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Rugby World Cup 2023: England draw Japan; Wales to face Australia; Ireland and Scotland get South Africa

England get Japan and Argentina in Pool D; Scotland and Ireland to face the Springboks in Pool B; Wales will play Australia and Fiji in a repeat of the 2019 draw; France and All Blacks in Pool A along with Italy

By Keith Moore

Monday 14 December 2020 16:59, UK

George Ford of England celebrates after scoring a try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group C game between England and Argentina at Tokyo Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Image: England topped their pool in Japan last year and beat the Wallabies and the All Blacks in the knockout stages, but fell at the final hurdle in Tokyo

England have been drawn alongside Japan and Argentina for the Rugby World Cup 2023, while Ireland and Scotland will face defending champions South Africa.

Hosts France will face the All Blacks and Italy in Pool A, and Wales will play against Australia and Fiji in Pool C in a repeat of the 2019 World Cup pool stage draw.

It's a tough draw in Pool B. Ireland were victims of the 'pool of death' in 2007 and last year Scotland were dumped out at the pool stages after losing to Ireland and hosts Japan.

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 22: Ireland players celebrate after the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Ireland and Scotland at International Stadium Yokohama on September 22, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Image: Ireland finished second in their pool at the last World Cup, losing to New Zealand in the quarter-finals

Japan's reward for progressing to the knockouts in the 2019 tournament was to be seeded in the second band for the draw. The Brave Blossoms won't fear Eddie Jones' side after beating Ireland and Scotland in the last edition, while Argentina will be a game Japan will target as must-win if they are to all-but-guarantee progression into the knockout stage in 2023. It is the second consecutive tournament that England will face the Pumas in the group stage.

Incredibly, it is the fifth consecutive tournament where Wales will face Fiji in the group stage, and the third World Cup in a row where they will face the Wallabies in the group stage.

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Wales' players react after Wales' back row Ross Moriarty scored a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Wales and France at the Oita Stadium in Oita on October 20, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Wales finished fourth at the last World Cup in Japan

Hosts France were in the second band for the draw, and have been handed the three-time champions New Zealand. The two nations have served up some of the best matches in World Cup history, including 1999 when the French came from behind in the semi-finals to win, and in the 2007 quarter-finals where they sent the All Blacks crashing out in their worst World Cup showing to date.

The French have been revitalised under new head coach Fabien Galthie and have been moving at a rapid rate towards being major contenders in three years.

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French President Emmanuel Macron was present at the draw and said: "We cannot wait to get ready for this event. In 2023, it will be 12 years since we last reached the final.

Scotland's Finn Russell looks on during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Japan and Scotland at International Stadium Yokohama on October 13, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Image: Scotland were dumped out of the last World Cup in the pool stages

"But this time it will be at home so you (the team) figure out a way of winning the Cup. France also reached the finals of 1987 and 1999 continuing the 12-year cycle.

"The COVID-19 crisis is terrible. In 2023, we want to offer what France can offer: the French way of life - friendliness, gastronomy, parties and culture."

Rugby World Cup 2023 pools

Pool A

New Zealand
France
Italy
Americas 1
Africa 1

France's centre Arthur Retiere (C) celebrates with teammates after winning the Six Nations rugby union tournament match between France and Ireland at the stade de France, in Saint Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 31, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Hosts France have been drawn alongside three-time champions New Zealand

Pool B

South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Asia/Pacific 1
Europe 2

rwc
Image: The Springboks are defending champions after beating England in the final in Tokyo last year

Pool C

Wales
Australia
Fiji
Europe 1
Final Qualifier Winner

Australia celebrate scoring a try against the All Blacks
Image: Australia face Wales in the pool stages for the third consecutive tournament

Pool D

England
Japan
Argentina
Oceania 1
Americas 2

Japan players celebrate their third try of the first half against Scotland
Image: Japan were the darlings of the last World Cup, progressing to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history

Due to the impact of coronavirus on the international calendar, the draw was based on the rankings on January 1, with South Africa, England, New Zealand and Wales in the first band.

Ireland, Australia, France and Japan were in the second band, and Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy in the third band.

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