Rugby Union Weekly pick their best moments of 2022-23 and look ahead to the World Cup

Care: It’s between France, South Africa and England for me.

Ashton: South Africa are the team to beat.

Monye: I agree, South Africa. Their game has moved on significantly in the last year. However, for the first time New Zealand are going into a World Cup as slight underdogs, which never really happens, and that is dangerous.

Care: Ireland are going to have something to say about this!

Ashton: Ireland gone in the quarters…

Monye: That Leinster defeat has changed how people view Ireland’s chances….

Care: We can’t just write Ireland off because Leinster lost to La Rochelle by one point! How mad is that?

Jones: Saying Ireland could get knocked out in the quarter-finals is not insulting though. They have a massive World Cup hoodoo to overcome, and they will play New Zealand or France in the last eight, if they even get there, because Scotland will mean business.

Care: England will be in the semi-finals, and then you are just two games away.

Jones: There is a chance there will be a surprise finalist from that side of the draw, because it is very slanted.