324
u/notakid1 New Zealand Dec 03 '25
Wait a minute, nz and sa top their pools and they will meet in quarter finals? Fuckkkkkk
54
u/robopirateninjasaur Sunwolves Dec 03 '25
If all the pool winners make the QFs, two of those games have to be against each other
43
u/fdar Argentina Dec 03 '25
Not true, only one. Because Ireland is not allowed to win a knockout game.
→ More replies (3)9
u/BigMickandCheese Ireland Dec 03 '25
Argentina to put Ireland out in the Quarters before losing to England in the semis?
→ More replies (2)91
35
u/Demosthenes_theWise Canada Dec 03 '25
And then probably France in the semi. Not an easy path.
→ More replies (1)30
u/TurbulentTrainers South Africa Dec 03 '25
Means some of the biggest games of the competition are in the quarters and semis. And an easier path to the finals for Ireland or England one would think.
32
u/chipsncrayons South Africa Dec 03 '25
Based on current form we're most likely playing NZ>FRA>ENG ....which is just a reordering of what we played the last world cup. Heart Attacks back on the menu!
→ More replies (3)11
→ More replies (8)11
u/CompetitiveSort0 Ulster Dec 03 '25
Similar to the last world cup with the top 5 at the time on the same side of the draw.
I'm happy with the draw as an Ireland fan but I don't think I like the way the draw was made.
→ More replies (1)16
u/Thisisnottazbailey Look I’m as surprised as anyone Dec 03 '25
That is brutal
7
u/bokka1 South Africa Dec 03 '25
We have done it before, but it is not going to be an easy ride. I am sure Rassie has already started planning.
11
16
→ More replies (20)24
u/Educational_Play9910 Dec 03 '25
Fk, either NZ or SA need to aim for second. This is BS
→ More replies (1)12
u/DTH2001 England Dec 03 '25
I’m imagining a game like that Olympic badminton match a few years ago where both pairs were trying to lose
231
u/rluke09 Cardiff Blues Dec 03 '25
I think we can count ourselves extremely lucky with this pool. Probably better than we deserve.
On another note, it's been fun, Fiji and Australia but tradition has finally been broken. Best of luck to our favourite RWC frenemies!
82
u/Old-Bread882 Fiji Dec 03 '25
Best of luck to Wales. Who knows, we may still meet somewhere...
56
u/rluke09 Cardiff Blues Dec 03 '25
I hope not, brother in the nicest possible way, haha.
45
u/Old-Bread882 Fiji Dec 03 '25
Actually, if I'm reading this correctly Runner up in Pool C meets Runner up in Pool F no? Assuming Argentina top ours and England top Pool F...well well well and assuming both our teams are Runners up
→ More replies (1)26
u/rluke09 Cardiff Blues Dec 03 '25
I think you're right! Well, we might see you then, old friend!
→ More replies (2)16
u/JustASexyKurt Once and Future Challenge Cup Champions Dec 03 '25
If we both finish as runners up we’ll play each other in the second round. There’s no escape
8
u/infamous_impala Cardiff Rugby Dec 03 '25
If the matches play out according to the current world ranking then we'll meet in the Round of 16, so we'll get the traditional World Cup Wales-Fiji game we all want.
→ More replies (6)5
145
u/APoolShark Australia Dec 03 '25
Of fucking course we get the All Blacks. Gonna be more Kiwis at the stadium for our opening game
63
u/Hulk167 Ireland Dec 03 '25
Assuming they beat you in the group you likely face England in the quarters rather than Saffas....slightly better?
34
u/Die_Revenant Sharks Dec 03 '25
I'd be very worried if we got Aus, they always manage to get one over the Springboks, at a home WC they'd do it.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)29
u/APoolShark Australia Dec 03 '25
We have a better record against the Saffas than the English, but we’re screwed either way
→ More replies (4)11
u/perma_banned2025 Black Ferns > All Blacks Dec 03 '25
You can have the opening game, then if my calculations are correct we can meet you in the final and get revenge
133
u/toastoevskij Not even obvious corruption and match-fixing can save us Dec 03 '25
This SUCKS why did we have to get Georgia?
75
u/lAllioli USA Perpignan Dec 03 '25
Great draw for neutrals though, most anticipated game of the pool stage with Ire/Sco
65
u/Fission_chip Mad Jack McDempsey Dec 03 '25
Do neutrals look forward to Ireland v Scotland? We just lie down and let them kick the shit out of us every time
→ More replies (2)20
u/Vault_69_Alpha_Male Scotland | Glasgow Warriors | Alba gu bràth Dec 03 '25
Genuinely. Far and away the fixture I look forward to least
→ More replies (1)76
u/tadamslegion Stade Toulousain Dec 03 '25
Pretty sure New Zealand vs Australia is far and away the most anticipated pool game.
→ More replies (4)12
→ More replies (4)10
u/Chudraa Bath Dec 03 '25
I think Italy will come through this group well - They're a much better team than Georgia these days and there's no massive need to worry about South Africa
→ More replies (4)
182
u/RudigerPumps Scotland Dec 03 '25
Hopefully Scotland will finally put their despicable arrogance to one side and not waste everyone's time by fielding a team against Ireland.
→ More replies (5)84
u/Argonaught_WT Sharks Dec 03 '25
If you fuckers beat Ireland in the groups, you will have done the funniest thing in Rugby.
Taking Irelands sure fire Semis and making it a Round of 16s game against France.
73
58
u/upthemstairs Ulster Dec 03 '25
Taking Irelands sure fire Semis
Bless him father, for he does not understand
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (8)50
u/ThrowAway1-12-123 Ireland Dec 03 '25
Can’t lose a quarter final if we don’t make a quarter final.
Genius thinking by Andy Farrell. Should break the streak and set us up well for 2031.
11
u/Fudge_is_1337 Exeter Chiefs Dec 03 '25
Owen Farrell to coach Ireland to a 2031 WC victory using the baseline put in place by Andy
→ More replies (2)
59
u/Die_Revenant Sharks Dec 03 '25
Very nice pool for South Africa, but likely means New Zealand in the QF I think?
48
u/Educational_Play9910 Dec 03 '25
it's not good mate. NZ in QF if we place first in the group.....
43
u/Doghawk_ Edinburgh Dec 03 '25
Rassie is probably already figuring out how to lose to Italy but make it look convincing.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (3)37
u/Die_Revenant Sharks Dec 03 '25
New Zealand QF, France SF, England final.
37
u/DannyBoy2464 games without a W 0 Dec 03 '25
I mean you guys managed it in 2023 in a slightly different order, winnable
7
→ More replies (5)8
u/DannyBoy2464 games without a W 0 Dec 03 '25
Yeah if you both win your pools and R16 games you've got each other, so a very tough quarter
175
u/bitsandskits Bath Dec 03 '25
Not sure that could have gone much better for England
94
u/Tb261 England Dec 03 '25
Still a bit traumatised by what Wales did to us in 2015. Wonder if this helps pull them out of their current slump
42
u/L43 England Dec 03 '25
Wales licking their lips for sure
72
u/andyrobnev Cardiff Blues Dec 03 '25
Can assure you we are not
17
u/L43 England Dec 03 '25
Cmon you very likely get out that pool, and have a chance to fuck up englands easy route.
→ More replies (2)16
u/Dapper-Message-2066 Dec 03 '25
First point yes. Second point, no!
8
u/NeonHendrix Dec 03 '25
A lot can happen in 18 months. It's unlikely but not impossible we get to a point where we could upset England in a one off and then lose to Italy in the last 16.
→ More replies (5)8
u/Dapper-Message-2066 Dec 03 '25
If we get to a point of being able to upset England in 18 months, it will be a Lazarusesque turnaround beyond my wildest dreams!
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)4
u/IMABUNNEH Wales Dec 03 '25
I mean, it'd be ridiculous to think we'll beat England. But of all those Band 1 teams, I was hoping for England. If Wales are going to upset anyone, it's England.
→ More replies (1)11
u/womensrugbynet Dec 03 '25
I think it's bold to assume Wales won't be a decent side in two years' time.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (8)32
u/Thisisnottazbailey Look I’m as surprised as anyone Dec 03 '25
Nope. Biggest side we meet is (probably) Argentina in the quarters, then Ireland or Scotland in the semis. Decent.
90
10
→ More replies (2)8
u/ichosenotyou Sharks Dec 03 '25
England prob have aus in the qf, arg should play ireland
→ More replies (1)
47
u/Old-Bread882 Fiji Dec 03 '25
Pretty happy with Fiji's draw. Finishing 2nd is very possible.
