What difficulties will the Rugby World Cup Final Qualifier face in 2023?

Posted by Xchange Tickets on December 1st, 2022

We take a look at what it would mean for Pool C as four teams compete in Dubai for the 20th and final ticket to France in 2023.

In December 2020, the draw for Rugby World Cup 2023 was made, and Wales, Australia, and Fiji took up three of the five spots in Pool C. Those three teams qualified on their thanks to third-place pool finishes or better at the previous tournament in Japan. The other two spots were given to Europe 1 and the winner of the Final Qualifier.

By finishing at the top of the combined standings for the Rugby Europe Championship in 2021 and 2022, Georgia became the 15th team to qualify for the main competition in France in March of this year.

The Final Qualification Tournament, which will take place in Dubai between November 6 and 18, will determine who will fill the remaining one spot after the Lelos become the Europe 1 qualifier.

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Along with Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia, four teams from the United States, Portugal, Kenya, and Hong Kong are in the running to participate in what appears to be a highly competitive pool.

In the World Rugby Men's Rankings powered by Capgemini, Wales is seventh on 81.28, Australia is ninth on 80.65, Fiji is 12th on 75.08, and Georgia is 13th on 74.51, covering the four confirmed participants in Pool C.

Since each team is capable of defeating the other on their day, it seems impossible to predict which of the teams will finish in the top two and advance to the knockout stages at this point.

Only Wales and Australia, winners of the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups, have made it this far in the semifinals.

Fiji has only made it to the quarterfinals, but they have a history of upsets, as Wales discovered to their cost at the 2007 tournament in France.

Even though Georgia has only participated in five tournaments and has never advanced beyond the pool stage, their increased exposure to matches against some of the more established nations over the past four Rugby World Cup cycles has only served to increase their competitiveness.

Pool C permutations

If you finish in the top three pools at Rugby World Cup 2023, you automatically qualify for the next tournament, which is probably the goal of the Final Qualifier.

Kenya and Hong Kong have never competed at the Rugby World Cup because they have never stepped foot on the world's largest sporting event.

It would be extremely unusual for the United States to not reach France. They have only failed to qualify for a Rugby World Cup once before, in 1995.

The Eagles have faced Australia eight times, including three times during the Rugby World Cup (1987, 1999, and 2011), which could be their opponents on October 1.

Despite playing Georgia and Wales a total of 13 times, the USA has never met them at a Rugby World Cup.

The last time the Lelos played the Eagles, they won 21-20 in Tbilisi in 2017. The two teams have a record of three wins each, but Wales has lost all seven of their games against them.

Portugal, on the other hand, is hoping to participate in their second Rugby World Cup after competing at the first one, which France hosted.

The draw for RWC 2023 ensures that Os Lobos will face a new opponent at this level, as they last played against New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, and Romania in 2007.

Having said that, ever since Portugal was promoted to the second-tier competition in 2019, Georgia has faced them in the Rugby Europe Championship every year.

Os Lobos have managed three draws over those 19 years, the most recent occurring in February 2022 when they defeated the Lelos 25-25 in Tbilisi. Portugal has failed to defeat Georgia in their 17 previous matches.

That result brought an end to Georgia's 20-game winning streak in the Rugby Europe Championship and solidified Portugal's growing reputation under Patrice Lagisquet as head coach.

Portugal will look to their match against Georgia on September 23 in Toulouse as their best chance of winning if they qualify.

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Portugal has lost both of their previous matches against Fiji, but neither of those defeats would be considered a cricket score.

Portugal has never played Australia, and Wales defeated Portugal 102-11 in their only meeting in 1994. But that was during the amateur era, so it has nothing to do with what might happen in a rematch on September 16 in Nice.

The guessing game will be over on November 18, when the 20th and final team competing in RWC 2023 will be announced.

Final Qualifier Pool C fixtures:

Saturday 16 September, v Wales, Nice
Saturday 23 September, v Georgia, Toulouse
Sunday 1 October, v Australia, Saint-Étienne
Sunday 8 October, v Fiji, Toulouse

After drawing with the USA in a crucial match in Dubai with the final kick, Portugal has qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

With a 16-16 victory in the final match of the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, Portugal secured their spot.

They become the final team to qualify for France 2023 after finishing first in the final qualifier on a points difference. Portugal will participate in the Rugby World Cup for the second time since 2007 and will be in Pool C with Australia, Wales, Fiji, and Georgia. This means that the USA, which will host the tournament in 2031, will not participate for the first time since 1995.

This means that Portugal will join Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia in Pool C at the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Portugal captain Tomás Appleton said. “For the rugby community this is amazing, we’ve been missing [from Rugby World Cup] for quite some time and we need a new generation to inspire the kids.”

Earlier on Friday, Hong Kong mounted a second-half comeback to beat Kenya 22-18 and claim third place in the standings.

For Mitchell, opening the pool beyond the three-player limit is key although he stressed it wouldn't be a free for all.

"I also think maybe they need to broaden that Giteau Law just a little bit," Mitchell added.

"When I say open it up, it's not for 20 players by any means, it might just be four or five. 

"We need to go over here and be at our competitive best, and whatever Dave Rennie Wallabies coach thinks that squad looks like, give him the chance to pick it. 

"You're not going to pick 20 players. By opening it up, you still only pick five players, but having the allowance and the ability for Dave Rennie to do that is paramount.

"It's his job. He's based on his results as well, Rennie and the coaching staff, so why would he not want to go to a World Cup with the best team available to him?

"Our coaches have been picked from overseas so why can't our players be? I think, personally, open it up, but by saying that I don't mean, 10, 15, 20 players Maybe a handful."

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