The final hurdle; the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final. Twenty teams started this path on the 8th of September when New Zealand took on France. Now just two will remain in the quest for the famous Webb Ellis Cup. Which captain will get their hands on the trophy, and who will leave disappointed?
The final is played on Saturday, the 28th of October, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. One of the most famous stadiums in Europe, it has been host to a Rugby World Cup Final once before. That was in 2007, when South Africa beat England 15-7 in front of a crowd of 80,430. What do these teams have in store for us in 2023? Let’s investigate.
What Nations have Qualified for the Final?
Two teams will be left standing, but who will they be? We have made our predictions and believe that New Zealand and Ireland will contest the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.
The All Blacks can create history and become the first team to win the Rugby World Cup Final four times. It is a long and challenging road for both teams to get here, with no easy games after the pool stages.
As such, the teams with the biggest heart and fitness can sometimes outdo those with mercurial talents. Most New Zealand fans will tell you that this is not a classic All Blacks team, and in fact, they have come in for plenty of criticism, but they are still more than capable of competing with the best of them.
Being the top-ranked team in world rugby puts a bullseye on the back of Ireland, but they are big enough to overcome that and make a first foray into a World Cup Final. It could even be a win at the first time of asking, given the talent that is at their disposal at present. A formidable group containing South Africa and potential match-ups with France and Australia will have given them a good grounding if they make it here.
New Zealand
Along with South Africa, New Zealand has won this competition on three occasions. It is an even more remarkable record, given that the Rugby World Cup Final has only been played nine times.
The dominant force in rugby union, no team has made as many finals as the All Blacks. The winners in 2011 on home soil and 2015 in England will be looking for a third win in four tournaments.
Ireland
The reigning Six Nations winners are after a bigger prize, the most famous in world rugby. This has been the best all-around side they have fielded in some time. From front to back, they have little in the way of weaknesses.
Ireland took two from three in a series with New Zealand in 2022. That has seen them hit new heights as a team. Ranked number one in the world, they may never have a better opportunity to win a Rugby World Cup Final.
Player Overview
The Rugby World Cup Final is when the captain of a side needs to step forward. Leading by example is a must if the team is the one to pick up the victory. As such, there are only two players that we could look at in this section to give our prediction for the final.
Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks at the World Cup. Twice a winner of this tournament already, he led the side out in the past at a World Cup against Namibia in a pool match. There has been some criticism of him in the press, no better way to put that to bed than a win. Cane has courted controversy on more than one occasion. In July, his treatment of a pitch invader in Argentina in the Rugby Championship split opinion. This is the opportunity for him to gain positive press on the highest stage.
At 38, Johnny Sexton will be desperate to finish his career with the ultimate high. The World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018, he has been captain of Ireland since 2020. As such, this will be the first time he has led his country out at a World Cup.
He is close to passing Ronan O’Gara for the all-time leading scorer in Ireland’s history. That could be one of the biggest stories that rugby has seen if he could do that at the Stade de France.
Interesting Things to Bet on During the Final
The biggest market for the Rugby World Cup Final will, without a doubt, be the match winner. It is the easiest bet to understand. With only three possible outcomes, there is little better for newcomers to betting or rugby union. A draw is possible on this bet, so a bet to lift the trophy must include extra time.
In the previous nine finals, an average of 33 points was scored in total. Bookmakers will offer markets on points in the final, so this might be a starting point. That could be the over or under market or even which half will have the more points.
The two teams can be backed to win by a certain margin. You can also back the teams on the handicap with a start for the underdog or a negative start for the favourite to overcome.
Tips for Betting on the Final
When betting on any sporting event, it is always best to know your subject matter. As this is the Rugby World Cup Final, there is plenty of form in the book, with each team playing six games to get here. They have met enough times in the past to know how they match up as well.
If you want to bet in this match, then make sure you shop around to find the best price on offer. Bookmakers will be looking for extra business on such a big game. Because of this, there will be boosts and special offers to be had. Take some time to look these over and find ones that are relevant to you for maximum impact. May the best team win!
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