Bold predictions on who will make and miss the Rugby World Cup squads : PlanetRugby

Bold predictions for who will make the cut for the Rugby World Cup and who won't.

Rugby World Cup squads are set to come in thick and fast as teams ramp up their preparations for this year’s tournament.

With a jampacked weekend of warm-up matches taking place this weekend, players will be out to make the most of their precious few opportunities to claim a spot in their country’s final 33-man squad.

Here are our bold selection predictions for each of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams.

Michael Chieka has maintained a settled squad since taking over Los Pumas, but that doesn’t mean we can’t expect a few shock calls from the former Wallabies boss.

It’s unlikely any of his regular stars like Julian Montoya, Emiliano Boffelli, Juan Martin Gonzalez or Pablo Matera will miss out on the final 33. Still, the picture out wide is far less clear.

Argentina have a plethora of talented outside backs, one of which being the pocket rocket hot-stepper Santiago Cordero. Despite his incredible talents and versatility in being able to play wing, full-back and cover at scrum-half, we predict that he will miss out on the squad with rookie Rodrigo Isgro, Mateo Carreras, Boffelli, and Juan Imhoff preferred.

Eddie Jones kept a relatively small squad throughout the Rugby Championship, so we shouldn’t expect too many shocking calls from the Wallabies head coach.

However, one name that was weirdly omitted from both his teams to face the All Blacks was that of Pete Samu.

The Brumbies man was in excellent form in Super Rugby Pacific and seemingly produced solid performances in the games against South Africa and Argentina.

However, he has been pushed to the fringes of the Wallabies team and could be a big omission from the squad.

Another shock we could see from the Wallabies is the call-up of former All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

The World Cup winner in 2015 is eligible for selection for Australia, having not played for New Zealand since 2017.

He has openly expressed his interest in playing for Australia, and although Nic White and Tate McDermott have been two of the better performers for the Wallabies, Kerr-Barlow is a world-class talent in his own right and worth including.

With Steve Borthwick set to include three fly-halves – Owen Farrell, George Ford and Marcus Smith – in his squad, we shouldn’t expect too many shocks from the current group.

However, one position that is quite open for England are the hooker slots behind Jamie George.

George started all five Six Nations matches and played most of the game on all five occasions.

Luke Cowan-Dickie has been ruled out of the World Cup, so there are two hooker roles up for grabs. Jack Walker was George’s back-up throughout the Six Nations, but he has been rehabbing during the training camps.

This leaves the door ajar for Theo Dan, Jamie Blamire, or both to secure spots in the World Cup squad.

Additionally, England have several options on the wing, and while Max Malins have been in sublime for Saracens and covers several positions, it’s likely that he could be omitted from the squad in favour of the more abrasive and physical presence of Joe Cokanasiga.

Fabien Galthie has not been shy to throw in young and in-form players into the Test set-up throughout this World Cup cycle and even named two uncapped players in his first World Cup warm-up match.

However, his training squad also saw Baptiste Serin’s return, who has not represented the Test team since 2021.

The Toulon scrum-half had an outstanding domestic season and guided his club to a Challenge Cup trophy. While Baptiste Couilloud has been the preferred number three, Serin may have moved back up the pecking order at just the right time.

⚫️ Baptiste Serin opens the scoring in the #ChallengeCupRugby final.pic.twitter.com/y7EYe4iOh4

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 19, 2023

Meanwhile, Arthur Vincent looks set to claim a spot in the hosts’ World Cup squad despite only playing nine games since the start of the 2021/22 season.

The fact that the centre – who can also play on the wing – is in the squad, to begin with, speaks volumes to how highly Galthie and his coaching team regard him.

Do not be shocked if he beats a more regular squad member like Yoram Moefana to a spot in the final 33.

Like many of the other Tier One nations, Italy have a largely settled team, but with the addition of Paolo Odgowu to Kieran Crowley’s squad, Federico Mori could fall out of favour.

The two backs cover the same position, and although Odogwu makes his first appearance for the Azzurri against Ireland, he should crack the final 33.

The former Sale Sharks and Wasps back is an explosive talent both with and without the ball and will add a lot to the team, whether he is playing centre or wing.

Most of Andy Farrell’s squad picks itself with a few exceptions, which will likely come down to the personal preferences of the head coach.

One of those preferences could come at hooker, with Leinster’s Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher the two front runners for the jersey.

However, Ulster’s Rob Herring and Tom Stewart are vying for the third hooker role, and the former fits the mould of the two aforementioned front-rowers.

Herring has produced standout moments for Ireland time and time again, with his accuracy at the set-pieces being his biggest attribute.

But it is entirely plausible that he is beaten to the final 33 by his provincial teammate.

Like Ireland, a lot of the All Blacks pick themselves with a relatively settled squad throughout the World Cup cycle.

However, we do predict that outside back Shaun Stevenson will force his way into the final 33 after being overlooked at the start of the Rugby Championship.

While Emoni Narawa impressed on debut, Stevenson has a bit more flair to his game and can play full-back too.

Stevenson may not crack the 23 for the big games during the World Cup, but it is the kind of weapon that will prove challenging for the smaller nations to handle at the tournament.

His versatility and skillset will also make him an excellent player to have in training.

Stuart Hogg announcing his retirement was shocking enough for Scotland fans, but we predict another big call from Gregor Townsend with his backline.

With Finn Russell clearly the number one fly-half with Blair Kinghorn capable of covering the position, Townsend will likely go with just one out-and-out back-up for Russell.

Ben Healy and Adam Hastings are set to battle it out for that spot, and it’s likely to be the former who makes the cut.

Hastings has been in and out of the squad throughout the World Cup cycle and has been used sparingly by Townsend.

Jacques Nienaber will undoubtedly have some big calls to make and is even set to include Handre Pollard and Siya Kolisi in his squad despite the pair having no game time before announcing his final 33.

But his biggest call looks set to be out wide, with the emergence of Kurt-Lee Arendse likely to push Makazole Mapimpi out of the final squad.

Mapimpi was the hero of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, becoming the first Springbok to score in a Rugby World Cup final, but the veteran’s form has dipped recently while Arendse’s has soared.

Arendse is clearly going to the World Cup, and while he offers an option at full-back, Mapimpi is an out-and-out winger.

It would be a massive call from the Boks and one that could well happen.

Ahead of Wales’ opening Rugby World Cup warm-up match, Warren Gatland was asked how many of his World Cup spots were filled, and the head coach replied: “about one”.

If the reply was an honest one, Gatland could stun many with his World Cup squad.

The inclusion that we could see happen is that of Taine Plumtree. The back-rower was a surprise call-up to the training squad and debuts off the bench against England.

He has obviously made a positive impression on Gatland and his coaching staff, and possibly enough of one to earn a spot in the last 33.

Outside of the back-rower, Sam Costelow could book his spot with a sharp performance against England, while Ken Owens may miss out on the team altogether through injury.

READ MORE: Predicting the Springboks’ 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup