In Rugby World Cup 2023, a team faced considerable challenges, yet their determination shone through. They came close to upsetting France and held a remarkable 10-point lead against Italy at halftime in the scenic city of Nice. Uruguay’s struggle in this tournament primarily centered around their inability to maintain possession of the ball, which resulted in their ranking at the 13th position for turnovers conceded.
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However, amidst their challenges, there was a silver lining. Their positive outcome rate stood at 60%, making them the second-worst team in this regard at Rugby World Cup 2023. Yet, they excelled in one crucial aspect of the game – the breakdown. They ranked second for turnovers won at the breakdown, averaging 4.5 turnovers per game, and contributed to the fifth-highest overall total with an average of 6.8 turnovers per game.
A standout player in this area was the exceptional flanker, Manuel Ardao, who accounted for an impressive seven of his team’s total of 18 turnovers. Ardao’s prowess at the breakdown earned him praise from Italy’s assistant coach Marius Goosen, who said, “Ardao is a master at the breakdown. There are only a few players worldwide with his level of skill in that area, reminiscent of what David Pocock used to bring to the game of Rugby World Cup.
Rugby World Cup 2023: Namibia’s Remarkable Collision Performance
Switching gears, Namibia embarked on their quest for a historic first Rugby World Cup victory during this tournament, leaving a lasting impact. Remarkably, they ranked third for dominant collisions, averaging 34.5 per game, despite having one of the lowest carry counts among all participating teams. This achievement made them the top team in terms of collision percentages, an incredible feat given the physical challenges they faced in a group that included powerhouse teams like France, the All Blacks, and Uruguay.
Furthermore, Namibia’s ruck speed was nothing short of impressive, with an average of 3.61 seconds, ranking them seventh fastest in the competition. Despite their combination of fast ruck speed and dominance in collisions, they narrowly missed securing victory. Nevertheless, they won the admiration of fans and pundits alike with their positive, free-flowing style of running for RWC.
At the Rugby World Cup 2023, Romania may not have secured any victories, but they displayed an emphasis on playing with speed. They maintained the fifth-fastest ruck speed among all teams, averaging just 3.52 seconds per ruck. Additionally, their scrum performance was commendable, ranking fifth in scrums won per game with 6, achieving a respectable success rate of 90%. However, their lineout performance left room for improvement, winning the fewest lineouts per game at 8.8 and ranking 17th in lineout success with a 74% rate.
Throughout the Rugby World Cup, the Mighty Oaks found themselves doing a substantial amount of defending, averaging 141.3 tackles per game, which ranked them fifth in the competition. However, their defense had its ups and downs, with the team recording the highest average number of missed tackles at 47.5 per game. Adrian Motoc exemplified this trend, leading his team with 49 tackles but also registering the most missed tackles at 17.
Australia’s Unexpected Exit: Defending at Rugby World Cup 2023
Eliminating the small errors could have changed the outcome. We are a young team gaining experience at this intense level.” Rugby World Cup 2023 witnessed an unexpected turn as Australia, the second-highest ranked team to exit before the quarter-finals after Scotland, failed to advance beyond the group stage. On the defensive front, Eddie Jones’ team made the third-most dominant tackles in the tournament, averaging 10.3 per game.
However, their tackle success rate of 82% placed them 16th overall. This deficiency in defensive consistency contributed to their losses against Wales and Fiji, ultimately leading to their exclusion from the knockout stages. At Rugby World Cup 2023, the Wallabies’ struggles with poor tackling had a cascading impact, particularly in their inability to compete effectively at the breakdown.
They ranked 13th for turnovers won, averaging just 5.5 per game. Additionally, Australia’s discipline proved problematic, conceding an average of 12.8 penalties per game, which placed them 16th in this category in Rugby World Cup. Eddie Jones, the team’s coach, commented on their style of play, stating, The game has always struck a balance between contest and continuity. Our aim is to excel in both aspects. When the game leans too heavily towards contest, characterized by physicality, it becomes one-dimensional.
Meanwhile, at Rugby World Cup 2023, Portugal celebrated a historic victory against Fiji in the final group-stage match, driven by their trust in ball possession. The Portuguese team showcased their rugby prowess, ranking seventh in average carries per game (118.3), ninth in meters gained (487.0), sixth in line breaks (7.8), and fourth in offloads (118.3). Their style of play was evident in the final moments of the tournament, delivering a memorable victory.
Japan’s Resilience and Discipline at Rugby World Cup 2023
Japan displayed immense determination but faced elimination after their final pool game against Argentina. Jamie Joseph’s team had the highest tackling workload in the tournament, averaging 166.8 tackles per game, surpassing Wales in the last round. Michael Leitch led the tackle count with 62, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t replicate the heroics of Rugby World Cup 2019 and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
In Rugby World Cup 2023, Japan exhibited remarkable discipline by conceding the fewest penalties per game (8.0) throughout the tournament, with a mere 2.5 of those penalties occurring during their offensive plays. Their set-piece performance was equally impressive, boasting the second-highest scrum success rate at 95% and averaging the most scrums won per game (9.0). While their lineout performance on their own throws ranked ninth at 84%, they excelled in stealing opponents’ lineouts, securing an average of 1.8 lineouts per game and highlighting their progress in the game.
Japan’s captain, Kazuki Himeno, shared his thoughts after their loss to Argentina, saying, “Although we couldn’t reach the summit to bloom the cherry blossoms this time, our legacy, culture, goals, and dreams will carry on to the next generation. I believe that Japan rugby will continue to flourish.” Samoa, despite finishing fourth in their group, could argue that they were the unluckiest team to miss out on the knockout stage at Rugby World Cup 2023.
Inspiring the Future: Chile’s RWC Journey
They also registered the third-fewest dominant tackles (7.3 per game) and ranked fourth worst in tackle success (80%). However, their proficiency in creating chaos at the tackle area resulted in them winning an average of 7.3 turnovers per game, placing them third overall in this aspect during the group stage of the Rugby World Cup 2023.
In the Rugby World Cup, fly-half Lima Sopoaga acknowledged the fine margins that led to their one-point defeat by England in the final game. He noted, “A call here and there, a mistake here and there, and at the highest level, you’ll pay. England is a quality team, and they hung in there, ultimately crossing the line. Nevertheless, I’m immensely proud of the team and the effort we put forth.”
Chile faced a challenging campaign in their first-ever RWC appearance. Despite the difficulties, they showcased notable strengths. Their scrum achieved a solid 90% success rate, ranking them 10th in that category. Impressively, they averaged the fifth-most dominant tackles per game at 10, creating numerous opportunities to attack the breakdown. In this aspect, they performed admirably, securing the sixth most turnovers at the breakdown, totaling 14.
Our primary goal was to inspire a new generation of Chilean players and motivate more children to engage in the sport. While we wished for better results, this was our inaugural World Cup experience, and we had the opportunity to face teams of the highest caliber. There are numerous lessons to be gleaned from each game, and the group is poised to learn and progress for the next Rugby World Cup.
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