Talking points

1 Easy for England

England have unquestionably landed the most straightforward of groups, with Japan, Argentina and qualifiers from Oceania and the Americas on their 2023 agenda. Japan were quarter-finalists when they hosted the World Cup last year but are unlikely to have the forward power to threaten an England side coached by their former supremo Eddie Jones.

2 Deja vu for Wales

IT is a case of same again, yet again for Wales. For the third successive World Cup, they have been drawn in the same group as Australia and Fiji — and it is the fifth time in a row for them to face the Fijians. Wales, under Warren Gatland, beat both opponents in Japan last year, which meant topping the group and securing a quarter-final against France. England are likely to await them this time around, though, if Wayne Pivac’s team finish second in their pool.

3 Tough for Scots

AS in 2019, Six Nations rivals Ireland and Scotland will meet in the pool stage, and this time around they have the added problem of also tackling world champions South Africa.

Scotland have lost nine of their last 10 games against Ireland and suffered six successive defeats at South Africa’s hands, while Ireland have toppled the Springboks six times in the last 10 encounters. Scotland, in theory, have it all to do.

4 No-brain opener

THE 2023 World Cup fixture schedule is not expected to be announced until late February, but one decision that tournament organisers should not spend long contemplating is which two countries kick things off. Hosts France, resurgent under head coach Fabien Galthie, have been drawn in the same group as three-time world champions New Zealand. That would provide a glittering spectacle, potentially under the floodlights at Stade de France.

5 Still a long wait

IT is often difficult to predict the form of rugby union’s landscape in three months’ time, let alone three years, which is why not too much can be read into the 2023 World Cup line-up at this stage. Yes, the big guns — countries like England, South Africa and New Zealand — will still be exactly that, but will France have overtaken all of them by then and become the world’s top team? How many current coaches will still be in their jobs? How many current top players might have retired? How will the sport itself have evolved? Questions, questions.