The Wallabies kick off their 2023 World Cup campaign against European minnows Georgia, and it could prove to be the confidence boost needed to get on with the job.
Eddie Jones’ return to the helm has been a very slow build, but a few recent performances, namely those efforts against New Zealand in this year’s Bledisloe series, were smart and did hint at improvement.
Georgia, while often big and mobile, still lack the class and depth of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides.
I’m expecting the Wallabies to score plenty out wide, and scrumhalf Tate McDermott to cause plenty of headaches in the middle as well.
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This looms as an absolute ripper of a contest, and the ever-dangerous England will be out to make a statement against a tough, capable Argentina early on Sunday morning.
There is ALWAYS hype around England whenever a Rugby World Cup, and whether or not they can improve on their 2019 Final appearance, they can certainly progress from the Pool stage.
Argentina also arrive in France with hopes of at least matching their best-ever performance at a World Cup; the Preliminary Finals stage, which they reached in 2015.
Former Wallabies boss Michael Cheika has his side in competitive condition, and they’ll further be buoyed by the memory of a win over England at their last meeting in November last year.
While I am confident that Argentina will take it to right into the final minutes, I think England might just sneak away with the W.
Japan open their Rugby World Cup campaign against Chile and understandably, betting suggests it’s going to be a one-sided affair.
The improvement in Japanese rugby throughout the last decade really has been something to behold and boy, they are a joy to watch.
Memories of that win over South Africa in 2015, and that win over Ireland at home in 2019 come flooding back, and the improvement in the sport as a whole, including their national team, has continued since then.
Chile are about as small as Rugby-playing nations go at France 2023, and there’s little doubt that this will be a baptism of fire at their first-ever World Cup.
Japan to cover the line is my best bet of the day.