Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool Draw

The pools for the 2019 rugby world cup will be drawn on the 10th May 2017 in Kyoto. Next Wednesday.

Band 1: The four highest-ranked directly qualified teams, New Zealand (1),  England (2),  Australia (3),  Ireland (4)
Band 2: The next four highest-ranked directly qualified teams Scotland (5),  France (6),  South Africa (7),  Wales (8)
Band 3: The final four directly qualified teams Argentina (9),  Japan (11),  Georgia (12),  Italy (15)

The remaining two bands will be made up of the eight qualifying seeds, with allocation to each band being based on the previous Rugby World Cup playing strength:
Band 4:
Americas 1, Europe 1, Oceania 1, Oceania 2
Band 5:
Africa 1, Americas 2, Europe/Oceania play-off, Repechage

Not sure how soon after the draw will the venues for each pool game be confirmed but hopefully soon enough.

Final Draw:
Pool A
Ireland
Scotland
Japan
Europe 1 (Romania)
Europe2 (Russia?)/Oceania3 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)

Pool B
New Zealand
South Africa
Italy
Africa 1 (Namibia)
Repercharge Winner


Pool C
England
France
Argentina
Americas 1 (USA?)
Oceania 2 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)

Pool D
Australia
Wales
Georgia
Oceania 1 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)
Americas 2 (Canada)

Would love to see

1) New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina - would be great for everyone else

2) England, France, Japan - think Japan and England will be in the same group, plus England have had South Africa (twice), Scotland and Wales in last few RWC pools

3) Australia, Scotland, Italy - Scotland 'owe' Australia one after RWC 2015, and Italy have been in Irelands group for last two world cups

4) Ireland, Wales, Georgia - Wales beat Ireland 2011 RWC and have also had their number more recently, but Ireland always pick one game to peak for in a series so would be great. Georgia would then be interesting for those two either side of that main match

MichaelT wrote:Would love to see

1) New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina - would be great for everyone else

2) England, France, Japan - think Japan and England will be in the same group, plus England have had South Africa (twice), Scotland and Wales in last few RWC pools

3) Australia, Scotland, Italy - Scotland 'owe' Australia one after RWC 2015, and Italy have been in Irelands group for last two world cups

4) Ireland, Wales, Georgia - Wales beat Ireland 2011 RWC and have also had their number more recently, but Ireland always pick one game to peak for in a series so would be great. Georgia would then be interesting for those two either side of that main match

Those would be awesome groups.

I don't think anyone will want to be drawn in the same group as the hosts.

Yeah wouldnt be good to get Japan but Id prefer them than Argentina. Worst group for Ireland would be Wales and Argentina. Nightmare group.

wales like ireland at RWC time

I'd settle for England Aus or Ireland but it all depends on the 3rd tier pick you just dont want Argentina as they are always on their best form at RWC time.

I know people have been saying this since 2000, but I'd quietly want to avoid Italy by 2019. They may be much worse by then, but I suspect that with another two years under Conor O'Shea they might be quite a different animal.

For Scotland, I'd like Australia, Georgia, Europe 1 and the Euroceania playoff (could that be Spain or Portugal?)

Would be willing to bet Italy will still be an easy win for any half decent team in 2019.

IanBru wrote:I know people have been saying this since 2000, but I'd quietly want to avoid Italy by 2019. They may be much worse by then, but I suspect that with another two years under Conor O'Shea they might be quite a different animal.

For Scotland, I'd like Australia, Georgia, Europe 1 and the Euroceania playoff (could that be Spain or Portugal?)

Imagine getting NZ, Georgia, Samoa - could be very physical and if NZ fixture was sandwiched between the other two I could imagine Scotland resting players in that game.

Easiest for England I think would be

England
Scotland
Italy
Whoever bar Fiji or Tonga or Samoa.
See above.

England have had those team's number on quite a few occasions.

Problem with 2nd tier is that 3 of those sides could be a lot better come the RWC 2019.

With a bit more focus on Band 4 and 5, I've put the main contenders for qualification.

