English former rugby union star Rory Underwood believes that the Webb Ellis Trophy will either go to France or Ireland this year.
Both sides are firmly situated in the rugby world rankings as 1st and 3rd in the table. Ireland may top the list, but there is little between the French and Andy Farrell's troops. Both sides have bested each other in the two contests they have played in the 2022 and 2023 Six Nations.
The Irish team destroyed Romania 82-8 in their opening game on Saturday, while France beat New Zealand in their opening game the day before. If Ireland finish second in their pool and France come out on top, or vice versa, the two sides will meet in the quarter-finals of this year's Rugby World Cup. This clash promises to be a mouthwatering contest, and it is likely that one of the two teams will go all the way in France this year.
Underwood, who is England's record international try-scorer with 49 tries in 85 internationals between 1984 and 1996, reckons Ireland is one of the two teams most likely to be crowned Rugby World Cup champions on October 28, with host nation France being the other contender.
Another big week in France! đź’Ş#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/t6PblV0ppV
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) September 12, 2023
“France and Ireland were my favorites leading up to the World Cup. Ireland is obviously number one in the world, and France being the home team obviously helps,” he stated on Bettingsites.co.uk
Despite conceding the first try against Romania, Ireland went on to score 12 of their own in a dominant performance that showcases why they are among the favorites for the World Cup. Underwood believes it was the perfect confidence boost heading into the latter stages of the tournament.
“Well, it's a good start for anybody to get a convincing win off the bat. No doubt Andy Farrell will still be looking at some things, even when you get an 80-point win, there are always aspects that didn’t quite go the way you wanted them to. And is it good to start with an easy win, leading into some of the tougher games they've got. So it's a good start, it boosts confidence. It's good to get the first game in the World Cup off and running," added Underwood.
Ireland's game against Tonga will kick off at 8:00 pm (9:00 pm local time) tonight. The game can be watched live on ITV (UK) and RTÉ (ROI).
