Townsend braced as Scots face a challenge
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend admits the excitement of the 2023 World Cup draw was swiftly tempered by being placed in the "toughest pool" alongside South Africa and Ireland.
The Scots were always at risk of being handed a tough assignment due to a seeding system based on world rankings from the start of the year leaving them in the lowest band of qualified countries.
Townsend's men were eliminated at the end of the pool stage during a dismal display at last year's tournament in Japan and now face an uphill battle to avoid a repeat in three years' time.
South Africa top the rankings and are the reigning world champions, while Scotland hold a miserable recent record against the Irish.
Qualifiers from Asia/pacific and Europe will complete the five-team group.
"There's an excitement that you seethed raw and you think ahead to Paris in three years' time - I think it will be a wonderful tournament," said Townsend.
"And then there's the reality of who you are going to play against. I believe it's the toughest pool.
"On current world rankings - Ireland are ranked fifth in the world, South Africa are ranked first, they are the world champions, and we're ranked seventh - all three teams are in the top eight in the world, which means it is going to be very competitive."
Based on current world rankings, Scotland would have been among the second seeds, ahead of Wales.
However, the coronavirus pandemic's impact on international rugby meant teams were banded on where they stood 11 months ago as some sides, including the Springboks, have not played in 2020.
Townsend, who last week extended his contract until the World Cup, added: "I feel very honoured to be given that extension. I love working with this group of players and the staff we have and it does get you looking for ward to a big tournament.
"There is that long-term focus of developing a team and a squad that can play its best rugby in 2023."
Ireland have won 20 of their previous 25 meetings with Scotland, including at last year' s World Cup, plus Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup victories this year.
Head coach Andy Farrell believes the draw has given Ireland and Scotland' s players further incentive to play their way into contention for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
"There's nothing better than a Rugby World Cup draw to get the juices flowing, so super excited," said Farrell.
"If Jacques( Ni en ab er, Springboks coach) is saying they will have to play some good rugby to get out of the group, I'm sure that me and Gregor are thinking the same as well.”
The reality of being in the third band of seeds for the 2023 Rugby World Cup hit home for Scotland yesterday when they were placed in Pool B with holders South Africa and bete noire Ireland.
Christian Lou bout in, the legendary French shoe designer, was the main responsible for picking Scotland’ s name out of the hat at the draw in Paris and in doing so, delivered a well-aimed boot to hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Qualifiers from the Asia/ Pacific region - probably Tonga or Samoa - and Europe will complete the five - team group.
The Scots were always at risk of being handed a tough assignment due to a see ding system based on world rankings from the start of the year leaving them in the lowest band of qualified countries.
If the seeding had been based on current world rankings, Scotland would have been in the second band, ahead of Wales who ended up in the top group. However, the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on international rugby meant teams were banded on where they stood 11 months ago as some sides, including the Springboks, have not played in 2020.
Greg or Townsend’ s side were eliminated in the pool stage at last year’s World Cup in Japan and now face an uphill battle to avoid a rep eat in three years’ time. Losses in Yokohama to Ireland and the host nation scuppered Scottish hopes of a place in the last eight in 2019 but the draw for 2023 looks an even tougher prospect.
Townsend has been given the opportunity to lead the side into the tournament in France after signing a contract extension last week and will become the first Scotland coach since Ian McGeehc an in 2003 to take charge at a second World Cup.
Re acting to the Pool B draw, Townsend said it was the hardest of the four groups.
“There’s an excitement when you see the draw and you think ahead to Paris in three years’ time. I think it will be a wonderful tournament,” he said.
“And then there’ s the reality of who you’re playing against. I believe it’ s the tough est pool on current world rankings.
“South Africa are ranked first and are the world champions, Ireland are fifth and we’ re seventh. So all three teams are in the top eight in the world. That means it’s going to be very competitive.
“When you see the draw there are no easy games. Likewise the teams still to qualify, whether it’ s Tonga or Samoa who have a lot of quality players at their disposal.”
Scotland have beaten Ireland just once in their last ten meetings, a 27-22 victory in the Six Nations at Murrayfield in 2017.
The Irish won as recently as a week past Saturday when they defeated the Scots 31-16 in Dublin in the Autumn Nations Cup thirdplace play-off. They also triumphed in this year’ s Six Nations fixture 19 -12 at the Aviva and were utterly convincing in putting Scotland to the sword 27-3 at the World Cup last September.
Those were chastening defeats for Townsend who has yet to taste victory over Ireland as Scotland head coach.
Now in the charge of Andy Farrell, Ireland have had a mixed year but remain a testing proposition.
Making a draw so far in advance of the tournament itself makes it difficult to predict anything with much certainty but South Africa’ s World Cup pedigree makes them overwhelming group favourites, even at this early stage.
Their triumph over England in the final in Japan last year was a personal triumph for R assie Eras - mus who transformed the Springboks from underachievers to world champions in less than two years as head coach.
Erasmus returned to his role as director of rugby at the start of the year and was replaced as head coach by Jacques Ni en ab er who greeted the Pool B draw with a mix of diplomacy and incredulity.
“We’ re really going to have to be onto po four game just to get out of this pool ,” he said. “It’s funny to think that one of South Africa, I reland or Scotland will not make it to the play- off stages. It’s going to be a tough pool but I’m very much looking forward to it .”
Nienaber will, hopefully, have a first-hand look at what the best of Ireland and Scotland have to offer next summer when the British& Irish Lions tour South Africa.
The composite side will play three Test matches against the Springboks and Town send thinks it will be a valuable experience for the Scotland players, should any be selected.
“Hopefully we’ ll have a number of players involved and gaining insight into how to take on South Africa and the strategies that will
be deployed during that tour,” said the Scotland coach .“Playing Test match rugby against them will be a great experience for our players.
“The tour will be exciting for so many people involved in rugby. And for Scottish and Irish players the chance to play against the Springboks and maybe beating them will be very helpful for us as individual nations.”
Scotland have met South Africa twice before in the pool stage of the World Cup, losing 46-19 at Murrayfield in 1999 and 34-16 in Newcastle in 2015.
England, meanwhile, have been drawn in Pool D with Japan and Argentina, while Wales will face Australia and Fiji in Pool C.
Hosts France have the daunting prospect of taking on three-time world champions New Zealand in Pool A, a group which also contains Six Nations rivals Italy. Les Bleus are moving at a rapid rate towards being major contenders for their home tournament having been revitalised under new head coach Fabien Galthie.