Pool clash: England and Australia
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The draw for the 2015 Rugby World Cup has been made, with Australia, England and Wales set to collide.
Promptly named the 'Pool of Death', the host nation were pulled out of the container with the Welsh and Wallabies in the pick of the groups.
Current holders New Zealand find themselves alongside Argentina and Tonga, while South Africa meet Samoa and Scotland in Pool C.
The final Pool has a largely Six Nations feel to it as France, Ireland and Italy are drawn together.
The eight remaining teams will come from a series of global qualifying matches that started in Mexico in March and will culminate in 2014.
The quarter-final draw could see New Zealand up against either France, who knocked them out in the last eight in 2007, or an improving Ireland.
Meanwhile the winners of England, Australia or Wales will face Pool B's runners-up, who on current form are likely to be Samoa or Scotland.
Whoever wins Pool A will avoid New Zealand until the final provided the All Blacks, as they have done at every previous World Cup, win their group.
The Pool B winners will face Pool A's runners-up with the winners of a Pool D, where France will be favourites, facing the runners-up from Pool C, likely to be either Argentina or Tonga.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, the eighth edition of the tournament, will run from September 18 to October 31, 2015, with the final set to be played at Twickenham.
RWC 2015 Pools:
Pool A: Australia, England, Wales, Oceana 1, Play-off winner
Pool B: South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Asia 1, Americas 2
Pool C: New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Europe 1, Africa 1
Pool D: France, Ireland, Italy, Americas 1, Europe 2
At the draw it was also confirmed that the knockout phase structure will stay the same:
QF1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
QF3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B
QF4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4
Bronze Final: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
Comments
new_j4a says...
Pool A looks like the easy route to the Quarters?
Posted 16:05 03rd December 2012
Norm says...
I'll take that!
Posted 16:03 03rd December 2012
OzinLondon says...
Well, as an Aussie fan I can't think of a worse draw for us...
Well done whoever did the draw.... I'm sure if you'd tried a bit harder you could have made it even easier for NZ and SA.
Posted 15:59 03rd December 2012
marko72 says...
Ireland to battle it out with Italy for second place so...
Posted 15:55 03rd December 2012
LindsayG says...
On No. England to go out in the Pool stages of their own tournament, Italy to make it out of the Pools for the first time and Scotland to be relegated to also rans again.
Will also be interesting to see where they schedule the England, Wales match if they are using both the Twickers and Cardiff for the games. Can't wait.
Posted 15:44 03rd December 2012
paddy91317 says...
Well im happy out :)
Posted 15:40 03rd December 2012
melkdave says...
Well atm pool A is the group of death by the looks of it. with Fiji most likely being Oceana1 atm But alot can happen in 3 years Pool B looks fairly straight forward ,but hopefully Scotland can / will improve and challange the favourites atm ,SA and Samoa.While in pool C its looking either Argentina or Tonga for the 2nd place spot ,both are improving ,and who knows maybe a upset in 2015 not beyond the realms of possibility .Same can be said of pool D atm you would have to go with France and Ireland ,but Italy might have a say in that ,if they keep improving as they are now .
Posted 15:38 03rd December 2012
dannyboy says...
Pleased for Ireland, if we beat the Frenchies, we meet the Argies in the Quarters. The alternative is not worth considering.
Pool A is a nightmare, especially if Fiji join it. And second place faces the Saffers! #Nightmare scenario!
What a satisfying Monday!
Posted 15:36 03rd December 2012
rockman says...
England will not get out of this group!
Posted 15:34 03rd December 2012
ben7 says...
Australia England Wales and Fiji..... That is craaaaazy. Any 2 could make it
Posted 15:34 03rd December 2012
bartsinfrance says...
Oh no. pool a what a draw :(
Posted 15:33 03rd December 2012
kenttaff says...
a cake walk to the semis.........
Posted 15:30 03rd December 2012
APV1 says...
Copied and pasted my post from the other thread:
Pool A
Aus, Eng, Wal, Oceania1, Playoff Winner
Pool B
SA, Samoa, Scot, Asia1, Americas2
Pool C
NZ, Arg, Ton, Europe1 Africa1
Pool D
Fra, Ire, Ita, Americas1, Europe2
Hardest Pool? I think A, with Aus, Eng and Wales. But you have to beat who's in front of you. And you have to beat the best to win the RWC. So bring it on. Butterflies just typing this. Goodness knows how I'm going to cope..!
And they've just announced IRB Team, Coach and Player OTY:
Team - NZ (anyone surprised?)
Coach - Steve Hanson (as Will Greenwood mentioned, there's a theme developing here)
Player - Dan Carter (I bet RMcC is gutted!) Well done them.
1018 days to go..!
Posted 15:27 03rd December 2012
ramm83 says...
Pool of death!!
Posted 15:19 03rd December 2012