NZ Rugby World

ALL BLACKS DRAW BOKS

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THE DRAW FOR THE 2019 WORLD CUP HAS BEEN MADE AND THE ALL BLACKS HAVE BEEN PUT IN A POOL WITH SOUTH AFRICA, ITALY AND TWO QUALIFIERS WHO COULD BE NAMIBIA AND SPAIN.

As number one seeds they knew they were going to avoid England, Ireland and Australia, whose respective world rankings at the time of the draw were two, three and four.

This is how World Rugby does it: of the 12 teams that have already qualified [countries that finished first, second or third in their respective pool at the last World Cup] the four teams with the highest world ranking at the time of the draw are put in one band; the four teams with the next highest ranking are put in another and then the next four in another.

The danger team in this set up was Argentina who were ranked ninth in the world at the time of the draw, so potentiall­y could have ended up in a pool with New Zealand and South Africa.

Instead, it was England who were the unlucky ones perhaps, being pooled with France and Argentina.

Ireland, Scotland and Japan are in another group with Wales, Australia and Georgia being matched up. WILL THE ALL BLACKS BE HAPPY? Mostly, yes. They have got what they wanted, which is a pool that provides them with one serious challenge, another reasonable hit out and two other games where they will maybe try a few things out.

It is, in fact, incredibly similar to the sort of pool they had in 2015 and that suited them just fine.

What they didn’t want was, say, South Africa and Argentina – not because they would be fearful about not qualifying – but because having to play too much intense football in the pool rounds does take a toll later in the tournament.

WHO HAS THE TOUGHEST POOL?

The one with England, Argentina and France is probably the toughest. A good side isn’t going to progress and the two that do are going to have a fair bit taken out of them.

It is a fine line, though. As much as it will be demanding and intense in that pool, the two teams who progress have the advantage of being in a kind of knockout mode long before the others.

Australia, who were in the so-called pool of death in 2015, made it to the final

BASED ON WORLD RANKING WHO QUALIFIES?

Ireland*, Scotland, New Zealand*, South Africa, England*, France, Australia* and Wales. *Tops the pool

BASED ON MOST RECENT RESULTS WHO QUALIFIES?

Scotland*, Ireland, New Zealand*, Italy, England*, France, Australia and Wales

BASED ON GUT FEEL WHO QUALIFIES?

Scotland*, Ireland, New Zealand*, South Africa, France*, England, Wales*, Australia

AND ON GUT FEEL RESULTS QUARTERFIN­ALS LOOK LIKE?

Scotland v South Africa New Zealand v Ireland France v Australia Wales v England

 ??  ?? OLD RIVALS The All Blacks say they will relish a chance to play their old foe at the next World Cup.
OLD RIVALS The All Blacks say they will relish a chance to play their old foe at the next World Cup.
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