2019 Rugby World Cup draw: champions New Zealand to face arch-rivals South Africa in Pool B

The All Blacks, the two-time defending champions, have never lost a group game, but that record will be tested when they face the two-time winning in Pool B.

New Zealand are the reigning two-time Rugby World Cup champions after beating Australia in the 2015 final at Twickenham, south-west London, on October 31, 2015. Martin Bureau / AFP
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KYOTO // New Zealand will face arch-rivals South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup group stage in Japan, and Six Nations champions England were drawn in a tough pool as well yesterday.

The All Blacks, the two-time defending champions, have never lost a group game, but that record will be tested when they face the two-time winning in Pool B.

The Springboks won their biggest World Cup match, the 1995 final that was portrayed in the movie Invictus, but the All Blacks have won their last two tournament matches, including in the 2015 semi-finals.

It will be the first time the two nations meet in the pool stage.

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“Any one of the top eight teams that you get paired up with are going to be tough,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said. “In this case we get South Africa. They are a team that knows us well and we know them very well. There is a lot of good history between the two teams and it will be one of the games of the tournament.”

The draw took place two and a half years ahead of the World Cup to allow organisers time to sort out the match schedule and ticketing, confirm venues, and arrange base camps.

Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe was among the dignitaries to take part in the draw at the historic Kyoto Guest House. The 2019 tournament in Japan will be the first to be held in Asia and outside of the traditional rugby nations.

The draw featured the 12 teams that had booked places courtesy of a top-three pool finish at the 2015 World Cup in England.

England were drawn with France and Argentina in a gruelling Pool C. Two-time champion Australia were with Wales and Georgia in Pool D. Hosts Japan were with Ireland and Scotland in Pool A.

England became the first host team to fail to advance from the pool stage in 2015 after they lost to Australia and Wales. The 1991 champions and two-time finalists face another arduous pool in Japan. France have reached three finals, and Argentina have made the semi-finals of two of the last three World Cups. The others in the pool could be the United States or Canada, and Fiji or Samoa.

“Our pool will be highly competitive and full of intensity, as a World Cup group should be,” England coach Eddie Jones said. “History shows that you need to win seven games to win the tournament and we will greatly respect every team we play.”

France coach Guy Noves said the game against Argentina will be “decisive”, adding that France’s goal will be to progress to the knockout rounds.

“England, alongside New Zealand, was the scarecrow everybody wanted to avoid,” Noves said. “We have them in our pool. This group is very well balanced and will allow us to play tough games from the start.”

2019 World Cup draw

Pool A Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, play-off winner

Pool B New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, repechage winner

Pool C England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2

Pool D Australia, Wales, Georgia, Americas 2, Oceania 1

* Associated Press

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