South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe on his way to scoring his side’s first try of the game during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool B match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture date: Saturday September 23, 2023. Image: Backpagepix
Losing to Ireland sets Springboks on easier RWC final path
There is a significant silver lining to the Springboks narrow loss to Ireland in the Rugby World Cup pool stage on Saturday.
South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe on his way to scoring his side’s first try of the game during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool B match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture date: Saturday September 23, 2023. Image: Backpagepix
The Springboks defeat to Ireland appears to have set them onto a path to the final that may prove to be a softer route to the championship match.
Of course it does mean that should the Springboks actually clinch second with victory over Tonga in their final pool match, they are likely to face France in the last eight.
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Springboks on the easier path
It would mean that the Springboks take on the hosts at the quarter-final stage again, just as they did in 2019.
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However they should expect considerably more from France than the Brave Blossoms offered four years ago even if they have been shorn of star player Antoine Dupont.
While Dupont pulls the strings for France they have a very good team with plenty of weapons to attack and a great scrum and setpiece.
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If the Springboks can beat France to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals for the sixth time they will then be set to face either the winner of Pool C (currently tracking to be England) or the runner-up in Pool D.
Pool D’s runner-up is likely to be drawn from one of Fiji or Australia.
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England await
England look to be the likely last four opponent for the Springboks should they battle beyond France
By contrast Ireland look set for another showdown with the All Blacks at a stage of the Rugby World Cup that they have never been beyond.
Should they get beyond the All Blacks a meeting with Wales appears to await them in the last four.
If the Springboks could choose their path they would probably prefer to play France and England to reach a Rugby World Cup final rather than battling with New Zealand in the last eight.
The loss to Ireland isn’t the end of the line or the end of the world for the Springboks.
