RWC 2023

[Rapido]

So only difference is this time Oceania 2 (worst of the PI Big 3) will play Asia in an inter-continental qualifier instead of Europe.

So Hong Kong instead of Germany, based on 2019.

Hong Kong have just cancelled their professionals 15s high performance, due to covid.

Another disappointingly dull and safe qualification process for Oceania, IMO. They need some risk.

[Kruse]

@rapido said in RWC 2023 draw:

So only difference is this time Oceania 2 (worst of the PI Big 3) will play Asia in an inter-continental qualifier instead of Europe.

So Hong Kong instead of Germany, based on 2019.

Hong Kong have just cancelled their professionals 15s high performance, due to covid.

Another disappointingly dull and safe qualification process for Oceania, IMO. They need some risk.

Let's not put the cart before the horse - they need to beat Papua New Guinea first.

[Rapido]

@kruse said in RWC 2023 draw:

@rapido said in RWC 2023 draw:

So only difference is this time Oceania 2 (worst of the PI Big 3) will play Asia in an inter-continental qualifier instead of Europe.

So Hong Kong instead of Germany, based on 2019.

Hong Kong have just cancelled their professionals 15s high performance, due to covid.

Another disappointingly dull and safe qualification process for Oceania, IMO. They need some risk.

Let's not put the cart before the horse - they need to beat Papua New Guinea first.

Do they? They probably don't.
They didn't need to beat Cook Islands (or PNG) last time. PI Big 3 totally totally ringfenced from the other Oceania qualifiers. Cook Islands won Oceania then lost to Hong Kong. for chance at the repechage tournament. The worst a PI Big 3 can do is get knocked out during repechage.

Assume still the same, haven't checked.

[Rapido]

I'm wrong.

For 2023.

Oceania:
a home and away play-off between Tonga and Samoa in 2021 will determine the direct qualifier for the Oceania region. – Oceania 1

The loser will then play the Oceania Rugby Cup 2021 winner in the highest ranked team’s country with the eventual winner contesting Asia / Pacific (see below) as Oceania 2

[Kruse]

Yeah - for those who require over-sized pictures and bright colours...
("visual learners" I believe is the polite term, "dunces" the correct one):

rugbybworldcup.com

Qualifying Pathway | RWC 2023

All you need to know about the RWC 2023 Qualification pathway

[Stargazer]

That opening match, not predictable at all ...

Media release: All Blacks to play France in RWC 2023 opening match

[Stargazer]

World Rugby media release: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/619814/hosts-france-to-face-new-zealand-in-blockbuster-rwc-2023-opening-match

Full match schedule: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches

[rotated]

@stargazer said in RWC 2023 draw:

Media release: All Blacks to play France in RWC 2023 opening match

I'm kind of surprised they didn't choose Italy to get a bit of a contest but likely win.

High Reward / Low Risk move if they beat NZ first up it could really take public interest in the tournament to another level like SA beating Aus first up in 1995.

[DMX]

How is it possible Italy is in the same pool as ABs again?

[Billy Tell]

@dmx said in RWC 2023 draw:

How is it possible Italy is in the same pool as ABs again?

Just like Wales Fiji and Australia in the same pool. I think Wales and Fiji have some sort of RWC pool love affair.

[Bovidae]

No AB game in Marseille this time.

[Machpants]

Exciting first up game then the ABs have weeks of boredom to follow, not great prep for the knock outs. 16 team world cup, thanks.

At least with a squad size of 33 they can do proper internal matches

[mariner4life]

It's all a bit repetitive isn't it?

[Bovidae]

Who knew that public tickets have gone on sale?

Two and a half years ahead of Rugby World Cup France 2023, enthusiasm from both French and international fans is evident.

Following a presale period in March for the members of the “2023 Family”, the first phase of the general public ticket sale was launched on 6 April. Fans connected in large numbers to the official ticketing platform to obtain ‘City’ and ‘Follow my Team’ packs and a new record was set with up to 4,000 tickets being sold per minute.

In total, the 350,000 tickets available were sold within five hours.

worldrugby.org

Opening of the France 2023 general public ticket sale - 350,000 tickets sold | World Rugby

Official Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets were made available to fans across the globe with all 350,000 tickets sold within five hours.

[Unite]

@bovidae Me 😀

I think by virtue of signing up for ticket alerts from prior RWCs I’ve just continued to receive comms regarding tickets.

[Stargazer]

Interesting result in the RWC qualifier between Canada and the USA: Canada won 34 - 21 overnight.

The return match will determine who will play Uruguay in two deciding home and away matches for the Americas 1 spot in pool A.

[Bovidae]

They don't play that many home games on the East coast (Newfoundland), so maybe due to covid restrictions?

[booboo]

@stargazer said in RWC 2023 draw:

Interesting result in the RWC qualifier between Canada and the USA: Canada won 34 - 21 overnight.

The return match will determine who will play Uruguay in two deciding home and away matches for the Americas 1 spot in pool A.

First Canada win v US since 2013 apparently.

Assume they play reasonably regularly?

[Bovidae]

@booboo To answer your question, and mine.

Returning for the first time to the venue where they suffered a record 56-7 defeat to Canada back in August 2006, the USA went into the RAN 1 play-off as favourites on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run against their neighbours.

[Stargazer]