The bookmakers are unanimous: South Africa are hot favorites to win the 2027 World Cup and achieve the unprecedented feat of three consecutive titles.
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It would take a brave punter to bet against them a year after the tournament Down Under.
New Zealand they produced their best shot against South Africa in the enthralling ‘Greatest Rivalry’ four-Test series, but the Boks were too powerful, too organized and too experienced. Forget the credible challenge of the native peoples. None of them have the tools to take down the world champions. Ditto for Australia and Argentina.
That leaves France, probably the only nation that can match South Africa for both finesse and brute force.
They are also an experienced and well-coordinated team. Most of the XV that will run out against USA On 2 October next year, he will appear in the 2023 quarter-final defeat to South Africa.
Only prop Uini Atonio has retired, although injuries and age make center Jonathan Danty unlikely to make the plane to Australia.
french problem – as this column has previously pointed out – is wear and tear. There is a reason why South Africa and All black people are able to handle themselves hammer and tongs in four thrilling Test matches, and that is how they are managed. Many play their club rugby in Japan, which is as demanding for rugby players as Saudi Arabia’s league is for the world’s top footballers.
Top 14, on the other hand, is a mental and physical challenge. Two rounds have passed and it’s already time for the treatment table.
Several of France’s top players have avoided serious injury in recent seasons, with several sidelined for months, mostly with knee injuries.
Toulouse and French center Pierre-Louis Barassi is out for a month after injuring his ankle on the opening weekend; the second center of Auguste Cadot – which was in France Nations Championship squad – suffered a serious knee injury playing for Montpellier last saturday. Bordeaux international back row Cameron Woki missed their clash against Toulouse with a damaged hand. And it’s not just a problem for French players; Toulouse’s Italian center Tommaso Menoncello picked up an injury on the opening day of the season and is not expected to return until the end of the month.
Several of France’s top players have avoided serious injury in recent seasons, with several – among them Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Antony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon and Cyrill Baille – sidelined for months, mostly with knee injuries.
One can only imagine the stress level Fabien Galti and his coaching staff are under every weekend Top 14 fixtures.
But the new agreement between the FFR and the LNR, the governing body of the Top 14, should allow Galti to breathe a little easier this season. As a title in Olympic Midday said: “33 protected, revolution?’
As of this season, 33 players will manage their clubs and national teams to make sure they are not overloaded with matches.
Clubs must allow the players concerned one weekend off for each block of four games (Top 14 or European), or two weekends off in a run of eight matches.
For his part, Galthié will not be able to select the same player more than nine times in France’s 12 tests this season. These games consist of four November internationals in the Nations Championship, five Six Nations games and three warm-up games for the World Cup next summer.
Emmanuel Eschalier, executive director of the LNR, described the contract as a “principle of shared responsibility”, which “can be adapted by mutual agreement between the coaching staff of the French national team and the coaching staff of the club”.
Ugo Mola is a patriotic Frenchman, but will he be able to stick to his deal next spring if Toulouse are fighting for European honors and the Top 14?
Eschalier explained that the FFR-LNR working group will monitor the number of games played by the 33 ‘protected’ players. “We hope this will have a positive effect on better workload management ahead of the World Cup,” he said.
But Eschalier also acknowledged that the agreement was not binding; rather, they are “guidelines” as opposed to strict rules. Will they respect them? Of the 33 names on the list, 13 play for Toulouse and six for Bordeaux. La Rochelle, Pau and Toulon they have three representatives, Racing two and a half for Clermont, Lyon and Montpellier.
Ugo Mola is a patriotic Frenchman, but will he be able to stick to his deal next spring if Toulouse are fighting for European honors and the Top 14?
As for Galthié, he may have to field an underpowered side in a match or two if he wants to keep his side of the bargain. France play Fiji, South Africa and Argentina in November, plus a match in the final weekend of the Nations Championship, depending on their placing.
Then comes the Six Nations in 2027, followed by warm-up games in the summer; with confirmation, France will play England and a double header against Scotland.
Twelve Tests, but as no player can appear in more than nine, it will require some shrewd selections from Galthié.
He compiled his list earlier this year, before the Six Nations. Since then, some of the 33 have slipped down the pecking order. Two Racing players, Ugo Seunes and Romain Taofifinua, did not play a single Test in 2026; neither did Toulouse prop Cyril Baille or veteran Toulon center Gael Fickou.
For too long, French players have been worked to the bone. This agreement should give them better protection. It should also send France to the World Cup in the best possible shape.
On the other hand, Marco Gazzotti, Florian Verhaeghe and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang all impressed in July’s Nations League matches, but they are not on the list. Nor are they Bordeaux Scrum-half Maxime Lucu and Pau lock Hugo Auradou, who were injured at the start of the year but later featured in the Six Nations.
They hope that both sides will honor the deal: for the sake of France and for the sake of the players. Last season Louis Bielle-Biarrey played 31 matches, one more than the World Rugby recommendation of a maximum of 30 in a season. Tomas Ramos was good for that number, and several others were just below it.
For too long, French players have been worked to the bone. This agreement should give them better protection. It should also send France to the World Cup in the best possible shape.
It might be worth investing a few dollars Blues.