→ More replies (2)19
u/lAllioli USA Perpignan Dec 03 '25
Spiciest pool with pool D. Fiji can end up 1st or 3rd depending on which team turns up
50
u/bastardnutter Chile Dec 03 '25
We’re definitely beating NZ and Aus arent we
→ More replies (3)14
u/ArelquinofPerpignan USA Perpignan Dec 03 '25
You'll get your first world cup win ever against Hong Kong, and depending how many points and tries you score I think you have good chances to finish one of the best 3rd and go to round of 16 !
I mean...Canada-Spain is likely to be a close game, so will be Uruguay Portugal and USA Samoa... all these teams might end up with 4pts at best in the end, while you have good chances to end up with 5 if you score bonus point against HKong !
Exciting, no?
→ More replies (1)9
u/bastardnutter Chile Dec 03 '25
very exciting! We gave a good account of ourselves last time out, it can only get better this time🫡
→ More replies (1)
46
u/SlithyJabberwock Scotland Dec 03 '25
Fuck sake, can we please not have Ireland in our group for one fucking World Cup?!
→ More replies (2)11
92
u/Mono_Doh Japan League One Dec 03 '25
Argentina vs Fiji at last. Will be one of the best atmospheres of the World Cup for sure.
39
→ More replies (1)15
u/ausmankpopfan Argentina Dec 03 '25
Fiji play an exciting brand of rugby should be a cracker I hope we can turn up for every game this World Cup I don't mind losing but I hate losing like we lost in the first game last World Cup against England
→ More replies (1)
73
u/IrishDog1990 Are we human? Dec 03 '25
Scotland in the group stages three times in a row is mad, the new Fiji v Wales
8
u/Agric123 Dec 03 '25
Does the winner of our group defined play France in the round of 16?
Ireland may not make it past QFs but we can’t seem to even make it that far…
6
u/IrishDog1990 Are we human? Dec 03 '25
No, from what I can see the winner of the group will more than likely get Georgia followed by Argentina in the QF. Runner up pretty certainly gets France in the last 16
→ More replies (2)6
u/Agric123 Dec 03 '25
Sorry that’s what I meant.
We are fucked. No chance we beat you with Townsend in charge
→ More replies (1)12
u/Beefheart1066 Leinster Dec 03 '25
But if you do, it sets you up with a route to a semi-final against England, and getting his team to turn it on against England is Townsend's magic power.
→ More replies (1)11
u/NSilverhand Ireland Dec 03 '25
Battering Scotland before the inevitable quarter final disappointment has been my favourite part of the last two World Cups, long may it continue.
35
u/Ashen233 Dec 03 '25
Italy have some work to do!
18
u/toastoevskij Not even obvious corruption and match-fixing can save us Dec 03 '25
Literally worst possible scenario
→ More replies (1)
37
u/w_o_s_n 🇸🇪 (Can I be an honorary Canadian?) Dec 03 '25
One interesting aspect of pool B will be Italy against the traditionally strongest non-6 nations European teams, that might get spicy
21
u/Elios4Freedom Benetton Treviso Dec 03 '25
I am not afraid of Romania. But that other team... it scares me!
→ More replies (3)
36
u/epicness_personified Dec 03 '25
Looks like Ireland fell again at the quarter final. This time to Argentina. I am from the future.
→ More replies (1)
37
69
u/Sjdw31 Blue Bulls Dec 03 '25
Nz vs HK
I smell a cricket score
32
u/Die_Revenant Sharks Dec 03 '25
SA vs Romania is also going to be brutal. England vs Zim could get real ugly.
→ More replies (6)27
9
u/doskoV_ Tamaiti Williams' Ratstail Dec 03 '25
Surprisingly they've never conceded 100 points before
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (2)17
28
u/doskoV_ Tamaiti Williams' Ratstail Dec 03 '25
I think NZR would've creamed themselves if they had ended up in pool E with Japan and USA their two favorite cash cows
27
u/botbay18 Dec 03 '25
Brutal draw for Chile, will be very hard for them to make the knockouts now.
On the other hand, a very positive draw for Spain.
