Stephen Ferris predicts Ireland v Romania and England v Argentina
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The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets under way this weekend and former Ireland international Stephen Ferris spoke exclusively to Ladbrokes to preview the matches involving Ireland and England.
Ireland v Romania (Sat, 2.30pm)
Ireland, a rugby powerhouse, head into their opening Rugby World Cup clash with Romania as formidable favourites.
Renowned for their passionate supporters who will travel to France in their droves, the Boys In Green should really enjoy this game as the sun will be shining and they will hopefully watch their team score a bucket full of points.
On the other side of the pitch, Romania brings its own unique rugby legacy. Known for their robust forward play and passionate enthusiasm, the Oaks are no strangers to international competition. Romania’s commitment to grassroots rugby has ensured a continuous stream of good players, making them a team who is continuing to evolve, but ultimately are still miles away from the Tier One nations.
Ireland have selected an extremely strong team. Johnny Sexton is back to captain the side and will have other senior players like Keith Earls, Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Furlong togging out alongside him. The handicap for this game is currently 62 points which is bonkers! However, the number one ranked team in the world really are expected to rack up a cricket score, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ireland ran in at least 10 tries.
It’s crucial Ireland lay down a marker to everyone else in their group. Things didn’t go all to plan in their warm-up matches against Italy, England and Samoa, so fingers crossed all minor flaws are ironed out and they are ready to hit the ground running in Stade De Bordeaux.
Prediction: With the 23 players Ireland have selected I would expect them to completely dominate. A 60-point win is definitely on the cards so I’m going to back the Boys in Green and say Ireland -62 at 10/11.
England v Argentina (Sat, 8pm)
This Saturday marks a crucial fixture in the Rugby World Cup as England squares off against Argentina. As the tournament intensifies, rugby fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting this fierce battle between two formidable teams.
England, a huge rugby nation with a storied history, enters the contest lacking form and confidence. A team led by influential figures such as Manu Tuilagi and Maro Itoje, the English squad is brimming with talent and experience, however most of them look like they are playing with a straight jacket on and not allowed to shift away from the pragmatic game plan. Will England finally catch fire and bring the heat to this match physically or will they just burn out like we have seen too many times recently?
Argentina, on the other hand, are renowned for their passionate style of rugby. Their vibrant brand of play has earned them the nickname ’Los Pumas’ and their scrappy, dynamic style can catch any opponent off guard. Having only won three of their last 10 Test matches, many people are writing Argentina off. However, history has shown they peak for World Cups and have pulled off several scalps over the years. A team led by Michael Cheika is always one to watch out for.
As fans gear up for this epic encounter, the rugby world holds its collective breath, ready to witness England and Argentina engage in a rugby battle for the ages. This Saturday, the world will be watching as these titans of the game collide. We can expect bone-crunching tackles, scintillating runs, and dramatic moments that define World Cup rugby.
Prediction: Remarkably England are three-point favourites. They have won only one of their last six Test matches. However, they have a great record against Argentina, winning eight of the last nine meetings. It’s going to be a tight game but with Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell missing due to bans, I’m going for an Argentina win at 10/11.
