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The Rugby World Cup is now only days away, with all 20 competing nations at their base camps preparing for action.<\/p>\n
The tournament begins on Friday night with an exciting fixture between hosts France and New Zealand in Pool A. The rest of the sides get their campaigns underway on an action-packed weekend, with England taking on Argentina on Saturday in their Pool D opener, and the Pool B clash between South Africa and Scotland a day later likely to prove crucial.<\/p>\n
Steve Borthwick appears to have suffered another injury scare ahead of the start of the tournament, with Courtney Lawes, likely to skipper the side in Marseille in the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell, missing their welcome ceremony in Le Touquet. England insist that the flanker was just \u201csore\u201d after training on the northern French coast, but Borthwick\u2019s side can ill afford to lose another key figure after a disastrous build-up to the tournament. Follow all the latest news and updates from France below: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The 2023 Rugby World Cup will see a revamped foul play process in place, with the introduction of the \u201cTMO bunker\u201d system<\/p>\n at the tournament for the first time.<\/p>\n The introduction follows a number of World Rugby trials during the course of the last year, including the Summer Nations Series and Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n The \u201cbunker\u201d system is designed to improve accuracy of decision making and avoid significant disruptions to the flow of games, and has already been utilised in a couple of high profile moments ahead of the World Cup.<\/p>\n England captain Owen Farrell\u2019s sending off against Wales at Twickenham was awarded after the on-field referee, Nika Amashukeli, placed the incident on review.<\/p>\n So how does the \u201cbunker\u201d system work? Here\u2019s everything you need to know:<\/p>\n The inclusion at the tournament of the foul play review process follows successful trials throughout 2023<\/p>\n England expect to have a clean bill of health for their vital World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday after downplaying concerns over Courtney Lawes\u2019 fitness.<\/p>\n Lawes took part in the first training session held since the squad arrived at their tournament base in Le Touquet on Thursday, but the Lions flanker missed Saturday\u2019s capping ceremony because of \u201csoreness\u201d.<\/p>\n Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth revealed that England\u2019s likely captain against the Pumas in the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell sat out the function merely as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n Wigglesworth also issued positive updates on Tom Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly and George Martin, all of whom are carrying knocks ahead of the Marseille opener on September 9.<\/p>\n \u201cCourtney is a bit sore from training on Friday so we decided the best thing for him was to not sit in a chair for an hour or so then have to stand up,\u201d Wigglesworth said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is resting at the hotel. He is bit sore from training \u2013 the pitch was heavy because of the rain. Nothing too serious, we are just looking after him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a few little bumps and bruises like everyone has, but I think we will go into next weekend with a pretty full bill of health.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Borthwick\u2019s side are hoping to be have clean bill of health for next Saturday\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n France will deploy up to 7,000 security personnel across the country as part of measures to ensure safety during the Rugby World Cup, sports minister Amelie Oudea Castera said on Monday.<\/p>\n The World Cup starts with a much-awaited clash between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on Friday, but the situation around the venue will be heavily monitored well before the 9 p.m. kick-off.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be an outstanding moment of sport, this Rugby World Cup is set to be exceptional as France organises it alone for the first time,\u201d Oudea Castera told a press conference.<\/p>\n Between 5,500 and 7,000 security personnel would be mobilised, added Oudea Castera, who also promised smooth travel conditions for visiting fans at airports and train stations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have recruited 600 agents in airports to make it easier to go though customs and also reinforced the staff in the train stations,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Reuters<\/em><\/p>\n This year\u2019s World Cup takes place right around France, with organisers making an effort to ensure an even geographical spread of games. From the heartlands in the south to less fertile rugby territory further north, here\u2019s your guide to every stadium set to host fixtures at the tournament:<\/p>\n Your guide to all of the venues at the 2023 Rugby World Cup <\/p>\n Danny Cipriani has accused former England head coach Eddie Jones of acting like a \u201chorny teenager\u201d in probing into his private life.<\/p>\n The former fly half endured a sometimes difficult relationship with Jones, with Cipriani earning only a handful of caps under the Australian despite impressive club form.<\/p>\n In his soon-to-be published autobiography, Who Am I?<\/em>, the 35-year-old opens up on his dealings with Jones, recalling one conversation after he had been picked for an early summer training camp in Bagshot shortly after being left out for the coach\u2019s first Six Nations campaign.