SCOTLAND – Pool Stages
This will be an unfortunate reality given just how exciting Gregor Townsends’ side have been in recent years, optimised best at the latest Six Nations competition. However, Scotland have pulled the short straw in terms of Rugby World Cup Pool Stages, as they have the might of South Africa and Ireland to contend with in the first stage of the competition.
A shock victory is always possible, yet we are going for the most likely outcomes for these predictions. Ireland and South Africa are the two most likely sides to march on to the quarter finals, at the expense of Scotland. This is lining up to be Scottish legend Stuart Hogg’s final farewell from rugby, as the fullback announced his plans for the shock retirement at the end of March.
We hope to be proven wrong, and that Scotland perform to their highest standards and record victories over the Springboks and Ireland. The more probably win would be against South Africa, who have slipped off the pace slightly since their 15-30 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh, during the 2021 Autumn series. The current state of both sides will be put on full display during the upcoming Summer, as the World Cup Warm-Up matches will be eagerly watched by coaching staff across the world.
South Africa take on the All Blacks at Twickenham Stadium, with an expected sell-out crowd on foreign soil generating a World Cup experience for the two heavyweights of international rugby. Scotland have Six Nations replays throughout the Summer as they take on France twice, with the matches pillared between run-ins with Italy and Six Nations hopefuls Georgia, in a hectic schedule. We will see just what the lads from North of the wall are set to bring to France, in their intriguing warm-up fixtures.