World News – AU – Ireland and Scotland face champions South Africa at the Rugby World Cup

Ireland and Scotland were brought together with world champions South Africa for the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Andy Farrell’s team and Gregor Townsend’s men will join the Springboks, a qualifier for Asia / Pacific and a qualifier from Europe in Pool B.. .

England was drawn into Pool D alongside Japan and Argentina, while Wales is supported by Australia and Fiji in Pool C..

Host France has teamed up with three-time world champions New Zealand in Pool A, which also includes Italy.

The 10. The tournament will take place from 8. September to 21. October 2023 in nine locations across France. Eddie Jones’ England, beaten as a finalist in Japan last year, is also supported by qualifiers from Oceania and America.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on international rugby this year resulted in teams being seeded 11 months ago based on the official World Rugby ranking as some nations, including South Africa and Japan, failed to play in 2020.

Wales, which fell from fourth to ninth in the rankings this year, was one of the countries that benefited as they were among the top seeds. The Welsh defeated both Australia and Fiji in the World Cup pool stage en route to the semi-finals last year.

Wayne Pivac’s men will also play two qualifying games to be determined, one of which is from Europe.

France will host the tournament for the second time after South Africa did in 2007 when South Africa beat defending champions England 15-6 in the final. The French were revived under new head coach Fabien Galthie and have rapidly developed into main competitors in three years.

Not only will you have to face an All Blacks team that has never lost a World Cup pool game and has won any of its 31 previous games, but you will also face six nation rivals Italy, as well as qualifiers from America and Africa.

2023 Rugby World Cup, 2023, New Zealand National Rugby Union Team, Irish Rugby, South African National Rugby Union Team