Why South Africa remain the team to beat at the 2027 World Cup

Looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup, Danpat and Cristian Lovisetto rate South Africa as the team to beat, just ahead of France in their ideal “starting grid”. The reasoning starts with squad depth: the Springboks, they argue, can call on around ten potential starters who featured in both of the last two World Cup finals, an almost uninterrupted conveyor belt over 15 years for players like Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.

France look different, with the hosts pointing to a single true irreplaceable player — full-back Thomas Ramos, whose boot let them down on an important kick in their last outing — and a scrum problem since the retirement of prop Uini Atonio, with no international-class replacement found yet. Among the standout individuals right now, the hosts also mention Cheslin Kolbe, still decisive in the summer series against the All Blacks.

On recent results, Danpat praises the growth shown by the All Blacks in this summer’s series against the Springboks under new head coach Scott Robertson, while still rating South Africa ahead: “the sense is that the Springboks have that little bit extra right now.”

Source: “La stagione del Mondiale” episode of Divagazioni di Rugby, with Cristian Lovisetto (DanPat Rugby, 8 September 2026).

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