THE WORLD CUP DRAW IS A FARCE: Here's How It Should Look

The latest World Rankings have been released and it only hammers home how unfair the Pool Draw for the Rugby World Cup 2023 is. Surely common sense can prevail and we can avoid a repeat? Here's my thoughts...what are yours?

[@thottobot7444]

As a wales fan think it’s stupid we have such an easy route to the World Cup final compared to other teams. In this form we will still probably not make it out the pool but still would rather the draw be made later

[@EggchasersRugby]

Noble of you. England v Wales RWC Quarter Final doesn't feel like greatest quality compared to prospect of Ireland v France

[@galinor7]

That's true but remember that in the last world cup Wales were not only the only tier one nation to have a short turn around, they were the only one to have two. Which was horrendously unfair. So in the case of Wales it is a case of very bad draw plus a very good draw equals about on par.

[@Budge94]

Did someone ask for your opinion?

[@Budge94]

​@@galinor7Did someone ask for your opinion?

[@Wolfsong27FlyHalfFullHeart]

Im sorry but after how wales have faired currently in the six nations I think you need it

[@peterellis9105]

In Football the World Cup draw is normally made 6 months before the World Cup. Enough time to get logistics sorted out. Why Rugby done a draw based on rankings 3 years before the event is crazy.

[@ss2gora0]

It's a very stupid system indeed.

[@michele3649]

Yes, and the number of traveling fans are exponentially greater! I'd love to hear a breakdown of the reasoning behind this from World Rugby

[@cnoc500]

@@michele3649... Went the last time it was held in France, and advance knowledge of fixtures helped with travel/accommodation arrangements - not that I am defending the 18months scenario.

[@michele3649]

@@cnoc500 Okay, that does make sense, given the popularity of the place and the sport in France. I guess if it is so obvious to everyone, there must be a good reason...?

[@cnoc500]

@@michele3649 if I had my way France would host every RWC. Fully intend to head out again this year - albeit not for any games this time. Ticketing is out of control.

[@leeroylita637]

Great content Tim. I always wondered how the groups would have shaped up taking today's ranking into consideration.

[@nevanoshaughnessy2311]

Great vid ... Tim! It is a farce and grossly unfair to the teams currently performing and winning. I know there are logistics but it's not as if France and World Rugby haven't hosted or done this before. No stadiums need building, no hotels need building, tickets can be printed in a couple of days. Fans will travel regardless of short notice and one could argue that it would be better for fans as they would know their current financial status 6 months out rather than 3 years out .... the wife could be pregnant OR you could be 'broke' by the time it comes around!! LOL

[@Pearcewreck]

Good points Tim. My problem with RWC Draws is that Italy are always in the same pool as NZ, 7 out of 10 pools drawn so far. And Wales are almost always in the same pool as Australia, 5 out of 10.

[@napoleao3409]

No

[@judeandrew696]

Looks good to me as someone who bought tickets to watch England vs Uruguay in 2015 only to find that Wales and Australia had already put England out of their own World Cup by the time the match came round.

[@Theoriginaljagger]

Brutal as a Scotland fan. 🙃

[@EggchasersRugby]

It really is!

[@nolans11]

Numbers 1, 4 and 5 in the same group is absolutely ridiculous.

[@sand9374]

And as an Irish fan too

[@ciaranbrk]

Infuriating as an Irish fan

[@myoung7654]

The problem isn't just the pool draw. It is the fact that both teams coming out of pool A play pool B. In the football WC the 2 teams qualifying from a pool go into different halves of the knockout draw.

[@EggchasersRugby]

That's a GREAT shout

[@myoung7654]

@@EggchasersRugby Cheers mate, I was getting a bit frustrated that nobody seemed to have addressed it 👍

[@rob.1]

They do go into separate halves of the draw. They can't play each other again until the finals. QF1 is Winner C V Runner up D. QF2 is Winner B V Runner up A. QF3 is Winner D V Runner up C. QF4 is Winner A V Runner up B. Winner QF1 V Winner QF2 Winner QF3 V Winner QF4

[@myoung7654]

@@rob.1 thanks for the clarification. Still a bit different to football (when 4 pools) where WA v RUB and RUA v W3 or 4.

[@Gilescowdemdem]

Was having this conversation over the weekend. Couldn't contain my frustration at how blindingly dumb it was to do the draw so early.

[@Budge94]

Did someone ask for your opinion?

[@Gilescowdemdem]

@@Budge94 yep, he literally said in the video he'd love to hear our opinions. Great work being a bot though

[@wattiewatt]

I think you're spot-on with this. The draw based on today's rankings looks fantastic. The actual draw has produced farcical groupings. Football can manage to do it better, so why can't Rugby?

[@richard-king-]

Use the rankings from the end of the Rugby Championship in the year prior to the World Cup (e.g. 2022). Do the draw at the World player of the year ceremony that year, after the November games.

