{"id":296229,"date":"2023-10-19T15:09:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T15:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296229"},"modified":"2023-10-19T15:09:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T15:09:01","slug":"rugby-world-cup-power-rankings-assessing-the-final-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/rugby-world-cup-power-rankings-assessing-the-final-four\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby World Cup power rankings: Assessing the final four"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
\n<\/p>\n

Rugby World Cup power rankings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Holders South Africa reached the semi-finals with a brilliant win over France <\/p>\n

Top of the pile after pipping the hosts in Paris are the Springboks. In a game of fine margins, their bench impact and calm telling crucial in the final few moments. England will be charged up for the semi-final given what happened in Yokohama four years ago but this version of South Africa might be even better.<\/p>\n

2. New Zealand<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The All Blacks take on Argentina in the last four <\/p>\n

New Zealand took the other instant classic in Paris, their 37-phase final defensive stand a remarkable physical and mental achievement. All three Barrett brothers were outstanding at the Stade de France, with Sam Cane producing a real captain\u2019s performance, too.<\/p>\n

3. England<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

England beat Fiji to reach another World Cup semi-final <\/p>\n

Credit must be extended to Steve Borthwick and England, who have navigated their way into a World Cup semi-final that, while far from ever being out of reach, looked distant during their August struggles. Will the emotional intensity of a World Cup final rematch against the Springboks enable them to lift their level? <\/p>\n

4. Argentina <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Argentina will hope to shock New Zealand and reach a first World Cup final <\/p>\n

Argentina celebrated their quarter-final win over Wales wildly, perhaps recognising that a last four berth makes this tournament a success. But the Pumas will be in the mix against the All Blacks, a side they beat twice during the four-year cycle before this tournament and who perhaps have a few physical frailties that Argentina\u2019s gainline winners are capable of exploiting. <\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rugby World Cup power rankings 1. South Africa Holders South Africa reached the semi-finals with a brilliant win over France …<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":296228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nRugby World Cup power rankings: Assessing the final four - Sportstons<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/rugby-world-cup-power-rankings-assessing-the-final-four\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rugby World Cup power rankings: Assessing the final four - Sportstons\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rugby World Cup power rankings 1. 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