Americas:
Main contenders: USA, Uruguay and Canada
Outside bets: Chile, Brazil (both fairly remote chance)
Qualifiers: Top ranked qualifier will be in Band 4 as Americas 1. Second ranked qualifier will be in Band 5. Third ranked qualifier will be in the Repechage.
Format: USA vs Canada will play-off for the first spot. The loser will play the winner of the South American championship, and the winner of that play-off will qualify, the loser will go into the repechage.
Assumption: USA as America 1, Uruguay as America 2, Canada in Repechage

Africa:
Main contenders: Namibia
Outside bets: Kenya, Zimbabwe (unlikely to go as Africa 1, but 1 will make repechage)
Qualifiers: Top ranked qualifier will go into pot 5 as Africa 1, second ranked qualifier will go into Repchage
Format: The winner of 2018 African Division 1A will be Africa 1. The runner up of that competition will play-off the winner of 2017 African Division 1B for a place in the Repechage
Assumption: Namibia as Africa 1, Kenya in Repechage

Asia:
Main contenders: Hong Kong, South Korea
Outside bets: Sri Lanka (very remote chance)
Qualifiers: Top ranked qualifier will go into the Repechage qualifier only
Format: Best finish in Asian 5 Nations, not including Japan
Assumption: Hong Kong in Repechage qualifier

Europe:
Main contenders: Romania, Russia, Spain
Outside bets: Belgium, Germany, Portugal (Romania look strongest by far, but others are on a more even footing)
Qualifiers: Top ranked qualifier will go into Band 4 as Europe 1, second ranked qualifier will go into Europe/Oceania play-off in band 5
Format: The 2017-18 European Rugby Championship Div 1A winner will qualify as Europe 1 (ignoring Georgia's results). The runner-up of that qualifying group will play-off against the winner of a convoluted play-off system - which is likely to be in Portugal. The 2017 European Rugby Championship Div 1B and Div 2s will act as the qualifiers. The 4 regional Div 2 winners (Denmark, Bosnia, Czech Republic and Malta) will play off, with the winner facing the 1B winner (Portugal).
Assumption: Romania as Europe 1, Spain in play-off

Oceania:
Main contenders: Fiji, Tonga, Samoa
Outside bets: Cook Islands (won't topple the top 3, but could get in the repechage)
Qualifiers: Top 2 ranked qualifiers will go into Band 4 as Oceania 1 and 2, third ranked qualifier will go into Europe/Oceania play-off in band 5. 4th ranked qualifier will be in the repechage qualifier.
Assumption: Fiji and Samoa in band 4 as Oceania 1 and 2. Tonga into the Europe/Oceania play-off.

Europe/Oceania play-off:
Format: "Europe 2" and "Oceania 3" will play off for a place in the Rugby World Cup
Assumed competitors from above: Spain and Tonga
Assumed qualifier: Tonga

Asia/Oceania play-off:
Format: "Asia 1" and "Oceania 4" will play-off for a place in the repechage.
Assumed competitors from above: Hong Kong and Cook Islands
Assumed qualifier: Hong Kong

Repechage:
Format: Round robin tournament at a neutral venue between 4 teams qualified for the repechage. As above, this will be the winner of Asia 1/Oceania 4, the loser of Europe 2/Oceania 3, Africa 2 and America 3.
Assumed competitors from above: Hong Kong, Spain, Kenya, Canada.
Assumed qualifier: Spain (could easily be Canada)

Which would give us:
Band 4: Fiji, Samoa, Romania, USA.
Band 5: Namibia, Uruguay, Tonga, Spain.

Anything with "Oceania" in the name looks like the thing to avoid in Bands 4 and 5 then, as they are by far the best 3 teams in that pile. Romania or USA could possibly pose a problem for a Band 3 nation who would have been focussing on their own scalp to qualify for the quarter-finals - and could even give themselves automatic qualification with a win over Georgia or even Italy. Namibia, Uruguay and Spain will be making up numbers and trying not to get pumped.

If I had to pick my teams now, I'd go for Europe 1 and America 2, assuming I'd get Romania and Uruguay.

