The departure from Australia and Dupont’s injury. Review of the most important events of the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Maria Anderson September 27, 2023, 20:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The fourth day of the group stage begins. Everything interesting is yet to come.
The group stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup is approaching the finish line. The fourth week of games begins on September 27. Only 16 games remain before the playoffs, in which the quarterfinal pairings will be determined.
In the meantime, we will summarize the main trends and events of the first three weeks.
Biggest victory in tournament history
After an experimental lineup for the match against Uruguay in the second round, which almost ended in defeat, the coaching staff of the tournament hosts fielded the strongest players. The French defeated Namibia 96-0, Les Bleus’ biggest victory in World Cup history.
Favorites lose leaders
Despite the devastating result in the match with the Namibian team, the French are not very happy with their results: the team lost its captain and public favorite, Antoine Dupont, for several weeks. At the beginning of the second half, Namibian captain Johan Deysel collided with Dupont’s head. The first received a yellow card first and then a red card, the second received a fracture of one of the bones in his face and underwent surgery the next day. However, they promise that Dupont will take the field in the semi-finals, where France will clearly advance.
Antonio Dupont
Photo: Paul Harding/Getty Images
At the beginning of the victorious match against Australia, the Welsh team lost its main midfielder Dan Biggar, who suffered a strained pectoral muscle. The final group match for the Group C leaders, the Welsh, will take place on October 7, but the coaching staff stated that although Biggar will recover for this match, he will be reserved for the play-off matches, where Wales are safe. to qualify.
The failure of the Australian team
The hosts of the next World Cup suffered two defeats in a row. Led by Eddie Jones, the Australians have so far only won one match (not in the 2023 World Cup, but overall). There are rumors that the Australian national team coach is already looking for a new job. Furthermore, he not only has a contract in place, but also has one group stage match left. Most likely, they will manage to beat Portugal, but this will hardly console the fans, who already whistle in the stadiums every time Jones is shown on the giant screens, because the Australians will no longer be able to reach the final. playoffs under any circumstances.
Emotions of a spectator of the World Cup in Russia:
“There are queues and problems with beer in Paris.” The Rugby World Cup through the eyes of a Russian journalist
Farrell’s triumphant return
The disqualification of English captain Owen Farrell ended, and in his first match at the 2023 World Cup he almost set a record: the legendary Jonny Wilkinson has 1179 points scored in the national team, Farrell has 1178 after the victory over Chile. on October 7 in Lille, and there Wilkinson’s record is likely to fall.
Owen Farrell
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
First defeat for the current cup champions
Before the start of the tournament in France, experts identified three favorites: the hosts of the tournament, France, the current winners of the World Cup, South Africa, and the leaders of the world ranking, Ireland. South Africa and Ireland were in the same group and remained undefeated until the head-to-head matchup. In a difficult match at the Stade de France, the Europeans turned out to be stronger. They lead Group B. However, this defeat should not prevent the Africans from reaching the playoffs.
