History will repeat at the 2023 Rugby World Cup for Australia, who will face Wales and Fiji in their pool for the third-straight tournament after receiving a favourable draw.
The Wallabies, ranked sixth in the world and quarter-final casualties at last year’s World Cup in Japan, could have been lumped in a pool with New Zealand, England or holders South Africa for the Paris showpiece.
Instead they’ll face the lower-ranked Wales (ninth) for the fourth time in five tournaments and Fiji (11th), as well as two other yet to qualify nations.
Wales beat the Wallabies in Japan but have struggled since reaching the final four of that tournament, losing seven of their past nine Tests.
But Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who has overseen one win, three draws and two losses since replacing Michael Cheika after the World Cup, knows there is “so much water under the bridge” until 2023.
“We’re really excited from a World Cup perspective, it’s a long way off but it makes it a bit of a reality now,” he said.
“There’s no easy pool as we’ve all talked about; if you look at the three teams that we know are confirmed in this pool they’re all really tough.
“We’re all three years away, our teams are going to change a lot, there’ll be other guys that will come through and I imagine we’ll all be better in three years time.”
Three-time winners and perennial favourites New Zealand will face hosts France but both teams will be confident of advancing after landing Italy as the third seed.
The Springboks were grouped with Ireland and Scotland while 2019 runners-up England face the potentially tricky dual challenge of Argentina and Japan.
The seedings for the RWC have routinely been decided three years out but this time, given the coronavirus-disruption of the international calendar, organisers decided to use the rankings as at the end of last year – four years ahead of the tournament.
Hence, Wales, beaten semi-finalists in 2019 but ranked ninth, were among the top four seeds while France, hosts and now world No.4, were placed in the second tier.
The 20-team RWC will take place across nine cities from September 8 to October 21, with the final in Paris.
Eight qualifiers are yet to be determined for the 10th edition of the tournament and will not be finalised until November 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron was present at Monday’s draw in Paris.
“We cannot wait to get ready for this event,” he said.
“The COVID-19 crisis is terrible. In 2023, we want to offer what France can offer: the French way of life – friendliness, gastronomy, parties and culture.”
Pool A
New Zealand
France
Italy
Americas 1
Africa 1
Pool B
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Asia/Pacific 1
Europe 2
Pool C
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Europe 1
Final qualifier winner
Pool D
England
Japan
Argentina
Oceania 1
Americas 2
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Hi David I've revised your article. I like reply from 'Dasher' along lines: 3rd from each pool play semi then final. 4th from each pool play semi then final. 5th from each pool play semi then final. Respectively midweek Tues, Wed, Thurs. I believe would only add to building excitement at top finals. There's a big midweek gap once the quarters are played. I think idea is a big plus. May attract casual minnow fans, who then take interest in the top final finals too. Cheers KP
David Main
Roar Rookie
Totally agree with this idea, and wrote my only article on this some years ago, with predictably zero effect; it’s a no-brainer to develop second-tier nations, and add interest for all of us. Is there a way to push this?
jim
Guest
There is only one good thing about this draw - no excuses. WBs know exactly what they are up against , their pool group is not a "group of death" so they are in with a fair crack. Now we will see if they can live up to the talk.
I am yet to be convinced Hodge is a first choice anything as yet Mo......Certainly a very good bench option with the versatility he has but I see better 10s and better 15s ( Wright ) than him at the moment.....
AndyS
Guest
Given the supposedly 'random' draw, you'd have to wonder about the probability...
mike
Guest
How boring. Same draw for the last 3 WCs.
MO
Guest
the Japanese will have a decent shot against Argentina though and both have a few years to plan. The Japanese lack size but they know that. Probably grow a couple of big Japanese blokes and poach some young pacific islanders and maybe someone who got cut from the Tahs squad (Pat Tafa anyone? He'd be good for Japan) and it's game on. Problem of course is that the Argies may just knock off England in the pool. Probly won't though.
MO
Guest
Jacko, Hodge's goal kicking is getting better and by 2023 we may have that young halfback at the Brumbies playing who is a proper kicker.
MO
Guest
And with the logjam in the top 8 teams that is developing the top two spots are going to what should be a decent team.
MO
Guest
Could we see the Kiwis beat the French in the pool game and the French go on to win the Cup? France should be bloomin good in 2023. Argentina and Japan know they need to knock each other off and can start planning for it. On current form to beat the Argies the Japanese will know they need a deadly goal kicker to score points over the defensive line. Scotland even if rubbish will have a shot against Ireland as it's a sorta derby game.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
don’t expect that – Eng aren’t that good that often… as you say they invented the game but have had marginal success.
charly_777
Roar Rookie
The rivalry had been made (unintentionally), between Ireland and Argentina in the World Cups, we did not expel each other from the World Cups! Scotland was a little lower than Argentina in the World Cup, England the inventor of the game full of tricks, it is always a stumbling block against Argentina, maybe they can be tied up like we did with the AB? The honorable Japan does not represent a real stumbling block.
charly_777
Roar Rookie
Although many Argentines are the children or grandchildren of Italians, they never had competitive local championships! NH's everlasting wooden spoon award!
charly_777
Roar Rookie
I agree with you brother, the draw should be done 1 year before the World Cup!
charly_777
Roar Rookie
Finally a lucky draw for Argentina for a World Cup! Although it should have been considered the current 8th place and was counted 10th at the beginning of the year, Argentina only has one big stumbling block for the quarterfinals: England! We know the hard-working Japan that I think will not prosper this time, it would be nice to leave France out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals, once again (even though we love her) haha. Vamos Argentinaa!
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Not buying that either TWAS. The cities and stadiums pretty much pick themselves when the hosts are selected. Any large tour operator will have block reservations and agreements in hand well in advance of any pool and fixture announcement, and then tweaks when a draw is made. If they can't sell out an event like this a year out, they shouldn't be in business. Besides, there's no reason why the RWC organisers can't declare at least final and semi venues well ahead of any draw. As for a club or bunch of mates wanting to tour, if they can't work it out in that time frame, they should find a new club or new mates.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Must have used the South African National lotto machine. Two weeks ago the winning nrs .. 5, 6, 7, 8,9,10… Even more intriguing.. 20 winners in a massive jackpot.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
This exposes the flaw of drawing teams 3 years before the tournament and based on current rankings.. Those could change plenty over 3 years….assuming… And it’s not unreasonable to assume that South Africa get through their pool, then with the historical formula of Pool A playing Pool B that The Boks will face either NZ or hosts France in the quarter finals..so either current World Champs or 3 times winners NZ or The host nation are going home early…
yeah only if i thought my team had the better kicker lol...having Dan carter as the kicker would be great but Jordie not so great lol
therealnews
Roar Rookie
average fans wait until the tickets come out, (usually within 12 months of the tournament) try their luck in the ballot and work their trip out around that. This system is all about accommodating the tour operators, who get access to the tickets before everyone else so they can sell premium packages at exorbitant rates, over the average fan.