Exclusive – Ugo Monye Rugby World Cup preview: ‘South Africa the team to beat – but England can win it’

Eddie Jones led England to the final of 2019 World Cup in Japan but was sacked in December 2022, less than a year out from the upcoming competition in France.

A poor run of six losses, one draw and just five wins in 12 Test matches saw Jones lose his job and Borthwick installed as his successor.

England are regarded as rank outsiders for this year’s World Cup after a fourth-place finish in the most recent Six Nations Championship with two victories and three losses.

Despite many being cool on their chances in France, TNT Sports’ Ugo Monye believes England are set up to spring a shock, 20 years on from winning the World Cup in Australia.

He told TNT Sports: “I’m confident about England’s chances. They had a poor Six Nations by their standards, but I think one of the most significant things in sport is that there won’t be any pressure on them.

“If you asked anyone who they thought is going to win the World Cup, they’d probably list four or five teams before they mentioned England.

“Ireland are the best side in the world, France – the hosts – are number two and South Africa are the reigning champions.

“But England’s route to the latter stages is significantly more straightforward than some other teams.

“Argentina will be a pivotal match on September 9 in Marseille. If they win that, you would expect them to reach the quarter-finals with Japan and Chile left to play, and all of a sudden you’re three matches away from winning it.”

England suffered chastening defeats at the hands of Ireland, France and Scotland in an underwhelming Six Nations campaign but preparations for France have been underway since July with all eyes on their World Cup opener against the Pumas.

Borthwick was the mastermind behind Leicester Tigers’ transformation from Gallagher Premiership bottom dwellers to league winners and Monye has backed the former Saracens and England lock to translate his domestic success to the international stage.

“Steve Borthwick has been able to bring together a coaching staff that is truly his, with Richard Wigglesworth, Aled Waters and Kevin Sinfield.

“He had 11 days to get his team ready for the Six Nations. This time he’s had the best part of three months for him to implement and embed the style of rugby he wants to play and get everyone on board.

“Whilst people might want to write them off at this stage, I wouldn’t.”

“Ireland have been here before,” says Monye.

“In 2018 they were the No. 1 side in the world, Johnny Sexton was voted the world’s best player and Joe Schmidt was named coach of the year and they still went on to lose in the quarter-finals in 2019.

“Four years on from then, you wonder what lessons they’ve learned. They seem to be a more robust and better side than 2018. They’ve won a Grand Slam, they beat New Zealand in New Zealand for the first time last summer so I don’t think they will fear anyone.

“People talk about them potentially winning the World Cup but their priority will be to get past the quarter-finals. Once they get their monkey off their back they can fully focus on the next two matches.

“I believe they will get past the quarter-finals this time around but their route to the last eight is lot trickier than England’s.

“They’re in a group alongside Scotland and South Africa, that is brutal.

“You’ve got the world champions, and Scotland – a team that, on their day, can beat anyone in the world.

“Hopefully, for them as a nation, they’ve learned those lessons from 2019 and are ready to go one better this time around.”

For the first time in World Cup history, the two favourites for the tournament come from the northern hemisphere, with France many people’s tip alongside Ireland.

As hosts, there will be pressure on France’s golden generation to finally deliver the Webb Ellis Cup after so many near-misses.

Les Bleus were beaten in the 1999 final by Australia before suffering the same fate in a narrow 8-7 defeat to the All Blacks in 2011.

France lift the curtain on this year’s World Cup against New Zealand in a mouthwatering first match that Monye believes could set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

“France have set the standard in recent years, alongside Ireland,” he said.

“They came to Twickenham and put 50 points on the board, the most points scored against England in the history of the competition, that’s what they can do.”

With excitement building for the start of the tournament, Monye believes the support of the nation could see Les Bleus make the same impact made by the French football team in 1998, when Zinedine Zidane led the country to World Cup glory for the first time in its history.

“The nation will be fully behind them and they have the backing of the highest office in the country in President Macron,” Monye said.

“I’m such a big football fan and my mind goes back to France ’98 and the famous moment where you had Zinedine Zidane projected onto the Arc du Triomphe with a million people lining the streets of the Champs-Elysees.

“When France get their act together and everyone’s fully focused on delivering success for the team, we know how devastating they can be.

“They will be red-hot and it all starts in style with them taking on New Zealand in Paris at the Stade de France which is just a sensational game to kick it all off.”

While there are high hopes of a northern hemisphere team winning the Webb Ellis trophy for only the second time in World Cup history, Monye says it’s hard to look past defending champions and two-time winners South Africa.

“They’re the defending champions and I don’t think there are many teams in the world that have the squad depth to compete with them,” he said.

“Their team is frightening. The quality they have from 1 to 15 and beyond is world class.

“They have the fundamentals of the game nailed down: set-piece, kicking and defence that is impregnable at times.

“The other thing, which needs a bit of myth-busting, is their attack. Last year they averaged three tries a game, so they are more dangerous with ball in hand than people give them credit for.

“They’ve got one of the best wingers in the game in Cheslin Kolbe, and Damian Willemse – wherever he plays – is an absolute baller!

“When you look at their forward pack they have a size and physicality that, when they’re at their best, not many teams in the world can stop them.”