2022 is the year before the Springboks defend their World Cup Trophy in France and they will want to take some momentum into the new year. As we saw in 2018 the Boks first of all recovered some broken pride in knocking over New Zealand but they also restored their mantle as one of the most feared teams in the world and carried that through to 2019 to secure one of the more memorable victories at the World Cup.

 

In their way in 2022 are France, Ireland and Italy. The World Cup in 2023 will take place in France and the French will be looking at a laying down a marker so we can expect some fireworks in Paris. In recent years the French have won two Under 20 World Cups so they have a lot of talent coming through the system and it could be argued that they were unlucky to miss out on the 6 Nations title in 2021. They do blow very hot and cold though, when they blow hot and play champagne rugby they are a joy to behold unless you are the opposition. The French flair certainly comes to the fore and with the Top 14 league being the best in Europe the Boks will be pushed to the limits here.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

Ireland have also blown very hot and cold during recent years and have an annoying habit ( if you're Irish of course ) of peaking prior to the RWC and then falling away completely after that. Jonny Sexton is past is sell by date now and his contemporaries whilst showing potential are not in the same class. They are in the same group as the Boks in 2023 and a victory at the Aviva Stadium will be a huge psychological blow for them. The Aviva Stadium over the past 20 years has become one of the toughest grounds to come and get a result at so expect a real war of attrition here.

 

A trip to Rome and playing the Azzurri at the Stadio Olimpico used to be considered a chance to give the back up players a chance to show what they had to offer and probably still is seen in that way. However, in 2016 the Boks, who had been appalling all year, sunk to a new low and went down to Italy in what could be argued as Italy's finest moment on a rugby field. Those memories are still very fresh for the Boks and one can be assured that they will not be taken anything for granted in a city that has seen many an empire being crushed down the centuries.