<\/p>\n Cipriani had recently broken up with television presenter Kirsty Gallacher, and claims that Jones immediately quizzed him on the relationship.<\/p>\n The former fly half was left \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 after the former England coach probed into his private life <\/p>\n A bit of morning news from French camp, where Fabien Galthie has had to defend the selection of lock Bastien Chalureau after heavy criticism related to Chalureau\u2019s 2020 conviction for a racially motivated assault. The second row was called up last week after Paul Willemse\u2019s injury, and has denied the incident had anything to do with race, but politicians in France have suggested that Galthie was wrong to pick him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have said the same thing now for four years and we carry this mission with heart and commitment: we have to unite and share with French rugby and all French people,\u201d the French head coach said yesterday.<\/p>\n \u201cFor four years, racism has had no place in our team, it has no place in rugby. Integrity is a fundamental value of our team and our sport. Bastien has informed us of this affair and firmly and formally denies the allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s Rugby World Cup week, the tournament finally upon us and eyes turning to Paris ahead of that mouthwatering opening fixture between France and New Zealand. All 20 teams are now in France at their base camps, covering every corner of the country from Le Touquet in the north to Nice down on the French riviera.<\/p>\n But which nations will fancy their chances? Find out in The Independent<\/em>\u2019s power rankings:<\/p>\n Ireland, France, South Africa and New Zealand shape as the tournament favourites \u2013 but how far down our rankings are England and Wales after a difficult 2023 so far? <\/p>\n The Rugby World Cup starts on September 8 when host nation France take on New Zealand, in a match set to kick-start a thrilling competition.<\/p>\n An unbalanced draw sets up intrigue where sides other than the favourites of Ireland, France, New Zealand and South Africa could go further into the tournament than expected.<\/p>\n It will be the first time that the tournament returns to a nation that has been a previous sole host, after the 2007 edition was also held in France.<\/p>\n Chile make their tournament debut after beating Canada and the USA in Americas qualifying, while Portugal are set to return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.<\/p>\n With the tournament drawing closer, teams have begun announcing their 33-man squads <\/p>\n<\/p>\n One of the most eagerly-awaited tournaments in Rugby World Cup history will unfold in France during September and October.<\/p>\n It takes place across nine host cities \u2013 Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Lille \u2013 with more than 2.5 million tickets sold.<\/p>\n Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n France set to host a spectacular sporting event<\/p>\n<\/p>\nRecommended<\/h3>\n
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\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/07\/11\/SEI166845196.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat is the TMO Bunker and how will the foul play process work at the Rugby World Cup?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/12\/20\/newFile-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat is the TMO Bunker and how will it work at the Rugby World Cup?<\/h3>\n
England expect to be fully fit for World Cup opener after Courtney Lawes fears<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/02\/18\/95ddae6e58aed689553e5593f41441abY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjkzNzYwMzE3-2.73444405.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEngland expect to be fully fit for World Cup opener after Courtney Lawes fears<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023: Security beefed up ahead of tournament start<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023: Which cities are hosting the tournament?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/03\/19\/18\/SEI94402088.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRugby World Cup stadiums: Which cities in France are hosting matches?<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023: Danny Cipriani says Eddie Jones was \u2018like a horny teenager'<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/04\/09\/newFile-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDanny Cipriani: Eddie Jones was \u2018like a horny teenager\u2019 asking about sex life<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023: Fabien Galthie defends selection of Bastien Chalureau<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023: Power ranking all 20 nations<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nRugby World Cup power rankings: Rating every nation\u2019s chances ahead of the tournament<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023 squad guide: Every player, fixtures and more<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nRugby World Cup 2023 squad guide: Players, fixtures and more<\/h3>\n
Rugby World Cup 2023 talking points including England crisis and TMO Bunker<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/01\/10\/7c56e0474ce662a0dda975eb76a1bf13Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjkyODc5NTIx-2.48034742.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRugby World Cup 2023 talking points including England crisis<\/h3>\n