SIR CLIVE WOODWARD'S England Rugby World Cup predictions

09/03/2023

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England are significant underdogs for their World Cup opener against Argentina, Steve Borthwick’s side should beat Japan despite Billy Vunipola’s absence and will want plenty of tries against Chile

England’s chances against Argentina show how far the national team fell so far
After taking on the Pumas they face Japan, Chile and Samoa in France
Borthwick’s side are up against it as they participate at the Rugby World Cup
Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

England’s World Cup campaign will begin under the cloud of dire recent performances and they will be desperate to turn it around on the big stage.

Steve Borthwick’s men face Argentina, Japan, Chile and Samoa in their group.

Here, Mail Sport’s Sir Clive Woodward offers his thoughts, predictions and players to watch from England’s pool games.

Argentina (Saturday, September 9. Kick-off 8pm – Marseille)

The fact England are significant underdogs for their World Cup pool opener with Argentina shows just how far the national team has fallen.

The Pumas will be favourites and rightly so. They are a hugely dangerous side. They beat England at Twickenham last November and will fancy their chances of a repeat success in Marseille.

Michael Cheika’s side have a very strong pack but it is behind the scrum where they pose a real threat to England. Steve Borthwick’s side lack pace and creativity in the back-line but that’s certainly not the case with Argentina. Emiliano Boffelli and Mateo Carreras are very dangerous players England will need to keep an eye on.

Don’t forget too that England will be without the banned Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola.

Opposition player to watch: Mateo Carreras. The Newcastle winger will be familiar to English fans as he scores brilliant tries in the Premiership week in, week out with Newcastle. His speed is frightening.

The fact England are significant underdogs for their World Cup pool opener with Argentina shows just how far the national team has fallen

Argentina beat England at Twickenham last November and will fancy their chances of a repeat success in Marseille

Mateo Carreras is the player to watch and he currently plys his trade for Newcastle

Prediction: England have their hands full against Argentina but if they can sneak a win, everyone will forget their struggles in August. The Pumas game is like a World Cup final in many ways. It’s that big.

Win and England can have a successful tournament. Lose and they could be in big trouble. I’m backing England to win narrowly.

Japan (Sunday, September 17. Kick-off 8pm – Nice)

I loved watching Japan at the last World Cup. There was so much joy to be had in seeing them play, partly because they were such excellent hosts in 2019 but also because of how they approached their rugby.

Japan loved to attack and their ball handling across the team was a joy to watch. Unfortunately for them, I’m not sure they are the same team four years later. But that is good news for England – who beat Japan comfortably at Twickenham last autumn.

England scored seven tries and 52 points that November day, a far cry from what we’ve seen this summer.

Opposition player to watch: Michael Leitch. At 34, this will be Leitch’s last World Cup. What a warrior and inspiration he has been for his country as they’ve emerged into an ambitious rugby nation. I wish him a great farewell tournament, just not against England!

Prediction: I don’t expect a 50-point hammering of Japan like we saw at the end of 2022, but for all their recent struggles England should be winning games like this even if Farrell will still be absent. Vunipola should be back. If England go into the match with Jamie Joseph’s side on the back of a victory over Argentina, their confidence will have improved dramatically.

There was so much joy to be had in seeing Japan play, partly because they were such excellent hosts in 2019

England scored seven tries and 52 points as they beat Japan last autumn

Chile (Saturday, September 23. Kick-off 4.45pm – Lille)

Chile are preparing for their first World Cup. I wish them all the best but they are nowhere near England’s level and Borthwick’s side should have far too much for the South Americans.

Opposition player to watch: Martin Sigren, who became the first Chilean to play in English professional rugby when he joined Doncaster.

Prediction: England will win this game. The question will be by how much and if we see a coherent display. Points difference could come into things so Borthwick will want to see plenty of tries.

Samoa (Saturday, October 7. Kick-off 4.45pm – Lille)

Our game with Samoa in 2003 still gives me nightmares! At one stage we looked like we were going to lose. Samoa were firing on all cylinders and were in the lead.

We also had the incident where we briefly fielded 16 men on the field by accident when Dan Luger came on and no player came off. We escaped with a fine when we could have had a points deduction.

Borthwick will be hoping for a far easier match than the one 20 years ago I’m sure! But the truth is, he could be in for a similar fright. Samoa are a lot stronger than at previous World Cups because they have benefited from World Rugby’s change in eligibility laws.

A number of former All Blacks will be in their side in France which makes them a totally different kettle of fish. Whatever happens earlier in the pool, England will need to win this game in Lille.

Borthwick will be hoping for a far easier match than the one 20 years ago when they face Samoa

Opposition player to watch: Lima Sopoaga played fly-half for New Zealand but is now Samoa’s No 10.

English rugby fans will know how good a player he is from his time in the Premiership with Wasps.

Pacific Island nations are always hugely physical and can create something from nothing but with Sopoaga in charge, this Samoa team will have control and a game plan too.

Prediction: Argentina and Samoa are England’s two most difficult pool games and the reality is they could easily lose both. They have the ability to win both too but will have to be at their best and show more than we’ve seen this summer to do so. I believe they can do that. England narrowly.

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