Former England boss Eddie Jones says six teams are in contention for World Cup success in France later this year - but Wales aren't one of them.
There is new-found optimism in Wales after Warren Gatland's return as coach, with the former boss having reasonably decent World Cup tournaments during his previous time in charge.
But Jones believes his own England successor Steve Borthwick is more likely to mastermind a triumph in France this autumn than Gatland with Wales.
He doesn't mention Wales among the half a dozen contenders he believes will be battling it out for the trophy.
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Jones was dismissed from his position at the beginning of December following a poor 2022, in which England racked up six defeats, a draw and five wins.
Outlining his list of World Cup contenders to The Guardian, Jones said: "Six teams can win it. Australia have beaten South Africa, drawn with New Zealand and lost [away] to France by one point. So they’re one of the six with England. New Zealand and South Africa are ranked third and fourth.
"Ireland and France are the popular teams [ranked 1 and 2]. They might be slightly ahead but in nine months they mightn’t be and that’s all that counts.
"At most other World Cups New Zealand have been way ahead with a group of teams fighting to play them. Generally, it’s South Africa, who have won the World Cup three times. That’s changed now.”
Jones also believes home advantage could stand the French in good stead. "They’ve got a 2023 project,” he said. “If you look at the history of French sport they’ve been able to do that for World Cups where the whole country gets behind the campaign. At the moment it’s working but what about later this year? No one knows.”
Wales get Gatland's new era up and running in the Six Nations next month, with Ireland first up in Cardiff on Saturday, February 4.
Among their opponents in the pool stages of the World Cup are the Wallabies.
Gatland and his WRU bosses say they have set the bar high for the Six Nations and the World Cup this year.
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