Schalk Brits Predicts South Africa will Lift the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Former Springboks Legend, Schalk Brits, Predicts South Africa will Lift the Coveted Webb Ellis Cup on October 28
- Former 2019 RWC Winner expects Ireland to get knocked out (again) at the Quarter-finals stage and he doesn’t hold out much hope for the UK teams, claiming that England, Wales and Scotland won't do well
Former Springboks player, legend and 2019 RWC winner, Schalk Brits, believes South Africa will dominate the 2023 Rugby World Cup and lift the coveted Webb Ellis Cup on October 28.
Brits was asked by rugby news platform, RugbyPass, to use its Rugby World Cup team predictor tool to make his predictions and give his thoughts on how he sees the tournament unfolding. Brits has initially picked Ireland to finish in second place in Pool B behind South Africa, confident his national team will ultimately go on to win the tournament.
Brits offered the following comments and justified his predictions based on South Africa’s recent good form, but also his own national pride: “I’m of course extremely biased towards South Africa, but I honestly think this group is even better than the 2019 winning squad. They’ve been together for a long time, and although some pivotal players [Handrè Pollard] are injured, we still have very exciting backs and our forward pack is vicious and dominant.
“I do think South Africa will beat Ireland and top the group, and Ireland will then finish in second. And if Scotland do beat Ireland - like I think they will - it will have been too little too late in their games, as they just don’t have the squad depth to cope with all their matches.”
Assuming a South Africa vs France final, he commented: “It would be a close game, there’d be a real wrestle here and France would hugely up for it, but a Springboks win would break a record, it’s probably the last World Cup for a lot of the boys in the squad and they’re an unbelievable pack who will want to have a proper go.
“The effect on South Africa would be incredible too. If I think back to the impact our win in 2019 had on the country, I remember celebrating with the people from all different cities and townships, so I know that sport really has the power to change views and attitudes for the better.”
RugbyPass’ 80,000+ strong fanbase, and a number of other rugby experts who use the site, also used the RugbyPass predictor. From the thousands of fan choices, many rugby fans share Brits’ belief that South Africa could be in with a chance of winning, with New Zealand (34%), France (25%), South Africa (17%) and Ireland (16%) being the top teams predicted to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. You can find a full breakdown of RugbyPass’ fan predictions here:
https://www.rugbypass.com/rugby-world-cup/expert-predictions/
Brits also anticipates that France will do well: “France have a great pack, great structures in place and they can be New Zealand’s kryptonite in World Cups. So I think France are going to win that first opening game against them and will end up topping the Pool with New Zealand in second.
“With France playing at home and the emotion of the occasion, the squad will really bring it. The way France play isn’t just ‘go’, it’s coordinated and settled, and when he wants to, Antoine Dupont just runs the show. The game could even be a trendsetter for France and may end up dictating their run in the rest of the World Cup.”
However, Brits doesn’t hold out much hope for UK teams, claiming that England, Wales and Scotland won't do well (with the England team expected to perform especially badly): “I think England will come second but they are lucky they have this particular group, as they’ll beat the likes of Samoa and Japan, but will still lose to Argentina. It’ll be the case that Samoa and Japan will push them hard in their games, but these sides will struggle to get any positive results here.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve played with a lot of the England squad and they’re proper rugby players and Steve Borthwick is a good guy, but I just can’t work out why they’re not performing right now. Steve has had a tough job taking over so close to the World Cup, but so far things just don’t seem to be working and they’re not playing the way they should. They should be phenomenal, but they’re not.
“For me, the England pack doesn’t try to dominate. Instead they try all these moves, but if the pack isn’t dominating it just won’t work. Also, when you look at the squad, who do they have that can turn a game on its head and create something out of nothing?
“I’m also going to be controversial here and say Fiji will finish second in Pool C, and they will beat Wales.”
Brits also expects Ireland to get knocked out (again) at the Quarter-finals stage, by France: “Ireland will be great, but with that home advantage France would go through.”
Following the Springbok’s triumphant warm up victory over New Zealand last Friday, Brits finished by saying that “ultimately, whatever happens I think this’ll be the most interesting World Cup I’ll ever watch, as there are so many big sides that have a chance. Also, if South Africa don’t win, and it’s a Northern Hemisphere team - maybe Ireland - it would be great for World Rugby.”
