HOPING FOR LUCK OF DRAW
England will be looking to escape inclusion in another ‘pool of death’
ENGLAND will be hoping to escape inclusion in another ‘pool of death’ when the World Cup draw for Japan 2019 is made in Kyoto today.
Two years ago the toughest group in the competition’s history was created when England were drawn alongside Wales, Australia and Fiji with Uruguay completing the line-up.
Even home comforts could not prevent them from succumbing to a group exit – the first time the hosts have exited the World Cup before the knockout phase.
The outcome had far-reaching consequences, resulting in the removal of Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team and ushering in the Eddie Jones era that to date has been an unqualified success.
Jones, accompanied by Rugby Football Union chief executive Iain Ritchie, will be present at the State Guest House for the draw that is held at 9am.
While the 2015 event’s ‘pool of death’ is impossible to repeat, danger lurks within the three top bands of seeds from which the heavyweights will be drawn.
As the world’s second-ranked team, England will avoid New Zealand, Australia and Ireland, who comprise the top tier, but band two offers some fiendishly difficult fixtures.
All-Six Nations encounters with Wales, Scotland and France are possible, as is a heavyweight showdown with South Africa.
The team that no coach of the top eight ranked countries will want to face lurks in band three – Argentina – with Japan and Fiji also present.
Jones coached Japan to the greatest upset in rugby history when the Springboks were stunned 34-32 in Brighton two year ago and while it is unthinkable that England would succumb to an act of similar giant-killing, a match with the 2019 hosts would be a fascinating prospect.
Joe Schmidt’s Ireland are also present in the top band and so face the same possible opponents as England, while Wales and Scotland are confronted with the possibility of a group showdown with New Zealand.
The All Blacks are seeking to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for a third successive time and predictably enter the tournament as strong favourites, although the British and Irish Lions have the opportunity to put a dent in their self-belief during the looming tour.
The sport will be hoping for an improvement from South Africa and Australia, two powerhouses of the game who have struggled since England 2015 but who have the firepower to make an impact if they are able to rally.
A look at the respective bands: