Barring major upsets, Michael Cheika’s Wallabies won’t come face-to-face with the All Blacks until the decider of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, to be held in Japan.
The pools were drawn this week, with the first three in each pool from the 2015 Cup automatic qualifiers.
The Wallabies, Wales, and England qualified from Pool A; the Springboks, Scotland, and Japan from Pool B; the All Blacks, Pumas, and Georgia from Pool C; and Ireland, France, and Italy from Pool D.
Pool A in Japan will be Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, and the play-off winner.
Pool B will be headed by the two-time defending champions New Zealand, with South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, and the repechage winner.
Pool C will have England, France, the Pumas, USA and Tonga.
Pool D will be the Wallabies, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, and America 2.
Wales must be wondering if they’ll ever be drawn away from the Wallabies, who are haunting them.
As it sits, Ireland and Scotland should comfortably finish one-two in Pool A, while the All Backs and the Boks should be far too strong in Pool B.
It will be closer in Pool C, with England showing the way, but France and the Pumas will battle it out for the second spot.
While the Wallabies and Wales should top Pool D, don’t be surprised if Fiji and Georgia give the Welsh a shake.
The top two in each pool will qualify for the quarters:
The winner of Pool C will meet the runner-up in Pool D.
The winner of Pool B will go head-to-head with Pool A’s second place-getters.
Pool D’s top team will meet the runner-up of Pool C.
The winner of Pool A clashes with the runner-up of Pool B.
That should translate to England playing either Wales or Fiji in the first quarter-final, the All Blacks and Scotland to meet in the second, Australia to take on either France or the Pumas in the third, and Ireland to clash with the Boks in the fourth.
The semi-finals should be England vs the All Blacks and the Wallabies vs Ireland or South Africa, leading into a repeat of the last Rugby World Cup final – the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Looks good on paper, but it will be up to the men in black and gold to make it a reality.
David
Guest
Even beating Wales won't guarantee you avoid England in the quarters. Georgia and Fiji aren't pushovers- and France and Argentina are even less so. England should be in the frame to win the World Cup but they're not going to walk through the pool like it's a light breeze- it'll be a storm.
DC NZ
Guest
All blacks vs Bokke final with the 1995 result overturned ...
Kane
Guest
Definitely not a given, have to beat Wales to avoid England in 1/4s then most likely have Ireland or South Africa in the semi's possibly even the All Blacks.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
Both of which we did in the last World Cup. In the pool of death. That many didn’t think we’d make it out of.
Rob9
Guest
The pools were drawn in May. Who we play at RWC 19’ is old news. When we play them is this weeks news.
adastra32
Guest
Two years is a long time in international rugby. Two years ago almost exactly England were down among the RWC dead men. Now? So I would certainly not be placing any bets on an all-SH finale. Nothing wrong with wishful thinking though.
Mike Julz
Guest
Australia must get past the quarters first. Seems they get the harder route in the Finals than in the Pools, it was the other way around at the last World Cup. The chances of another NZ/AUS final looks likely to happen again. But unlike the last WC where the semis were very predictable, the semis for the next one looks deadset even. We could see an all northern hemisphere final. But my money is on another NZ/AUS final. Just like I predicted the last ones.
Dave_S
Guest
Yes we have to beat Wales first, and if we don’t we have to beat England, next.
Dave_S
Guest
Anything is possible esp after Blossoms beat the Boks, but I wouldn’t be betting on it. Maybe if Fiji secure a coach like Eddie... but even then ... The WBs occasionally do get ambushed by lesser opponents, but we tend to be pretty well prepared for the RWC.
Johnno
Guest
Fiji can beat the wallabies, all of Fiji's players are full time professional and play fro big clubs many of them..
The Desert Nut
Roar Rookie
Dare to dream.
Connor33
Guest
The author did. And did you? (Pick them to be in the last?)
Jp
Guest
Who said the wallabies will even make the final?
ethan
Guest
Lets just skip the semi final and have the Aussies and Boks play a scissor paper rock battle instead.
Buk
Guest
Be interesting to see if Japan performs above expectations on its home ground. And whether Wales in the pool game is a one-off banana skin. Other than that, probably will be the usual suspects.
CJ
Guest
Wow, that does look promising. Any news on the 3rd 2018 Bled being in Japan?