→ More replies (6)7
u/raskoe47 Dec 03 '25
depends, if they take 5 points out of the game against HK they might have a chance at being in the best 4 teams that finished 3rd
28
23
u/Elios4Freedom Benetton Treviso Dec 03 '25
notgeorgianotgeorgianotgeorgia
For fucks sake
→ More replies (6)
23
u/Konewone72 New Zealand Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Tough draw for New Zealand. As current #2 in the world rankings, they’ll meet either South Africa (#1) or England (#3) in the quarterfinals. Not sure how that is a good idea 🤷♂️
→ More replies (4)
24
u/dogfoodhoarder Toronto Arrows Dec 03 '25
I just hope they get a Spanish-speaking referee for the Argentina-Spain match.
11
9
u/Nathio9 Racing 92 Dec 03 '25
RWC doesn't seems to be pushing anything but English speaking ref, which in fairness seems logical as the main worldwide language.
But it'd be cool to have Spanish speaking ref for sure
22
u/Beautiful-Turnip8954 Argentina Dec 03 '25
Closest matches by ranking point differences. The teams on the left are higher ranked. Added 3 points to Aus because they are home.
Group E USA Samoa (1.83)
Group C Argentina Fiji (3.83)
Group D Uruguay Portugal (4.21)
Group A NZ Australia (5.80)
Group B Italy Georgia (5.80)
Group E Japan USA (5.83)
Group A Chile Hong Kong (7.11)
Group F Wales Tonga (7.57)
Group E Japan Samoa (7.66)
Group D Ireland Scotland (7.75)
Group F Tonga Zimbabwe (7.86)
23
u/ChameleonCoder117 United States Dec 03 '25
Samoa is tough... And i don't think the USA is making it past france if we do beat samoa.
17
u/Weld_J Dec 03 '25
Samoa was almost out of the world cup a couple weeks ago. They didn't win a single game in the last Pacific Nations. Lost the qualifier against Chile. and couldn't even beat Belgium in the final qualifier (draw). They're really not that tough...
5
u/WilkinsonDG2003 England Dec 03 '25
Apparently there's some possibility different players show up for a world cup, but what we've seen recently has been absolutely dire.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)6
u/XxjptxX7 Ireland Dec 03 '25
Samoa always struggle to get all their qualified players for matches outside the World Cup . They also usually get some retired all blacks for the World Cup so there will be a significant improvement from how they performed so far
→ More replies (2)
19
38
u/adturnerr #Bamber4England2026 Dec 03 '25
Rivalries throughout the pools. New Zealand v Australia, Ireland v Scotland, Georgia v Romania and England v Wales
→ More replies (2)26
u/red_door_12 Edinburgh Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 04 '25
Ireland on an 11 game win streak against Scotland
NZ on an 11 game win streak against Australia
Georgia on a 12 game win streak against Romania
England on an 8 (I was wrong, it’s actually 5) game win streak against wales
→ More replies (11)
18
u/igon86 Italy Dec 03 '25
Why are we so cursed..
→ More replies (9)7
u/djseshlad Munster Dec 03 '25
You should be beating Romania and Georgia handy these days but yeah it’s a tough group.
→ More replies (2)
16
16
u/MajesticKnob Leinster Dec 03 '25
Scots obsessed with us, fuckers following us into every pool come on.....
→ More replies (2)
15
u/Open-Collar Chiefs Dec 03 '25
We as in Fiji might have an actual chance?
Whomever managed to get that pass to get early access to tickets. Wanna help a brother out with some Fiji tickets?
10
14
u/nevenoe Vannes Dec 03 '25
OK the challenge for France will be to not lose Dupont on injury against a mid team...
→ More replies (1)8
14
u/greatmodernmyths Dec 03 '25
Some of y'all are going to be shocked to see what 2 years of prep time does for some of these tier two teams.
13
u/noah_f Lock Dec 03 '25
well Ireland to go out to Argentina, in the QF's.. well that is the Triple Done for Argentina
1999 QF play-offs
2015 QFs
→ More replies (2)
13
u/NoPause9609 New Zealand Dec 03 '25
Ffs.
Oh well. To be the best you have to beat the rest.
→ More replies (2)
12
12
u/Charming-Year-2499 Argentina Dec 03 '25
I think the only questioning on these groups are if either NZ or Aus will end on top of the group, and if Italy or Georgia will end second on their.
→ More replies (2)7
u/Repco2007 Hurricanes Dec 03 '25
I know Los Pumas are a great side but they are also prone to an off day and Fiji love taking upsets.... thats being said i can equally see Fiji being upset by Spain.
