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Sam Warburton tips three players to shine at Rugby World Cup 2023
By Liam Heagney
Ex-Wales skipper Sam Warburton has named three players he believes can become global stars at the Rugby World Cup later this year in France. The two-tour British and Irish Lions captain participated in two finals during his stellar career, most notably when leading the Welsh to the semi-finals of the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.
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That campaign ended in controversy with Warburton red-carded by referee Alain Rolland for a tip-tackle against France at Eden Park. Having retired from playing in 2018, he has since become a media pundit and ahead of the upcoming finals, he has told RugbyPass three names he feels can make a huge impact on the world stage.
“These won’t be standout players if you have been watching rugby regularly but for someone more casual, I would love to see Henry Arundell have a bit more time in an England shirt,” he began. “He has just got some X-factor, he has got an ability that not many players in world rugby have got.
“From a Wales perspective, Mason Grady is our best young player, I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do. And thinking further afield, I wouldn’t say he is someone young. With Sam Cane as (New Zealand) captain, I don’t know if is going to get much game time, but I really like (Dalton) Papalii.
“He is a really good No7. I wonder if he is going to play alongside Sam Cane as well, but he might make an impact if he is picked. It depends on how the Rugby Championship goes. They are three players I am particularly keen to see perform.”
France 2023 is poised to be the most competitive Rugby World Cup yet, with numerous squads benefitting from the World Rugby eligibility ruling that allows players capped by one country to now represent their country of origin provided there has been a three-year stand-down period in between caps.
For example, this will allow Tonga to select ex-All Blacks Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa in the backline along with former Wallabies player Israel Folau. Warburton is a fan of this eligibility alteration. “Absolutely,” he enthused.
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“I have always thought the strength of someone like a Tonga for example, they have some of the best rugby athletes in the world so to be able to have those players to go and play for them is a brilliant idea because some players might move, they might get capped.
“They might only get two caps and get thrown to the wayside and it is such a shame that they can’t play Test rugby again. When I first heard it, I really liked the move. I can’t wait to see how it works out. Tonga are probably going to be the highest-profile example. I can’t wait to see how they perform.
“They have got some great players going back and playing for them and it will improve the quality of the competition. We don’t want to see group stages with 50-point margins and this will help reduce that and lift the competitive nature of the tournament.”
