1
Clive Woodward names his 2023 World Cup winner and explains why
By Liam Heagney
Former England boss Clive Woodward has made his prediction for the 2023 World Cup, tipping France to ultimately lift the trophy on October 28 in Paris. Fabien Galthie’s side are currently rated second to Ireland in the World Rugby rankings, but the 2003 World Cup-winning coach believes home advantage will result in French glory in nine months' time.
Writing in Sportmail during the recent holiday period, Woodward said: “I have to go with France, with the reason being that for me they are the No1 team in the world now even if the official rankings show Ireland to be in that position.
“Being at home is a massive advantage. If this World Cup was taking place in New Zealand or South Africa, I wouldn’t be tipping France. I work a lot in France these days and I know from being there that the French public loves this team. This is a glorious time for French rugby. I can see them going one better than their football team and winning the World Cup.
“Being at home is like having a 16th man. France will have incredible support. When you’re at home, 50/50 calls tend to go your way. If we had been playing at home as an England team in 2003 rather than in Australia, we would have won the final by 25 points. Home advantage is so important especially when you have a side with such quality.”
Referencing England, who now have Steve Borthwick in charge instead of Eddie Jones, Woodward is expecting the ex-Leicester boss to turn English rugby around from the low ebb it currently finds itself in following 2022 where only five of a dozen Test matches were won.
“We have got to move on from Jones now and quickly. He is gone. It’s like the old saying goes, the king is dead, long live the king. Jones’ staunchest allies in the RFU threw him under the bus to save their own necks. In the end, I just felt very sorry for Jones. He deserved better. He should have been removed with dignity three years ago rather than suffer a very public hanging.
“Looking at it through the eyes of England’s opposition, they would have been very happy if Jones had stayed in charge. A fresh start with the talent and experience England possess could and will be a frightening prospect.
“The more I think about Steve Borthwick, the more I think he can surprise people. He will put a strong team together. My advice to Borthwick is very simple - just go for it! Does he have the players? Absolutely. I really hope I don’t hear those dreadful words ‘starters’ and ‘finishers’ again!
“Select players in their right position. I want him to pick wings that run fast! I’m very excited for him to turn English rugby around both on and off the pitch from the low ebb we currently find ourselves in. He can absolutely do that.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Player-led change gets thumbs up but jury out on selection: Andy Goode
3
Six England players who've boosted their Lions hopes this Six Nations
4
Gareth Anscombe fires back at ex-Wales coach Warren Gatland
5
Latest Comments
As an artist, I’ve always been focused on my creative pursuits and never really ventured into the world of high-risk financial investments. But, like many others, I was drawn to the idea of making money quickly through Forex trading. Unfortunately, I fell victim to a Forex scam and lost a large portion of my savings. The financial loss was devastating, but the emotional toll was even worse. I felt betrayed, and hopeless, and wasn’t sure where to turn next. One day, while browsing through Red Note, a platform where people connect over shared experiences, I came across a post from someone who had gone through a similar situation. They shared how they managed to recover their lost funds through a company called Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Desperate for a solution, I decided to reach out to them and explain what had happened to me. I was initially skeptical, unsure whether this was just another scam or if it could be the real deal. To my surprise, the team at Tech Cyber Force Recovery was professional, compassionate, and genuinely interested in helping. They listened carefully to my story and assured me that they had the expertise and resources to help recover my lost funds. The process would take time, they said, and I’d need to provide some documentation, but they were confident that they could help. After several conversations and a thorough investigation, they started working on my case. The results were incredible. Within a relatively short period, Tech Cyber Force Recovery managed to recover nearly all of the funds I had lost. It wasn’t an easy process, and it required patience, but the team’s dedication, attention to detail, and methodical approach paid off. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. What had once seemed like a permanent loss was now being reversed, thanks to the help of Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Not only did the recovery restore my financial situation, but it also restored my sense of trust and confidence. I had almost given up hope, but now, with my funds recovered, I feel like I can move forward. I’ve learned valuable lessons from this experience, and I’m more cautious about my financial decisions in the future. What began as a desperate search on Red Note turned into a life-changing recovery. Thanks to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, I now feel more hopeful about my financial future, with the knowledge that recovery is possible.telegram (@)techcyberforc texts (+1 5.6.1.7.2.6.3.6.9.7)
Go to commentsJust too short to be an international 7.
Go to comments