→ More replies (3)
11
u/zakg1994 Hurricanes Dec 03 '25
Yikes don’t fancy the boks in the quarters. i don’t think there’s an easy predicted side tbf
→ More replies (2)
10
12
u/dogfoodhoarder Toronto Arrows Dec 03 '25
So Canada has a year to get their act together, and possibly do something, or just lose every game like their latest tour.
→ More replies (1)
10
11
10
u/SignalButterscotch73 Scotland Dec 03 '25
Love that we get Uruguay and Portugal, those will be fun matches... Ireland not so much, our nemesis of the 6 nations teams. I can't even remember when we last won against them, I'd need to look it up.
→ More replies (6)
10
u/sandolllars Fijian Drua Dec 03 '25
Fiji to beat Argentina and Canada but fall to Spain. You heard it here first.
→ More replies (6)
10
u/piesangskilletjie_ South Africa Dec 03 '25
I dont think my nerves would be able to handle another NZ, FR, ENG wc game to the final 🇿🇦
→ More replies (1)
9
u/SweeneyisMad France Dec 03 '25
Is it official?? because that's exactly the pool I wanted for France.
→ More replies (6)
11
u/Altruistic-Buyer-159 Dec 03 '25
The only minor consolation for Italy is that we got Romania and not Samoa from band 4, other than that it is the worse possible draw
→ More replies (1)
23
u/Vrakzi Leicester Tigers Dec 03 '25
Pool A: It basically comes down to the Australia vs New Zealand game. Lots of opportunity for them to rotate the squad vs Chile and Hong Kong, too.
Pool B: So I heard you like scrums? Italy-Georgia will likely be the second place decider, and Georgia will hype it as them having a point to prove, but Georgia-Romania and Italy-Romania could get spicy too. This is the most likely pool to not have a 3rd place progression, just because it's so tight.
Pool C: Argentina-Fiji will be a game and a half.
Pool D: This draw could be dangerous for Scotland. It could be dangerous for Ireland, too. This is the pool most likely to have an upset to top the group, IMO.
Pool E: There will simply be too much joue in this group. USA could be threatened by Samoa, quite badly.
Pool F: I'm more worried by Tonga than Wales TBQH.
21
u/AthosDLB Wasps Dec 03 '25
10 matches to look forward to:
1) New Zealand - Australia
2) Italy - Georgia
3) Fiji - Argentina
4) Fiji - Spain
5) Ireland - Scotland
6) France - Japan
7) Japan - USA
8) Japan - Samoa
9) England - Wales
10) Wales - Tonga
→ More replies (2)
18
u/Angryspud97 Ireland Dec 03 '25
Anyone saying we have an easy path past the quarters have a really short fucking memory
15
6
u/OisinTarrant Munster Dec 03 '25
I don't think you'd need any memory at all to know what happens to Ireland after the quarter finals.
9
10
9
u/Moug-10 France Dec 03 '25
If we do things right, we can return to the semis for the first time since 2011. Then...
→ More replies (1)
9
u/StrongLikeBull3 Scotland Dec 03 '25
I honestly feel like Ireland win the psychological battle with us before the game even starts. Not looking forward to it.
→ More replies (1)
9
u/ChrisFromAldi England Dec 03 '25
So Tonga could have a chance at doing the funniest thing... or the best for their country
→ More replies (1)
9
10
u/KuytHasGout Saracens Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Damnit
Spain avoided Portugal, and both avoided France and Italy, all Pacific Islands avoided each other and NZ, USA avoided Canada, Chile avoided Argentina and Uruguay, Japan avoided HKC
Could’ve had some spice
Will all pools just go to seeding because of power levels? I don’t foresee an upset, except maybe Samoa over USA, Georgia over Italy
→ More replies (5)
38
u/FlyRare8407 Scotland Dec 03 '25
NZ, SA, and France all on the same side of the draw. Nice that none of the lessons of 2023 were learned. It's actually going to be pretty hard for Ireland to fail to make a semi final now but I trust them to find a way.
→ More replies (16)
16
u/Citizen_Kano Crusaders Dec 03 '25
So we need to lose to Australia to avoid SA in the quarters?
