World Cup trophy holders New Zealand will play Argentina, Tonga and two qualifiers after the draw was made for the 2015 rugby World Cup on Monday, but hosts England were handed a tougher task.
England, winners in 2003 and runners up four years later, were among the second tier of seeds and were paired with Australia and Six Nations rivals Wales.
“It is definitely a pretty tough pool,” England coach Stuart Lancaster said. “To win the World Cup you have to win big games and I have got a huge amount of respect for what Wales have done recently.
“We know their squad pretty well, it is a young side and a lot of them will still be around in 2015. Australia have just beaten us and if you look at the age and profile of their squad, they have got some young lads as well. We will look forward to it.”
One crumb of comfort for England is that should they win their pool they are now unlikely to play world champions New Zealand, who they dismantled 38-21 at Twickenham on Saturday, until the final.
South Africa were paired alongside Samoa for the fourth consecutive World Cup and Scotland, while fourth seeds France will face Ireland and Italy.
It is also the fourth occasion Tonga have been drawn in the pool stages with New Zealand after they were thrown together in 1999, 2003 and 2011.
New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and France were kept apart as the four top seeds in the IRB rankings heading into the draw, while eight teams have yet to qualify.
The World Cup will get underway on September 18, 2015, with the final to be held at Twickenham on 31 October.
POOL A
- Australia
- England
- Wales
- Oceania 1
- Playoff Winner
POOL B
- South Africa
- Samoa
- Scotland
- Asia 1
- Americas 2
POOL C
- New Zealand
- Argentina
- Tonga
- Europe 1
- Africa 1
POOL D
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- Americas 1
- Europe 2
Here’s how it works after the pool games:
Quarter-finals
QF1: Winner of Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF2: Winner of Pool C v runner-up Pool D
QF3: Winner of Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
QF4: Winner of Pool D v runner-up C
Semi-finals
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
I personally don’t think this is a easy draw. We have Samoa in our pool AGAIN and as we all know when we play them we have injured players after. Scotland have beaten us before and could fancy their chance against us. Another thing is if we top our pool we will play either England or Australia in a quarter, if we win that then we will be facing New Zealand in the semi. I would have liked us to be in pool D. That would have been the best pool to be in. Also if we made it all the way from there and New Zealand made it all the way we would face them in a final and not a semi.
So just reading some of the British Papers. Who will play where in the A pool? As Wales will host some games at the Millennium Stadium. Jeez feel for Australia, they will have to probably play Wales on at the Millennium Stadium and probably England at Twickers. Going to be tough for them, though they have done it now and won both games. However, a world cup is a different story and the pressure is huge. I think England will play Wales at Twickers as well. Wales will probably get to play Oceana 1 and the Play off Winner at the Millenium Stadium and Australia there. Well that is how I see it and England probably play the same at Twickers. I think they will play Wales at Twickers too as they are hosting.
If Oz don’t make it and we top our pool then we will be playing either Wales at the Millennium stadium or England at Twickers. Both have home ground advantage. Then again we could be playing Oz in the quarter then that would be neutral. Either way that quarter will be very tough. Saying all that if we top our pool of course, it could be Samoa they are playing some good rugby and think they will get better. Have to see how we go against them this June. Just hope no injuries to them for players going back to Super Rugby after.
Another thing really think the wc draw was done far too early much like it was for the last world cup. Should have been done a year before. That way the rankings would be more or less what it would be come world cup time. Now who knows where we will all be sitting in the rankings come 2015.
I personally would get more enjoyment in the next 3 years watching the Boks beating the ABs and Aussies more often than us winning the world cup. Also beating France next year in the eoyt and when we play England again beating them again. Rather now see us winning most of our tests. That for me would be far better. For now anyway that is how I feel.
So many typos up there as usual….lol.
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