Stephen Ferris previews the weekend’s final World Cup warm-up matches
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The 2023 Rugby World Cup is just two weeks away and former Ireland international Stephen Ferris spoke exclusively to Ladbrokes about this weekend’s final warm-up matches.
The All Blacks are many people’s favourites to lift the Rugby World Cup and if they run riot against the Boks, then maybe all the hype is real. However, I feel South Africa will be more than up for the challenge.
Siya Kolisi, the South Africa captain, said this week “we have never had a friendly against New Zealand, it’s going to be a big physical battle and we are excited about that”.
This is going to be a war and a sold-out Twickenham is in for a treat.
England have won all seven of their previous games against Fiji and it’s no wonder England are 12-point favourites. That said, England battered Fiji by 43 points last time out so that handicap looks very appealing.
Fiji lost out to a second-string French team last weekend, and England were dominated by Ireland in Dublin. So, it’s two teams looking to find some momentum before the main event kicks off. Will Fiji cause an upset and inflict more pain and misery? Or will England finally get a performance that gives the fans just a little bit of hope?
Ireland are the number one team heading into this final weekend of warm-up games.
Samoa had a good win last weekend against the Barbarians and have also won eight of their last 10 Test matches which include wins against Tonga, Japan and Georgia. What a scalp it would be to beat Ireland the week before the Rugby World Cup kicks off!
Ireland have won 16 matches in a row and have selected a stronger team to face Samoa than many expected. Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris make up the back-row trio. Last week’s man of the match, Mack Hansen, starts on the wing, and the fans’ favourite Keith Earls starts on the other flank. Jack Crowley has been given the nod at 10, but I think we are all still undecided about who is Jonny Sexton’s back-up. Maybe Crowley will grasp his opportunity tonight.
I can’t see anything other than a resounding victory for Ireland, but the 25-point handicap seems a little harsh on Samoa who have shown promise in recent weeks against half-decent opposition.
