2023 Rugby World Cup: France against New Zealand in the 1st round

French rugby player Teddy Thomas, in November 2020. REUTERS - CHRISTIAN HARTMANN

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

France, host country of the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup, will face New Zealand from the group stage, according to the draw made on December 14, 2020 in Paris.

In the quarter-finals, the team that will finish 2nd in this group A could have to face the outgoing world champions, the South Africans, who appear to be favorites of a group B in which they will face in particular Ireland and Scotland. .

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France, which will host the next Rugby Union World Cup (September 8 to October 21, 2023), was not spared by the draw for the final phase which took place on December 14, 2020 in Paris.

The French, placed in Group A, will play against the formidable New Zealanders and Italians they face each year in the Six Nations Tournament.

An American selection yet to be defined and the African selection which will win the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 (the CAN of rugby union) complete the picture.

โ€œ 

It's going to be a tough group.

We know that New Zealand is the favorite of the competition, with three World Cups

, reacted the coach of the French XV Fabien Galthiรฉ.

Italy continues to progress, it will be a big meeting for us in France, in front of our supporters and our families

 โ€.

The shadow of the South African world champions

On paper, the Blues - who are still chasing a World Cup victory - seem armed to cross this first round.

However, the problem: the team ranked 2nd in this group A could have to face the 1st in group B in the quarter-finals, if the competition maintains the same pattern as in previous editions.

A group B which includes South Africa, reigning world champion.

But also Ireland and Scotland, not to mention another European selection and a nation from Asia or Oceania.

Group D promises to be very homogeneous, notably with England, Japan and Argentina.

As for group C, with Wales, Australia and Fiji (plus a European selection) it will be joined by the winner of an international repechage tournament.

A tournament in which the unfortunate finalist of the future 2022 Africa Cup of Nations will take part.

20 teams, 1 objective: to become ๐‚๐‡๐€๐Œ๐๐ˆ๐Ž๐๐’ ๐ƒ๐” ๐Œ๐Ž๐๐ƒ๐„ Rugby in 2023.



Here are the groups of # RWC2023!



Take advantage of exclusive offers ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://t.co/CuDRoaOI8V pic.twitter.com/ATrI4chla2

- Rugby World Cup France 2023 (@ France2023) December 14, 2020

20 teams, 1 objective: to become ๐‚๐‡๐€๐Œ๐๐ˆ๐Ž๐๐’ ๐ƒ๐” ๐Œ๐Ž๐๐ƒ๐„ Rugby in 2023.



Here are the groups of # RWC2023!



Take advantage of exclusive offers ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://t.co/CuDRoaOI8V pic.twitter.com/ATrI4chla2

- Rugby World Cup France 2023 (@ France2023) December 14, 2020

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