"Ain't getting back into the country" - Stuart Hogg predicts entire 2023 Rugby World Cup

“I would hate to be playing in this, genuinely hate to be playing in this,” Hogg said.

“They [South Africa] have to win [the tournament]. For me, anytime you go to defend anything, you’ve got the wrong mindset in my eyes. You’ve got to go and attack everything and you have to go and play. 

“There is an incredible amount of physicality in this team and they have a game plan that suits them down to the ground. I can’t see any team beating South Africa in this pool. 

“They squeeze the life out of you. They apply as much pressure as they possibly can whether it’s their kicking game or in defence, that’s what they’re renowned for, and they’re very good at it. 

“They squeeze you and squeeze you and suffocate the life out of you.”

“Never write this lot off. Gatland is unbelievable, he knows how to make these Welsh boys tick, and they’re in some shape at the minute.

“The Australians, with the quality they’ve got, we’ve not seen the best of them in the past couple of weeks but again as you said, it’s pointless peaking now. 

“They’re always there or thereabouts. As soon as these guys get into these stages [the knockouts], that’s when they come into their own.”

“When these guys [England] decide to play rugby, they’re unbelievable,” Hogg said as he previewed Steve Borthwick’s side. 

“You give the likes of Henry Slade and Henry Arundell the ball, you’re talking a lot of damage. 

“If they’re going to kick the life out the ball, they’re good at it, but I’d genuinely like to see these guys chuck the ball around and play to their strengths, and if they do that they’ll get it right.

“As for Japan, their catch pass is up there with the best. The cohesion in that team is one of the best I’ve ever come across.”

Hogg anticipates that New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and Wales will exit the competition in the quarter-final stage, leaving Australia as the lone representative from the Southern Hemisphere. In the semi-finals, Australia will be accompanied by Northern Hemisphere contenders Ireland, France, and England.

Since England's triumph in 2003, no Northern Hemisphere team has clinched the World Cup title. However, Hogg believes that France, hosting the tournament, has a strong chance of breaking that streak and emerging as the eventual champions.

“I’m going to go with France [to beat Ireland in the final],” he said.

“I think we probably won’t see the best of them leading up to it, but in the quarter-finals and semi-finals [you will], and they’ll save the best until last [for the final].”