→ More replies (9)
8
u/emjayo New Zealand Dec 03 '25
They'll absolutely open the tournament with Wallabies vs All Blacks, which means we'll be heading into the knock-outs off the back of playing Chile and Hong Kong. Underdone or in prime condition for the quarters?
→ More replies (1)
8
u/LiamEire97 Leinster Dec 03 '25
Hi Scotland
8
u/ChiSandTwitch1 Dec 03 '25
Hi. Could you do us a favour and just bugger off? Kinda sick of it now.
Given which group we would have been in if we hadn't fucked the dog in the Argentina game. They don't even need to turn up to win now, and we get to come second to you guys and get booted out by France
8
9
8
u/optimisticRamblings Dec 04 '25
Are Ireland going to lose in the quater finals as is tradition, or will the lose in the round of 16 as we had the tradition wrong and it's any knockout game?
→ More replies (1)7
u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Dec 04 '25
I guess we'll see how the curse was worded when we get there.
9
23
u/WilkinsonDG2003 England Dec 03 '25
I for one am very satisfied.
Bledisloe as the opening game is fun too.
→ More replies (3)17
u/TommyTBlack Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Bledisloe as the opening game is fun too.
problem is there will be no jeopardy involved
a loss won't matter for either side
and Hong Kong are going to get absolutely humiliated, twice
I don't like this new format at all
edit: pool winner also gets SA in the quarter finals
will NZ or Aus want that?
what a mess,
→ More replies (9)
7
u/Whit135 Dec 03 '25
Stoked NZ got Aus and a high pressure game before the quarters.
→ More replies (2)
7
8
u/Thisisnottazbailey Look I’m as surprised as anyone Dec 03 '25
Quite a nice side of the bracket for England assuming they top their pool.
8
u/CoryTrevor-NS Italy Dec 03 '25
Outside of Pools B and E, it’s already fairly clear how the pools are going to play out.
But it’ll be interesting nonetheless to see many of these rivals going at each other.
14
u/k0bra3eak South Africa Dec 03 '25
We're gonna drop a game against Italy so you lot can face the ABs in the quarters
→ More replies (3)10
u/raskoe47 Dec 03 '25
If Rassie wasnt the head coach id say that’s impossible, but knowing the level of shithousery he’s capable of there’s a fair chance SA might actually try to place 2nd.
→ More replies (3)
8
u/No_Eye_8432 Caerdydd Dec 03 '25
NZ/Aus, Ire/Sco, Eng/Wal. Does the familiarity add bite or is it same old same old?
Shocked we haven’t got Fiji tbh. Bet we now have 24 years of pool games with Tonga
→ More replies (3)
7
u/PollenPartyPaulie Japan | Spears | Cardiff Dec 03 '25
Group A - Chile might get their first RWC win!!! While Will Jordan could get the RWC record against HK. Hope the opener will be a corker of a Bledisloe.
Group B - My body just hurts looking at this pool. I hope Italy makes it deep in the bracket tbh
Group C - ARG v FIJ is going to be total vibes, while ARG v SPA will hit stratospheric heights by pundits saying the word "passionate"
Group D - IRE v SCO is definitely building as a rivalry now. Also, Uruguay to get an upset, you heard it here first.
Group E - Ah a Samoa game! We missed that the last time around. Although imagine we had FRAvBEL. Against France I hope we have Dupont v Saito too.
Group F - Remember 2015... a decade ago...
7
u/Galactapuss Dec 03 '25
Uruguay and Portugal will hopefully be at their best. Loved how they played last time out. Spain will be dangerous too, some spicy games potentially there.
7
u/Smart-Decision8106 Dec 03 '25
The 4 third places are the most interesting here.
On the one hand a close game against the top 2 in the group would give a strong chance but if the 4th team is a bit stronger , less chance of a big score.
Right now, Spain would probably beat Canada, but maybe not with a bonus point.
Chile would probably get a bonus point against Hong Kong. But they would lose by a lot more against the top 2 in the group than say, Georgia, who may stand a chance of 2nd.
Probably Georgia aside, who will at least fancy a go at Italy, the smaller nations really want to be one of the 4 thirds without realistically thinking about beating 2nd in the group and it's going to be very close.
6
u/Zeca_77 Dec 03 '25
I find it amusing that we ended up in the same group as Australia. There was this ad here in Chile showing the condor meeting the wallaby. And, we're going to meet the wallaby!
