Rugby World Cup Draw

[hornetrider]

Just about to kick off. Live feed here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/03/rugby-...

[hornetrider]

Wales and England drawn together - with Australia!!



That's not a group of death - it's a group of something much worse than that.

[ewenm]

Pool A: Play-off winner, Oceania 1, Wales, England & Australia
Pool B: Americas 2, Asia 1, Scotland, Samoa & South Africa
Pool C: Africa 1, Europe 1, Tonga, Argentina & New Zealand
Pool D: Europe 2, Americas 1, Italy, Ireland & France

[ewenm]

Is Oceania 1 likely to be Fiji? Add them to the Wales, England and Australia group and it gets very interesting!

[hornetrider]

Oceana 1 is likely to be Fiji isn't it? Tidy, mun.

[disco1]

Darn it

That's got to be the most deadly, certain death, group of death ever seen in the history of group of deaths in a RWC!!!!

[Russ35]

Why do they do the draw so far in advance? Why don't they do the draw in 2 years time, so about 9months before the start of the competition, that way current rankings at the time will be a bit more meaningful.

So much could happen with a team between now and the World Cup. A team from band C could go unbeaten and end up ranked 4, France could go on a bad run and end up down as a band B/C team.

[ewenm]

It allows ticket sales for the group stages to start with fans knowing what matches they'll see (apart from the not-yet-qualified teams), so starts the income stream for the event. Not a big reason though.

[prand]

disco1 said:

Darn it

That's got to be the most deadly, certain death, group of death ever seen in the history of group of deaths in a RWC!!!!

Well, it's death for just one of the above teams. And I'll throw my hat in early and say it isn't going to be England.

[ewenm]

A lot can happen in 2+ years (see the rise and fall of Wales over the last 18 months...).

[0000]

There go Wales' 2015 ambitions then.

[a311]

Interesting. I agree that I don't see why the draw is done so far in advance so much time for all teams involved to build or get worse.

England with home advantage no one would have wanted to see come out of the draw regardless of recent events IMO.

[prand]

Well, at least this gives Scotland something to cheer about.

As for ranking changes and timing of the draw. I can't see it mattering really, but it does make the group stage much more interesting when there is more to play for.

[ellroy]

a311 said:

Interesting. I agree that I don't see why the draw is done so far in advance so much time for all teams involved to build or get worse.

England with home advantage no one would have wanted to see come out of the draw regardless of recent events IMO.

Its so the 'big teams' can get all the hotels etc booked up in advance.

Let's be honest this far away it does not matter who you got injuries, form all will change in the next two years. Mind you, that being said happy enough to have avoided the ABs!

[a311]

ellroy said:

a311 said:

Interesting. I agree that I don't see why the draw is done so far in advance so much time for all teams involved to build or get worse.

England with home advantage no one would have wanted to see come out of the draw regardless of recent events IMO.

Its so the 'big teams' can get all the hotels etc booked up in advance.

Let's be honest this far away it does not matter who you got injuries, form all will change in the next two years. Mind you, that being said happy enough to have avoided the ABs!

I see that but a year is Shirley enough? Scotland's group for them also looks like a GoD too. I'm glad it's not like the old days where you could pretty much see the quarter final line ups once the draw had been up. Will hopefully see the continued rise of Argentina as a top nation and also Samoa and Italy.

[RDM]

prand said:

Well, at least this gives Scotland something to cheer about.

As for ranking changes. I can't see it mattering really, and it does make the group stage much more interesting when there is more to play for.

You sure....

Does that not mean we could also get Japan USA Canada
or something

[ewenm]

RDM said:

prand said:

Well, at least this gives Scotland something to cheer about.

As for ranking changes. I can't see it mattering really, and it does make the group stage much more interesting when there is more to play for.

You sure....

Does that not mean we could also get Japan USA Canada
or something

Yes, likely to be Japan (or Russia if the IRB think they are Asia not Europe?) and USA/Canada. However surely Scotland have got to be looking forward to 2nd in that group not looking behind at the minor nations?

[Derek Smith]

prand said:

Well, at least this gives Scotland something to cheer about.

You think they'll beat Amercas 2 then?

[anonymous-user]

Difficult to know what to make of it at this stage really, who knows where any of those teams will be in 3 years?

[BoRED S2upid]

0000 said:

There go Wales' 2015 ambitions then.

Oh yes. We don't stand a chance, are the under dogs etc...