Analysis - The 2027 World Cup draw has happened, just under two years from when the tournament will be held in Australia. That in itself is worth questioning, but it is worth remembering this format was heavily scrutinised for the last World Cup and World Rugby obviously hasn't listened or doesn't care.
The only really possible explanation for doing it this far out is so fans have plenty of time to plan their travel to Australia. But even that is questionable, as it feels like a really unsustainable way of making sure the tournament is making enough ticket revenue.
Here's what else it means for the 24 teams that have qualified:
Déjà vu
New Zealand's Tamaiti Williams reacts after South Africa won the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final. Photo: AFP / MIGUEL MEDINA
Whatever the case is, it's meant that the All Blacks are in a very similar situation to 2023 anyway. Potentially one big game to start, then a real lull until a projected quarter-final against the Springboks.
How did the top two seeds end up on the same side of the draw?
This is a very strange one from World Rugby, because you would think surely the teams ranked one and two at the time of the draw would automatically go to opposite ends and sent on a path to meet in the final. That hasn't happened (again), with the Springboks and All Blacks likely to end one of their campaigns in the quarter-finals.
The overstayers
Maro Itoje of England lifts the Hilary Shield. England v All Blacks at Twickenham Stadium, 2025. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Meanwhile, England couldn't have had a better draw if they'd organised it themselves. Their path through to the business end is pretty clear, however at least this time the English actually look to be building a serious challenge rather than falling arse-first into a semi like they did in 1991, 2007 and 2023. From a hosting perspective, the prospect of having big-spending Poms in Australia for all those weeks is an early victory though.
Vamos Los Pumas
Argentina's wing Mateo Carreras is tackled in a match against Wales, 2025. Photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP
One side that will be very happy is Argentina, who have drawn a relatively easy pool and path to a semi-final. It's not like the Pumas need any sort of leg up anyway, not only are they consistently beating everyone put in front of them now, they have historically been very good at World Cups with semi-final appearances in three of the last six tournaments.
There's no reason to think that if things go their way, they can win the whole thing.
A date with France
Whoever wins the projected All Blacks v Springboks quarter-final will then likely meet France, who will still be very sore over their one point loss to the South Africans at the last World Cup.
What about the Wallabies
Filipo Daugunu grabs a high ball. Photo: Daniel Carson/Photosport NZ
If there's one team that really embodies the fact that an awful lot can change between now and October 2027, it's the host nation. Just four months ago the Wallabies had knocked off the Springboks at Ellis Park, since then they've lost 10 of the next 12 tests.
Can it swing back? Rumours of players switching codes from the NRL may be just that, but the Wallabies will ride a wave of public momentum into their big pool match with the All Blacks regardless.
Hong Kong action
Guy Spanton of Hong Kong in action during the rugby international between Hong Kong and Japan XV at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Lampson Yip - Clicks Images
One of the All Blacks' most famous World Cup results was their 145-17 demolition of Japan in 1995, but that isn't even second biggest winning margin recorded by the teams in their pool. The Wallabies walloped Namibia 142-0 in 2003, but the actual world record is Hong Kong's 164-13 result over Singapore in 1994. Hong Kong winger Ashley Billington still holds the individual points scoring record, with 50 (10 tries).
However, given their team are entirely locally based amateurs, Hong Kong might be in the dubious position of being on the other end of some sort of record scoreline by the time this pool stage is over.
It's ages away
On his media call this morning Scott Robertson really summed up how far away all this is, noting that between now and the World Cup the All Blacks and Springboks play each other six times.
2027 Rugby World Cup pools
Pool A: All Blacks, Wallabies, Chile, Hong Kong China
Pool B: Springboks, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
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