Springbok MVP tips France as RWC favourites

Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe says France should be considered clear-cut favourites to win the home World Cup later this year.

France are the host nation of the 2023 World Cup and the national Test’s form has coincidentally sky-rocketed in the months leading up to the rugby spectacle.

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Last season, France accomplished the rare feat of winning a Six Nations Grand Slam, before going on to beat the Wallabies and the Springboks in November as they concluded the calendar on a perfect 13-match winning streak. France also claimed the scalp of the All Blacks in November 2021.

France, though, have hit a hobble in this year’s Six Nations Championship, claiming a hard-fought win agains Italy in round one and then losing to Ireland in round two.

But according to Kolbe, who plies his trade in the French Top 14 for Toulon, Les Bleus remain the stand-alone favourites for World Cup honours.

“They’re definitely favourites going into the World Cup, especially based in France,” Kolbe argued.

“After their performance in the Grand Slam, beating New Zealand (in 2021) and then us at the end of last year they’re going in as favourites.

The Springboks start their World Cup title defence in France on 8 September against Scotland, and Kolbe is adamant what his team will do everything it takes to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.

“We know as South Africans what it takes, the sacrifices,” he explained.

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SPRINGBOKS’ 2023 FIXTURES:

Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Boks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)

RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (venue TBC)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – SA vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

RWC pool fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – South Africa v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final