Ex-Springboks captain: World Rugby ‘rigged’ World Cup draw to create an easier path for a Northern Hemisphere champion
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi in action against the All Blacks and inset of Corne Krige
Former Springboks captain Corne Krige says that the Rugby World Cup draw was manipulated to ensure that the Southern Hemisphere top dogs knocked one another out of the tournament.
The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup was conducted on Wednesday, with hosts Australia drawn along with New Zealand in Pool A, as well as Hong Kong China and Chile.
Meanwhile, back-to-back winners, South Africa, have been pitted alongside Italy, Georgia and Romania.
England’s easier run
The major controversy from the draw is that the Springboks are likely to meet either Australia or New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the tournament, with the winners of Pool A and B set to square off in the last-eight, provided they progress past the last-16.
The 2023 World Cup caused a similar stir with the then-top four-ranked sides facing off in the quarter-finals, with the All Blacks ultimately beating Ireland and the Springboks, and France.
If Ireland or Scotland and England top their pools in 2027, their route to a possible final would see them sidestep South Africa, France and one of New Zealand and Australia. Steve Borthwick’s men would have to face the All Blacks or Wallabies in the quarters and then possibly Ireland, Scotland or Argentina in the semis.
Speaking to Afrikaans publication Netwerk24, former Bok flanker and captain Krige said that the new format of the World Cup, following the expansion to 24 teams, has been rigged so that teams from the Southern Hemisphere eliminate one another, making the path easier for a country from the Northern Hemisphere to win the title.
He added that it’s nice that the top two teams in the world, South Africa and New Zealand, will meet so early in the competition.
Krige was captain of the Springboks team that were knocked out of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, falling to a 29-9 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
England would ultimately go on to win that Rugby World Cup, and remain the only nation from the Northern Hemisphere to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup, with South Africa winning three since and New Zealand two.
Krige’s former teammate Ashwin Willemse told the publication that it’s not out of the question that the Boks would face Australia instead of the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
He believes that the Wallabies have the ability to pick themselves up from the ground and cause upsets in their home tournament.