Antoine Dupont, the French captain and Toulouse scrum half is a player you\u2019ll want to keep an eye on this World Cup. With a reputation that places him among the all-time greats, Dupont has clinched the World Rugby Men\u2019s 15s Player of the Year title and the Six Nations Player of the Championship title three times! Renowned for his French flair, he possesses the skill to break defensive lines and execute precise cross-field kicks. Undoubtedly, he will be integral to the French squad in this highly anticipated home World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Antoine Dupoint | France<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freddie Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At just 22 years old, Freddie Steward is one of England\u2019s brightest young talents. The fullback, who plays for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, was a standout performer in their Six Nations campaign earlier this year. Despite his age, the youngster has demonstrated endless talent in driving England\u2019s offensive plays throughout the year. Despite debuting in 2021, he is now on the cusp of participating in his inaugural World Cup. He boasts numerous accolades, such as twice being named England’s Young Player of the Year! As anticipation builds for the upcoming tournament, all eyes will be on him to deliver in his performances, and what better place to showcase his talent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freddie Steward | England<\/p>\n\n\n\n Josh van der Flier\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Riding the wave of their Grand Slam win at the Six Nations, Ireland are a team to pay close attention to in this forthcoming World Cup. Standing out prominently is Josh Van de Flier, a pivotal player in their historic home-soil win. The Flanker who plays for Leinster is renowned for his relentless tackling and ability to disrupt play, establishing himself as a key member of the Irish defence. Having won the prestigious title of World Rugby Men\u2019s 15s Player of the Year in 2022 and heading towards his second World Cup, Van de Flier\u2019s talent and experience make him a key asset to this Irish team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Josh van der Flier | Ireland<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eben Etzebeth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At 6ft 8 and 280lbs Eben Etzebeth will be pretty impossible to miss at the Rugby World Cup! Playing club rugby for the Sharks, the lock is one of the most imposing players on the pitch. Etzebeth gives the South African team a dominating edge in lineouts and is also persistent in winning turnovers for his team. By winning the 2022 South African Rugby Player of the Year, he continuously proves himself as one of the World\u2019s Best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eben Etzebeth | South Africa<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan Petaia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another young talent is Australia\u2019s Jordan Petaia, despite being a mere 23 years old, this will be his second World Cup. Petaia burst onto the international scene during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, making history as the youngest player to start in a major tournament. His debut against Uruguay showcased his blazing speed and dynamic playing style, leaving rugby enthusiasts worldwide in awe of his abilities. Not many players can boast such talent and experience at such a young age. Having scored his first try on his debut, he\u2019ll be looking to add more to his tally and is set to be an integral player for the Wallabies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan Petaia | Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" September 1, 2023 If you\u2019re travelling from 8 September – 28 October you can enjoy the Rugby World Cup 2023 LIVE onboard on Sport 24! With 40+ Matches and 360+ LIVE hours broadcast across Sport 24 & Extra, check out the full schedule here so you won\u2019t miss a moment! Here are our player picks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"sport":[],"event":[],"author-date":[202],"class_list":["post-485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","author-date-september-2023"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sport24live.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/antoine_dupoint_0-1024x751.avif\")
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