[@limmeh7881]

I just watched the Ireland v Scotland 6N game where Ireland lost their no. 8, 2 hookers and 13. No. 7 threw into the lineout and from out of nowhere the substitute tighthead prop filled in the hooker role in the scrum. I've been supporting Ireland for years and this last one surprised me especially. We had no right to win that, but imagining that this could happen in the world cup against a consistent stream of tough opposition doesn't fill me with much confidence.

[@Nyealator03]

Those revised groups for the RWC based off current/ more recent standings looks so much more exciting!

[@markalexwhite]

The result being that the better teams win tougher matches early on but aren't as strong in the later stages as the teams who came through their groups rather more easily!

[@stoner1916]

Again I'm new enough to rugby, but all sports have things we'd like to change about them. But one thing that sticks out for me with rugby that i can't get my head around. In pool games a player like say Antino in the Ireland and France game. He commits a foul against Ireland, gets away with it on the day, he's banned for three games so Ireland's opponents don't have to play against as strong a team as Ireland did. Then his replacement gets banned during the Scotland game, giving France's next opponents an easier task with a third choice player being the best available to France. Surely this will be a factor in the WC for the higher ranked teams who have to play their best teams to beat other high ranked teams, the ones that get through to the semi finals will have a higher chance of top players being banned or injured. I imagine that this would be more significant for countries that have good teams but not great reserves in the squad, Scotland or Ireland for example.

[@benhicks9481]

Surely the draw's best place is after the autumn international games the year before a world cup is held. Those autumn internationals would then have greater importance as they almost become what seeding a nation could gain/lose.

[@fredperry523]

Australia have the best route through to the knockouts and I'm sure with the 'new' coach and a talented team have a good reason to show up some of the higher ranked teams - I expect them to do really well this RWC. They are quietly just getting themselves ready for that QF and always have a history of coming good at the RWC.

[@robertjohnston5915]

I’m, England have the easiest draw?

[@noway22573]

Australian rugby absolutely sux and I'm an Aussie. Many have turned against it because of the WOKEY way it has been run. I'm supporting Tonga because of Israel Folau.

[@calmacmcc6949]

As a Scots man as much as I'm loving our Rugby South Africa and Ireland in the pool of death is grim as fuck

[@readesiun988]

I'm Irish and could not agree more, the amount of effort and Injuries just to get to the QF will be totally unfair, compared to Australia and England's easy route. The whole draw is a farse,

[@GGdeTOURS37]

WOAAAA! TY for the info and for your honest spirit (as England fan). You can also imagine my astonishment (as France fan)! My God! And also it's sad for the show!

[@jasonwall5012]

The draw should be made a year out from the tournament, that's ample time to organise things. All teams should be qualified for the world cup, before the draw is done. So, the draw should have been done in 2022, and all teams should have been qualified. No excuse...

[@dominicjohnson5352]

Your commentary is 100% spot on . A year should be plenty of time to prepare for the World Cup. The teams all know they are going to the World Cup and when it is and where it is. So they may play a different team then they were expecting - big deal. I can't think of another World Cup that calls the draw so early. Is it what works for the logistics managers or what works for fans that is important? For example imagine we end up with an Australia V NZ final like in 2015. Australia would be there having only beaten Wales, Argentina and England (positions 10, 8 and 6 in the rankings) versus NZ who will need to have beaten France, Ireland and South Africa (positions one, two and four respectively). Frankly its ridiculous - any team in Pools C and D are gifted with an easy run to the quarters if not the finals, and will play a team exhausted by playing and winning at least 3 games against teams ranked in the top 5 in the world.....

[@expressoevangelism80]

Would it not make sense to help to get the ceding more accurately by making the draw the year before the finals.

[@TheKgv1]

Great Video Tim, If you can Sketch out a fair draw for this upcoming global Rugby Event, you have to ask yourself what does world Rugby do exactly 24/7??

[@EggchasersRugby]

Bonkers isn't it

[@craigholmes475]

Brilliant mate ! 100% common sense ! You delivered without any bias as your own team benefits from this ! Yours truly Scotland fan and nervous 😂

[@long-shotlouie]

I'm a Wales fan and regardless of when or how the draw is done, I'm just sick of playing the exact same teams. This is the 3rd World Cup in a row we've had Australia and Fiji at the group stage and at this point I don't care if we're drawn with New Zealand and South Africa in some sort of colossal group of death, I just want something different. Above all, please take Fiji off us for a while. It's actually the 5th consecutive tournament we've had them in our group (which seems insane) and they're big and scary and good and we're sick of picking up 8 injuries against them early in the tournament so that other teams don't have to.

