It’s fair to say there were more than a few eyebrows raised when South Africa ran in 35-7 winners over New Zealand in their final 2023 World Cup warm-up game in London.
It was a statement victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham and one that will have had the world sit up and take notice of a Springboks side that had been happy to go somewhat under the radar.
All The Talk Has Been Elsewhere
Leading into the 2023 World Cup, there had been plenty of talk of the potential title contenders for the major tournament. New Zealand were the pre-tournament favorites heading into the competition at +275 to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy. Tournament host France have also had plenty of backers and have been spoken of as having a great chance of winning their first World Cup, having finished as runners-up on three previous occasions. Not only sports-fans have been paying attention to this, as Bookmakers are also taking note. Punters who have been following these developments and want to join in on the action can use sites like Bettors to get the most fun out of their early predictions for the highly-anticipated World Cup.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Six Nations champions Ireland have never reached the semi-final stage of a World Cup, but head coach Andy Farrell and his experienced side have deservedly come into the mix when it comes to title contenders. Winning the Six Nations Grand Slam this year, ahead of a strong French squad, was a statement in itself from Ireland, however, they will have been keeping a close eye on the goings-on when the Boks dismantled the All Blacks. Along with a Scotland side, under head coach Gregor Townsend, capable of causing an upset on their day, Ireland and South Africa also find themselves in Pool B. The Sprinboks might have hoped to have gone slightly more under the radar into this World Cup, after failing to win the Rugby Championship this year. Their win at Twickenham against the Kiwis, as covered by the BBC, has made that an impossibility.
Boks Have The Experience To Challenge
With head coach Jacques Nienaber tinkering with his sides over the last couple of years, South Africa have developed a strength in depth that will be the envy of other nations at the World Cup. Talismanic leader Siya Kolisi has also returned from a serious injury just in time for the tournament, and he was a formidable figure in the back row against the All Blacks in London.
Kolisi was the man to lift the Webb Ellis Cup on Japanese soil at the last World Cup in 2019, as the Guardian reported they beat Eddie Jones’ England 32-12 in the final at International Stadium Yokohama. South Africa were slightly underestimated heading into that World Cup too, with New Zealand expected to make it back-to-back titles after this success in 2015. The Springboks silenced their critics, and their physical game was simply too much for the other sides in the competition.
South Africa are back for more World Cup glory and, after that impressive display at Twickenham against New Zealand, rivals will be wary of what the Boks can bring to the biggest stage in rugby union.
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