The draw takes place tomorrow.

Does anyone know what time in BST or GMT?

I understand the draw's in Japan, so it might be at oh-s***-hundred.

I think it takes place at 9am tomorrow.

This starts in half an hour. Anyone following it?

Is there a live stream?

http://www.worldrugby.org/video/245221

cheers

and we Are live

If (like me) you can't get the WR link to play, here's another option.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11853277

Lots of chat in japanese so far

Thanks.

Whats Hansen doing there! FIXED.....joking.

Japan in pool A
Scotland
Ireland

Italy pool B
South Africa
NZ

Argentina C
France
Eng

Georgia D
Wales
Aus

Scots play Japan

France play Argentina

Wales get an easy run so far

FFS.....England, France, Argentina

Hello pool of death...again

Walk in the park

Ouch England

Jones will be sweating beads

Probably USA and Samoa other two. Couldn't have been much worse.

Gotta laugh, I guess.

You'll be alright this time

Makes the summer tour a bit more tasty.

So -
Ireland, Scots, Japan
NZ, SA, Italy
England, France, Argentina
Aus, Wales, Georgia

+ extra qualifying teams

Hey, at least they wont be undercooked - as long as they make it out of the group.

I don't see Argentina being a problem at all, we beat them comfortably with 14 players.

Pool A
Ireland
Scotland
Japan
Europe 1 (Romania)
Europe2 (Russia?)/Oceania3 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)

Pool B
New Zealand
South Africa
Italy
Africa 1 (Namibia)
Repercharge Winner


Pool C
England
France
Argentina
Americas 1 (USA?)
Oceania 2 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)

Pool D
Australia
Wales
Georgia
Oceania 1 (Fiji/Samoa/Tonga)
Americas 2 (Canada)

ebop wrote:You'll be alright this time

I think France will be a better side by then however, England tend to have their number and Argentinas much more so than Wales and Aus.

Wales must be thrilled to play Australia again

If SA sort themselves out in the next 2 years, what a pool game that is vs NZ

Flip me - that's the best pool we've ever been in (famous last words). It's great for both Ireland and Scotland.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:I don't see Argentina being a problem at all, we beat them comfortably with 14 players.

At home. In a nothing match.

Poor Italy.

In NZ's pool again - that's 6 RWCs out of 9

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Flip me - that's the best pool we've ever been in (famous last words). It's great for both Ireland and Scotland.

Thoughts on playing Japan?

munkian wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:I don't see Argentina being a problem at all, we beat them comfortably with 14 players.

At home. In a nothing match.

Argentina are nearly always a different prospect at the RWC

propdavid_london wrote:Makes the summer tour a bit more tasty.

For both England vs Argentina and Ireland vs Japan.

munkian wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:I don't see Argentina being a problem at all, we beat them comfortably with 14 players.

At home. In a nothing match.

No international is a nothing match.

BamBam wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Flip me - that's the best pool we've ever been in (famous last words). It's great for both Ireland and Scotland.

Thoughts on playing Japan?

Ireland have never lost to Japan but they are a much better side now. Genius move by the IRFU to schedule a 2 match tour to Japan this summer. All will be revealed then.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

munkian wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:I don't see Argentina being a problem at all, we beat them comfortably with 14 players.

At home. In a nothing match.

No international is a nothing match.

But not every International is a RWC pool match. And you didn't get out your last pool.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

BamBam wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Flip me - that's the best pool we've ever been in (famous last words). It's great for both Ireland and Scotland.

Thoughts on playing Japan?

Ireland have never lost to Japan but they are a much better side now. Genius move by the IRFU to schedule a 2 match tour to Japan this summer. All will be revealed then.

Neither had South Africa....

Thats true. Japan are decent now and will be at home so makes the task even bigger. Will be interesting to see how the summer tour goes.

BamBam wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Flip me - that's the best pool we've ever been in (famous last words). It's great for both Ireland and Scotland.

Thoughts on playing Japan?

I think it is a game we should win and I'm pleased compared to some of the other pools (Pool C).