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Boks get favourable RWC draw

Sport
The Springboks managed to avoid the “Pool of Death” at the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC) draw on Monday, and would not be too unhappy with their pool opponents in Scotland and Samoa when they get to England.

LONDON — The Springboks managed to avoid the “Pool of Death” at the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC)  draw on Monday, and would not be too unhappy with their pool opponents in Scotland and Samoa when they get to England.

Report by Supersport

But the Boks will have a tough quarterfinal draw once they qualify, as they will face one of the two qualifiers from that “Pool of Death” —  either England, Australia or Wales — as the knockout stage of the competition begins.

And while the Boks won’t be thinking that far out, they are likely to face New Zealand in the semifinals if all goes to plan.

While it is a bit strange to do a draw for the World Cup, a full 1018 days before the tournament begins, the Boks now at least have certainty as to their path to dethrone New Zealand as World Champions is, and can hardly complain about the cards they have been dealt.

While Australia have a nightmare Pool A and will face the likes of hosts England and Wales in the toughest pool, the Boks once again find themselves crossing swords with Samoa while the Scots will provide a good challenge in the pool rounds.

Also in their group will be the top qualifier from Asia, in all probability Japan while the second best qualifier from the Americas, perhaps the United States or Canada will round out the pool. Some interesting stats from the draw:

New Zealand have always finished top of their pool in Rugby World Cup history.

Eight other nations have topped a RWC pool — France (five times), South Africa and Australia (four times), England (three times), Wales (twice), Argentina, Ireland and Scotland (once). The last two RWC Finals have been between teams drawn in the same pool — England and South Africa in 2007 and New Zealand and France in 2011.

Australia have never met New Zealand, France or Scotland in the pool stages in Rugby World Cup history.

England will face Wales for the first time in a Pool stage of a World Cup.

Samoa and South Africa have been drawn in the same pool at the last three RWCs and this draw makes it four in a row. France have never been drawn in the same pool as Australia, England, South Africa, Samoa or Wales.

By contrast they have faced Scotland three times in the pool stages — in 1987, 1995 and 2003.

The hosts and defending champions have been drawn in the same pool on two occasions – England and New Zealand in 1991 and South Africa and Australia in 1995.

Ireland have been in the same pool as Australia on three occasions (1999, 2003 and 2011). They have also met the Wallabies twice in the knockout stages.

Italy and New Zealand are no strangers to each other in RWC pool stages, having faced each other in five of the seven tournaments to date, the exceptions being 1995 and 2011.

The defending champions have never met Australia, Samoa, Scotland or South Africa in the pool stages, but have faced three of the quartet in the knockout stages.

South Africa have never faced Argentina, France, Ireland, Italy or New Zealand in a RWC pool match. Tonga have found New Zealand awaiting them in the pool stages on three occasions (1999, 2003 and 2011) and this draw makes it four in a row.

All the pools for Rugby World Cup 2015: Pool A: Australia, England, Wales, Oceania 1, Playoff winners Pool B: South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Asia 1, Americas 2 Pool C: New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Europe 1, Africa 1 Pool D: France, Ireland, Italy, Americas 1, Europe 2