1
Gregor Townsend believes Scotland landed in 'toughest pool' alongside South Africa and Ireland
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend admits the excitement of the 2023 World Cup draw was swiftly tempered by being placed in the “toughest pool” alongside South Africa and Ireland. The Scots were always at risk of being handed a tough assignment due to a seeding system based on world rankings from the start of the year leaving them in the lowest band of qualified countries.
ADVERTISEMENT
Townsend’s men were eliminated at the end of the pool stage during a dismal display at last year’s tournament in Japan and now face an uphill battle to avoid a repeat in three years’ time.
South Africa top the rankings and are the reigning world champions, while Scotland hold a miserable recent record against the Irish.
Qualifiers from Asia/Pacific and Europe will complete the five-team group.
“There’s an excitement that you see the draw and you think ahead to Paris in three years’ time – I think it will be a wonderful tournament,” said Townsend.
“And then there’s the reality of who you are going to play against. I believe it’s the toughest pool.
“On current world rankings – Ireland are ranked fifth in the world, South Africa are ranked first, they are the world champions, and we’re ranked seventh – all three teams are in the top eight in the world, which means it is going to be very competitive.”
Based on current world rankings, Scotland would have been among the second seeds, ahead of Wales.
However, the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on international rugby meant teams were banded on where they stood 11 months ago as some sides, including the Springboks, have not played in 2020.
ADVERTISEMENT
Townsend, who last week extended his contract until the World Cup, added: “I feel very honoured to be given that extension. I love working with this group of players and the staff we have and it does get you looking forward to a big tournament.
“There is that long-term focus of developing a team and a squad that can play its best rugby in 2023.”
'If you look across them all, they’re all tough, tough pools'https://t.co/0LMAiNoIIh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2020
Ireland have won 20 of their previous 25 meetings with Scotland, including at last year’s World Cup, plus Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup victories this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Head coach Andy Farrell, who also confirmed a 2022 tour to New Zealand, believes the draw has given Ireland and Scotland’s players further incentive to play their way into contention for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
“There’s nothing better than a Rugby World Cup draw to get the juices flowing, so super excited,” said Farrell.
“If Jacques (Nienaber, Springboks coach) is saying they will have to play some good rugby to get out of the group, I’m sure that me and Gregor are thinking the same as well.
“With the Lions tour, what an opportunity for the Scots and for the Irish boys to put their hand up during this Six Nations and get on that tour and learn all about what it’s like to take the world champions on in their own backyard.
Here are your #RWC2023 pools!
POOL A: New Zealand, France, Italy, Americas 1, Africa 1
POOL B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia 1, Europe 2
POOL C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1, Qualifier Winner
Pool D: England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1, Americas 2 pic.twitter.com/siw9fCf37U
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 14, 2020
“There is nothing more exciting for a player than that. It’s a big couple of years ahead for all of us really.”
England, beaten finalists in 2019, have been drawn in Pool D with Japan and Argentina, while Wales will face Australia and Fiji in Pool C.
Hosts France have the daunting prospect of taking on three-time world champions New Zealand in Pool A, a group which also contains Six Nations rivals Italy.
Les Bleus are moving at a rapid rate towards being major contenders for their home tournament having been revitalised under new head coach Fabien Galthie.
He said: “We think the team will be ready for the competition. We think they are preparing their finest rugby for the World Cup. It’s going to be a tough group.
“We know that New Zealand is one of the favourites of each competition. They won three World Cups in history, so they are always dangerous. It’s going to be a big opponent for us, in front of our supporters, our family. It’s going to be a very exciting moment for us.”
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said: “World Cups are very special events and there are no such things as easy pools.
“To have France in our pool, I think it’s going to be very special. We’ve watched with admiration the way they are rebuilding their team.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments