. We know they will have massive support behind them.
“But that’s what makes the World Cups so special, those kinds of games. And they are games that we thrive on. What we hope for. We know if you’re not at your best, you’re going to have a hard time.”
England drew Japan and Argentina in Group D, Australia has Wales and Fiji in Group C and South Africa will play Six Nations teams Ireland and Scotland in a treacherous Group B.
Australian media said the draw was a “dream” for the Wallabies, as well as England. But Australia coach Dave Rennie said: “There is no easy group.”
“If you look at the three teams that we know are confirmed in this group, they are all really tough,” he added.
“We are three years away, our teams are going to change a lot, there will be other guys who will come out ahead and I imagine we will all be better in three years.”
Upset specialists Japan, who beat South Africa in 2015 when coached by current England coach Eddie Jones, and surprised Ireland and Scotland on their way to the 2019 quarter-finals, expected Jones to take them lightly.
“I hope he thinks we are too far behind England to worry at the moment,” Japan coach Jamie Joseph said.
“He has a deep understanding of almost everything in rugby, apart from what we do. We adapt all the time.”
Meanwhile, South Africa faces an uphill battle to become the first four-time World Cup winners by taking on Ireland and Scotland in Group B.
“It’s really exciting to know who your opponents will be in the RWC group,” said the Springbok skipper. He is a school said.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the seeded levels for the tournament draw were based on the global rankings on January 1, 2020, rather than after the fall internationals as originally intended.
Organizers also brought forward the draw so they could start selling tickets in March next year, before ticket sales for the 2024 Paris Olympics begin in 2022.
The dozen countries in the draw will be joined by eight qualifiers, with the final line-up to be known in November 2022.
The draw took place days after a number of former internationals said they were planning legal action against sports authorities for the effects of the concussion suffered during their careers.
The planned legal action targets World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, for “failing to protect (the plaintiffs) from risks caused by concussions.”
Rugby World Cup 2023 Groups:
Group A
New Zealand, France, Italy, Americas 1, Africa 1
B Group
South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia Pacific 1, Europe 2
Group C
Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1, qualifying winner
Group D
England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1, Americas 2
