Rugby World Cup 2023 has officially hit its midpoint, with twenty-four of the forty-eight scheduled fixtures now complete. 

Serving up several exceptional fixtures thus far, this year’s edition is perhaps the most competitive tournament since its inception in 1987. Starting with a bang as hosts France handed the All Blacks a first-ever defeat in the pool stages, the competition has gone from strength to strength. 

Round three was no exception, as Ireland edged South Africa in a titanic struggle between the world’s top two teams heading into the weekend. A day later, further history would be made as Australia was all but dumped out of the tournament as they succumbed to a record 40 – 6 loss to Wales in Lyon. 

Here are five key takeaways from the simply brilliant round three of the Rugby World Cup 2023. 

An Immovable Force Meets An Immovable Object  

Never before has a pool match carried as much weight as Saturday’s clash between World Number One Ireland and reigning World Champions South Africa. With the exception of the hosts, the two favourites for this year’s title put on a pulsating eighty-minute performance for the ages. Ebbing and flowing like a Shakespearean drama, the two sides traded blows that thoroughly offset the other’s rhythm. In the end, Ireland would emerge with a 13 – 8 victory to reaffirm their position as the team to beat this year. Making it 16 wins on the bounce for Andy Farrell’s men and, perhaps more impressively, 28 wins out of their last 30 outings. This version of Ireland proved they are different to previous teams, and they will not be overawed by the moment. Fighting off a flood of giant Springbok forwards as they withstood the much vaunted ‘Bomb Squad’. Ireland ticked the final box as they proved they can live with the most physical team in the world. For the Springboks, they will be undeterred by the loss, knowing that on another day, the result could’ve been different. Yet, the one burning issue that has plagued their last twelve months remains. Goal kicking is the Achilles heel of this side, and once again, this was proven as Manie Libbok and Faf de Klerk missed eleven points between them. Admittedly, one of these misses led to the lone Bok try, yet for a team that harbours a title defence, this simply is not good enough. Whilst World Cup-winning sharpshooter Handre Pollard will return to the mix this week against Tonga. The question around his ability to get up to match fitness in time for a likely quarterfinal against hosts France remains pertinent. 

Five Try Sensation Unleashed 

There was only ever going to be one winner as England and Chile took to the pitch on Saturday afternoon. In the end, a 71 – 0 drubbing for the Chileans was a tough return for a team that has brought so much to the tournament this year. For England, former teen sensation Henry Arundell gave head coach Steve Borthwick plenty to think about as he ran in five tries to become the top scorer in this year’s tournament to date. Fizzing with electricity unlike any other player in the English squad, the twenty-year-old brought an X-factor that has been sorely lacking in the Roses game for the past three years. Whilst three of his tries were relative walk-ins, the other two were a glimpse into his unlimited potential as a game-breaker. Having seen rather lacklustre returns in their opening two fixtures from an attacking perspective, there must be a part of Borthwick that is itching to give the kid a go against more savvy opposition. 

Bom Trabalho Portugal  

Moments from what would have been a famous victory, Portugal fell just short in their momentous comeback against Georgia. As time expired, Os Lobos were awarded what would have been a go-ahead penalty. Stepping up to take the kick was the impressive fullback Nuno Sousa Guedes, who played a blinder to that point. Striking the ball sweetly, the kick looked to come off the tee rather smoothly, only to pull in the final third. In the end, it would drift just wide as the up-and-coming European side were made to settle for an 18 – 18 draw. Having trailed 13 – 0  at 33 minutes into the game, the draw will feel bittersweet for Os Lobos, who will know that victory was well within their grasp. With one fixture remaining against what will be a hurting Australian side, Portugal will be pushing to make history with a first-ever victory over a tier-one nation. On current form, would one bet against them? 

Eddie Jones Drama 

Perhaps the three most written words in Rugby journalism over the past twenty years, Eddie Jones and drama, go together like peanut butter and jelly. There is no doubt the 63-year-old is one of the game’s greatest coaches of the professional era. Unfortunately, like so many others before him, Jones has lost touch with the modern game. Perhaps not on a technical level, but on a human level, there can be no doubt that Jones has hit his expiry date. When one person is so combatively against the masses, it is only a matter of time until they are swallowed up. Having seen his English team deteriorate from World Cup finalists in 2019 to arguably the worst team in the Six Nations in the short span of three years. Jones’s position within English Rugby became untenable for all involved. Since his departure from London to his home city of Sydney and, with it, the head coach role of the Wallabies. Jones has been subjected to soundbites from his former players that, in today’s world, would be worthy of an inquisition. Now in the footsteps of a World Cup pool exit, the first in Australian Rugby history following defeats to Fiji (a first in 69 years) backed up by the record defeat to Wales. Jones no longer has the wall of impressive victories to hide behind, and the knives are firmly out from those he has scorned over the years. Throw into the mix the alleged boneheaded decision to accept an interview for the soon-to-be vacant head coaching role with Japan just a week before the World Cup, and the perfect storm has hit the Jones shore. Given his rambunctious character, Jones’s return to Australia was heralded as the perfect move to regain media column inches in an uber-competitive sporting market. This is perhaps the only objective he has achieved for his new employers as Jones could well be out of a job having won just out of his eight tests in charge. 

Kiwis On The Back Burner  

Lying in the tall grass away from the public glare is the most visible rugby brand in the game. Three-time World Champions New Zealand have enjoyed two weeks of solitude as their biggest rivals have gone at it hammer and tongs. As the justified hype around New Zealand, Ireland, and France continues to bubble along, the All Blacks will get their campaign underway for real against Italy this weekend. Having suffered a first-ever pool stage loss on the opening day in Paris, Ian Foster’s side is firmly on the outside looking in. A position they will relish, having entered just about every other World Cup as favourites. The harsh reality is that in their current form, the All Blacks are perhaps a step below the three aforementioned teams. All three of their key rivals will be all too aware of the threat the men in black pose in a one-off winner-takes-all-all clash. On current projections, the All Blacks will face number-one-ranked Ireland, a team they have struggled with in recent years. Despite this, the Kiwis will back their chances for several reasons. First and foremost is the presence of former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, who has become an integral member of Foster’s coaching staff. Having gathered over a decade's worth of intel on the Irish players, one can be sure that Schmidt will be leading the charge in analysing the Irish structures. Secondly and perhaps more crucially is a handful of world-class players and athletes capable of going toe-to-toe with anyone on their day. With all of this being said, the build-up to the knockouts starts this weekend against a talented and equally hungry Italian side.