Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: AFP 10:00 am, September 08, 2023

A few hours before the start of the Rugby World Cup, Europe 1 shines the spotlight on five players to follow during the competition. If some arrive at the twilight of their career, others will want to take advantage of the exceptional showcase offered by the event to make a name for themselves.

Lovers of the oval piaffe with impatience. Only a few hours left before the launch of the Rugby World Cup, organized this year in France. If the fans count the hours, the players also expect only one thing: to fight on the green rectangle. And some of them will deserve special attention during these six weeks of competition.

Paul Boudehent : the young wolf

He played his very first caps in the preparation matches of the XV of France. A relative experience at the international level that did not prevent Fabien Galthié from putting his name on the list of 33 players selected. It must be said that the 22-year-old flanker is not a novice at the highest level.

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An indisputable starter with La Rochelle, he played 66 minutes in the last Champion's Cup final, won by the Maritimes at the expense of the Irish Leinster. This Friday, he will return to the lawn of the Stade de France, which he had already walked on June 17 in the final of the Top 14, lost this time, against Stade Toulousain. Enough to attract the attentive eye of Fabien Galthié's staff who decided to take the young Boudehent to the upper floor. That of the highest level in the world.

Angel Capuozzo: the rough diamond of the boot

He too could have donned the jersey flanked by the rooster. But during this World Cup, the Grenoble nugget will be one of the opponents of Fabien Galthié's troupe since he will defend the colors of the Nazionale, placed in the group of the France. The Stade Toulousain full-back, sometimes used on the wings, has therefore opted for Italy, the homeland of his grandparents, to the delight of a selection in full progression.

Calcio d'inizio del World Cup 2023.
Che la festa del rugby cominci @France2023@Federugbypic.twitter.com/ZDUl0bikt9

— Angel Capuozzo (@CapuozzoAnge) September 6, 2023

If the transalpine XV does not yet shake the strongholds of world rugby, it is gradually gaining credibility, as evidenced by this historic success against Australia less than a year ago. A match where Capuozzo had distinguished himself, scoring a double. At club level, he cut his teeth in the club of his hometown, Grenoble, before joining the rotation of Stade Toulousain. Crowned with a title of revelation of the year in 2022, he will be the main asset of Italy, during a World Cup where he could well explode in front of the world.

Ardie Savea: the keystone of the Blacks

First opponent of the Blues in the opening match this Friday, New Zealand does not raise as much fear as before. Nevertheless, to make it an easy prey would be reckless as this team is full of safe bets. Some speak of a generation in decline, but what a generation! And the third line Ardie Savéa is one of its proudest representatives. At almost 30 years old, the Wellington Hurricanes player is about to play in his second World Cup.

Presenting your All Blacks team for RWC 2023 #AllBlackspic.twitter.com/eluEL3KupZ

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 1, 2023

Particularly prolific (21 tries in 73 caps), Savéa could quickly cause some torment to the French forwards, by his agility, his defensive intensity and his devastating power ball in hand. All qualities that the Blacks will need greatly to comply with their status.

Siya Kolisi: the heart of the Springboks

His talent will soon splash the lawns of the Top 14 as the South African captain will join Racing 92 at the end of the tournament. In the meantime, Siya Kolisi will try to guide the Springboks to a fourth world championship title, four years after the one won in Japan. A victorious campaign in which he was already one of the main protagonists. Like his counterpart Ardie Savéa, he is distinguished by a remarkable explosiveness with regard to his size (1.88m, 105 kg).

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"We accept the pressure and we want to do something special that only New Zealand have done: win back-to-back World Cups. We know what this means for us, for the country," he said recently. An exemplary captain with undisputed leadership, Siya Kolisi could have pulled a cross on the high mass of rugby because of a recalcitrant knee that finally left him in peace at the best of times.

Jonathan Sexton: the last dance of an old truck driver

At 38 years old and with 113 caps in the Irish jersey, Jonathan "Jonny" Sexton has his napkin ring at the table of the legends of world rugby. An exceptional career just waiting to end in apotheosis. Ireland have still not joined the very closed circle of Webb-Ellis Trophy winners but this year appears as one of the main contenders for the title. And will again be able to count on his eternal master to play.

Voted best player in the world in 2018, record holder of the number of points in the Six Nations Tournament, four-time European champion with Leinster, the Clover opener no longer has much to prove. Repeatedly concussed, Jonny Sexton has seen all the colors since his debut in 2006, and now dreams of seeing gold around his neck on October 28.