Boks-All Blacks collide in RWC pool stage
The Springboks were drawn with holders New Zealand and Italy at the Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool Allocation Draw, which took place in Kyoto, Japan.
South Africa is one of five teams in Pool B for the 2019 tournament, which will take place in Japan in two years’ time.
The Boks and All Blacks have clashed four times in Rugby World Cups before, with two victories each – South Africa won the Final in 1995 (15-12) and the bronze medal match in 1999 (22-18), while New Zealand came out tops in the quarter-final in 2003 (29-9) and the semi-final in 2015 (20-18).
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee attended the draw at the Kyoto State Guest House along with representatives from the other 11 qualified teams and said afterwards he was satisfied with the pool allocation.
“As I said before the draw was made – to us it doesn't matter who we are drawn against, because to win the Rugby World Cup, you have to beat the best teams out there,” said Coetzee.
“The pools consist of five teams each and history shows that you need to win at least three of your four pool matches to be sure of a place in the play-offs. We will focus on our journey towards the RWC 2019 and make sure we are ready and well prepared.
“We’ve been working hard since arriving back from the 2016 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to ensure improved results from now on forward, with the Rugby World Cup on the distant horizon.
“If ever there was testimony that the gap between the top teams have closed, then we saw that at the over the past few months in the Northern Hemisphere. With New Zealand established as the number one side, there is also very little to choose between the top sides in the world, while the next batch of teams continue to improve.”
Rugby World Cup 2019 Pools:
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, Oceania 1, Americas 2