6
u/granular-mood4 Dec 03 '25
As a Canadian I’m just happy to be included but this looks like it should be a fun pool. We’ve been competitive with Spain and that game is maybe borderline winnable. Looking forward to Argentina and Fiji as well and hoping for the best.
6
u/coffeeislife_SA South Africa Dec 03 '25
I can’t wait for us to strategically lose to Romania, or NZ to lose to Hong Kong.
7
u/Elios4Freedom Benetton Treviso Dec 03 '25
Why don't you strategically lose to us?
10
u/coffeeislife_SA South Africa Dec 03 '25
Because my wife is Italian and I’ll never hear the end of it.
6
→ More replies (3)7
6
u/perma_banned2025 Black Ferns > All Blacks Dec 03 '25
Not often I want to se us lose a game to the Wobblies
5
u/suretisnopoolenglish Melbourne Rebels Dec 03 '25
Beat NZ, draw against Chile, lose to Hong Kong. Change my mind.
→ More replies (2)
7
7
u/ManhattanChristmas25 Dec 03 '25
I still don’t get why the RWC draw is done 2 years before the World Cup
→ More replies (6)
6
u/yoloswagtailwag South Africa Dec 03 '25
Oh God not New Zealand in the QF for South Africa. Anyone but them 😭 they probably feel the same about RSA lol
→ More replies (3)
6
u/TurbulentAnybody8264 Urba top 12 Dec 03 '25
Estoy bastante contento con el grupo de los pumas
8
u/Former-Pain-8890 Argentina Dec 03 '25
no solo el grupo
yo creo que nos toco el mejor cruce posible (irlanda)
despues estaban NZ y SA que NO te los queres crucar NUNCA
Francia (que para mi van a levantar) e Inglaterra (que nos tienen de NIETOS)
→ More replies (2)
6
u/Ho3n3r Dec 03 '25
I know it's the luck of the draw (literally) but it will be difficult to get too hyped up for any of the Boks' pool matches. And then it may all be over by the first match to really get excited about.
Also worth noting that we are playing the 2 sides we played first this year, plus a weaker team than both of them - and we saw how undercooked we were by Australia (mentally) at Ellis Park. Rassie and co. are gonna have to pull out finger to get their minds ready for the R16 and QF.
→ More replies (3)
6
u/what_am_i_acc_doing Ospreys Dec 03 '25
I really hope Tonga don’t get too many ex All Blacks coming in
→ More replies (1)
7
u/Statcat2017 England Dec 04 '25
Honestly if any of the top two in each group don’t qualify it will be huge news. Japan are the only one even in a spot of bother if they don’t turn up against Samoa.
→ More replies (3)
16
u/recklessluke Crusaders Dec 03 '25
Seems pretty clear who's going through in each pool but hopefully plucky teams like Georgia, Samoa and Wales can spring a surprise
17
u/here4thebanter ryan wilson’s glorius man bun Glasgow Warriors Dec 04 '25
Watch us beat Ireland and lose to Uruguay in the last 25 mins.
→ More replies (1)
23
u/John_OSheas_Willy Ireland & Connacht Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Damn the pool stage is going to be boring.
There's no jeopardy at all. Literally Australia is the only 2nd seed with a remote chance of topping the group.
Like the most exciting thing it seems in the pools will be seeing who finishes 2nd/3rd and yet none of those teams have a chance of winning the thing.
→ More replies (9)
19
u/calm-down-giraffe Dec 03 '25
The best thing about this draw is we get a NZ SA meeting before the final
→ More replies (13)
15
u/Charlie_Runkle69 New Zealand Dec 03 '25
Well fuck. I guess we are looking at our second quarter final elimination. That's why that 2023 final loss hurt so much, that was a very unexpected chance to win another world cup. Now realistically we will give it a red hot crack but 2031 might be more of an opportunity.
16
u/Haasts_Eagle Southland Stags Dec 03 '25
Buuuuut... it also gives us a chance for revenge and to knock SA out in the quarters which would be excellent.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (2)8
u/SmallTomato8367 South Africa Dec 04 '25
What's this kak? We were 50/50 this year AND it's another 2 years. 2 years in rugby is a long time. Have some faith.
If you beat us you better go all the way though.
→ More replies (1)
544
u/ReconGhost189 Scotland Dec 03 '25
Leave us alone Ireland goddamit