Holding the draw for the Rugby World Cup in 2020 means three of the top five teams are in the same pool, while one of the next five is virtually guaranteed a semi-final spot.
in 2020 has meant that the tournament has a bizarrely skewed look where three of the sport's top-five teams are in the same pool, while one of the next five is virtually guaranteed a semi-final spot.
For now, though, world number one Ireland, defending champions South Africa and Scotland, enjoying their best form for decades, will battle it out for two places.The reward for the top two will almost certainly be a quarterfinal against France or New Zealand, who should get the World Cup off to a cracking start when they meet on September 8.
Ireland go into the tournament on the back of a fabulous run where they have not only claimed big wins against the best in the world, but have also backed it up with repeats.However, the elephant in the room is the fact they are the only one of the"big nine" never to have won a knockout game and that, despite their peerless form, they face a monstrously difficult challenge to end that curse.
Should Ireland finally get through to a semi, the history of the tournament shows it is almost impossible for a team to come through four"showdown games" and still be in shape to win a fifth in the final.South Africa have added more variety to the power-packed forward game that rolled them to victory in Japan four years ago but their frightening forward strength and depth was there for all to see in their remarkable 35-7 demolition of New Zealand at Twickenham last week.
England, runners-up four years ago, could not be in a more different position with question marks over half a dozen positions, let alone how they are going to play. England start with a tough game against Argentina but even if they lose, it is hard to see them faltering against a Japan team who are nowhere near their 2019 levels. That would earn a probable Marseille quarterfinal against Wales or, deliciously for Jones, Australia.
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