Will the All Blacks win the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
Many have already written the New Zealand side off after a tumultuous 2022 international season, believing tournament hosts France and current World No.1 nation Ireland will be the top two contenders.
Sitting at third in the world rankings, the All Blacks have slipped from their former untouchable best, but a turnaround in form at the end of last year may suggest greater things are to come for Ian Foster and his men.
However, New Zealand will face France in the pool stage and are likely to progress to an early clash with Ireland in the playoffs, meaning their road to the Webb Ellis trophy will not be easy.
Considering the calibre of their group-stage opponents, injured prop Angus Ta’avao believes the All Blacks won’t be frontrunners for the title but may fly under the radar to surprise their rivals.
Rugby World Cup 2023 Pools THREAD 🙌
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) December 14, 2020
First up, in Pool A we have:
New Zealand
France
Italy
Americas 1
Africa 1#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/S4ZJQ9lQQ1
“It will be between France and Ireland, but I don’t think that rules them (the All Blacks) out,” Ta’avao told SENZ The Run Home.
“People will be surprised I think, there’s been a lot of bagging and all this stuff going on but I think the boys will (perform).
“There’s players that have been there and know how to win and I think we’ll be set up nicely.
“(We will) slide in under the radar and surprise a few people.”
The All Blacks will participate in a four-game Rugby Championship and a warm-up match against South Africa in August before their World Cup campaign begins on September 8 against France.