How Rugby World Cup 2023 is now expected to finish as two of world's top four literally can't make semi-finals

France are the favourites to win next year's Rugby World Cup, despite Ireland overtaking them as the number one ranked team in the world.

In fact, bookmakers only have Ireland as fourth favourites to win the tournament, behind New Zealand and about level with England. Wales, who were semi-finalists in 2019, are the seventh favourites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

France are understandably 5/2 favourites on home soil, with the All Blacks second at 10/3 despite this month's series defeat to the Irish leaving them in apparent crisis. Ireland, of course, have never made it past the World Cup quarter-finals despite winning multiple Six Nations Grand Slams over the past decade or so.

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Defending champions South Africa are currently just third in the pecking order - a reflection of their new world ranking after a tight Test series win over Wales. You can see the full official World Rugby rankings here.

France are in pool A with New Zealand, while South Africa and Ireland are both in pool B, along with Scotland. At the quarter-final stage, the winners of pool A face the runners-up of pool B and vice-versa - meaning that a maximum of two of the four best sides can reach the semi-finals.

It is a situation that has been described as "horrendous" by former England international Stuart Barnes.

Wales are in Pool C, along with Australia, Fiji, Georgia and one other team, while Pool D sees England against Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile. It means Wales, if they get out of the group, will face one of those sides in the quarter-finals, with England the only team ranked above them as things stand.

The pools were drawn way back in December 2020. Due to the