Chris Robshaw and Sergio Parisse differ on new Rugby World Cup favourites

Former international captains Chris Robshaw and Sergio Parisse have selected their favourites to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The ex-England and ex-Italy skipper disagree on who they think will lift the William Webb Ellis Cup, with the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals now confirmed.

The pair spoke on Planet Rugby’s Captain’s Call, a Rugby World Cup podcast brought to you by eToro, where they reviewed the pool stages of the tournament and looked ahead to the competition’s knockouts.

Parisse backs the hosts

Italy‘s most-capped player of all time did have some reservations about France‘s physicality and the make-up of their pack for the clash against South Africa but was still resolute and to the point when asked for his prediction on the game.

“France, for me, is definitely the favourite to win the World Cup,” Parisse said.

However, Robshaw disagreed, and despite backing the hosts earlier in the tournament, the performances of Ireland during the pool stages had changed his mind.

“I think Ireland now, I’ve actually changed after their games against South Africa and Scotland,” Robshaw explained.

“They don’t have any injuries – off the top of my head – to their key players, which always makes a big difference.

“You look at some of the other sides, and they are starting to pick up one or two.

“Yes, we spoke about Dupont coming back, but there’s South Africa who have lost Marx, a big hooker. England have lost some, and that was always going to be the case.

“Ireland have grown even more in this tournament and really embrace the occasion.

“What their method is behind that, I’m not sure, but Andy Farrell, you look at his experience, you look at the coaching group, and the players seem really confident and happy.”

The moment things changed for Robshaw

James Lowe’s tackle on Eben Etzebeth during the pool stage clash was one of the moments that shifted his thinking around the favourites’ tag.

“Lowe’s tackle on Etzebeth in that South African clash, it’s a big 6 foot 7 enforcer running at a winger, and he’s picked him up and driven him back, and that was a huge moment in that game.

“But for me, they have been the side which hasn’t been caught or hasn’t had the difficulty finding a way out of anything yet.

“They seem to have gone through pretty smoothly. Even France, you look at their second game against Uruguay. They weren’t particularly pretty or good in that, but they got themselves out of trouble, whereas the Irish side has come through pretty smoothly.”

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