[@georgekiblor8240]

😂 I understand you totally

[@sonofagalwayman6553]

The All Blacks stand tall, with pride in their eyes A team of warriors, fearless and wise They've trained and fought, through trials and pain To bring the World Cup home again Their skill on the field is unmatched by all A force to be reckoned with, standing tall Their passion and drive, an unwavering flame Will lead them to victory, and bring them fame Their tactics are flawless, their strategy sound Each player a hero, on this hallowed ground Their fans stand behind them, with hearts full of hope Their faith in this team, they'll never revoke So let the battle begin, let the world watch in awe As the All Blacks dominate, without a single flaw For they are the champions, the best of the best And on this day, they'll rise above the rest With every try, with every hit and tackle The All Blacks will triumph, they will not buckle For they are the warriors, the legends of the game And they'll bring the World Cup home again.

[@johannblignaut1966]

Springbok fan but love your passion and poem.

[@RobWrinkle]

Not this time. Bring on Razor!

[@daigeorge9797]

I just want acompletely random pools. Id love to see a pool of NZ, Australia , england, Ireland and france. And one with fiji, tonga, japan, georgia and canada

[@laoch5658]

as an Irishman in my opinion the number 1 team are the world champions and thats South Africa

[@ip3948]

Another good vid Tim. Can we have an early Lions match day 23 pick for rest week? Would be interesting to see how many English and Welsh players would actually make the starting list.

[@Straightdeal]

Your argument 100% correct. The current pools are ridiculous. You won't get the best going through. To have used 2021 would have been perfect.

[@MrJammydodger1995]

Question: have they changed the structure since 2011, because France and NZ played each other in the pools and then the final? But that doesn’t seem possible now? Same happened 2007RWC. It would seem fairer that way as both sides of the pools will meet each other so will balance out

[@josderbos9571]

I think the cut off should be after the autumn internationals of the year before the World Cup I.e November 2026. Use that autumn international break to ensure the top 12 only play each other to also push their rankings

[@joelhungerford8388]

So after the southern hemisphere teams have to play away to northern hemisphere sides, how is that fair. They should be done after the RC, both the south and the north hemispheres rugby tournaments

[@tonylittle3508]

Yeah those 1/4 final teams at the top look like the teams that should be in the semis, barring a 1/4 final upset. I really do not see why the logistics cannot be sorted in the 6 to 9 months before the cup begins. As it is, a team like Australia could get to the final, and face a team that has really taken a battering from two brutal games.

[@buffychico]

Great Blog & in my opinion I agree entirely that making the draw late 2019 had made the draw ridiculous based on the last two years.

[@IrishInsomniac76]

This is the only case where I would borrow the approach from FIFA. They did the draw for the 2022 World Cup on April 1st 2022 so 7 months in advance. The FIFA World Cup is much bigger than the RWC. More teams, more fans, bigger logistical headaches and they still manage it. World Rugby needs to wake up to the fast moving dynamics of the sport these days. It's no longer the same teams at the top for years on end so drawing years in advance is idiotic with no merit. Why have they not made a statement on this matter when the fans are crying out for a better approach? Listen to the fans, World Rugby!!! The quality of your primary source of revenue and growth of the sport is at stake for the sake of something that is so easy to fix.

[@rabbitss11]

If England can muster two really good games back to back they could win this RWC, unlikely as that may be it' still a distinct possibility. Meanwhile two of the top 4 teams could find themselves out in the QF's - not he best arrangements

[@rugbyfan9225]

I think most nations, hopefully all, would trade in a year or two of logistical planning for a fairer World Cup draw. Drawing three or four years early is ludicrous.

[@microwavefish]

As an Irish fan, getting knocked out in a QF again, given where we are right now, would suck.

[@PlayingDownUnder]

Same boat as you. Australia are laughin'!

[@TheSebmiester]

Great assessment. I think World rugby need to really get there act together. Rugby has gone up a level recently. I mean look at the six nations right now, it’s crazy!!! Great gameplay, huge athletes etc…another thing wrong is the law. I mean they change every year what you can do in the ruck, nothing is thought through…you get under the impression that some teams are aloud to put their hands in, others get penalised every time wtf? Some people are allowed do dive in rucks but others not. You can get a card for an unintentional high tackle but if you don’t whine about it’s as if nothing ever happened. I could go on for a while. We need to clarify law ! And be more regular between referees!

[@maverick4177]

You have to beat everyone in front of you to be a World Cup winner, whoever that is This isn’t football, there’s no way to cheat your way to a win

[@Dreyno]

Or, the best teams rip each other to shreds and go into the latter stages tired and riddled with injuries meaning a team who aren’t as good cruise to the final and pick them off due to being well rested and injury free.

[@kyleduplooy5341]

Leaving the draw too late opens the door for teams to intentionally go down in the rankings for a favorable draw, meaning poor quality rugby during the years after a world cup. It might seem really morally wrong etc ... But you never no given the tactics people will abuse to meet their own ends. Just a thought

[@rugbyfan9225]

Rugby needs the support of its fans too much to warrant doing that. At least I would hope.

[@Trajan2401]

They wouldn't stoop to that level just for a better placing NZ etc losing a game on purpose?No chance

[@expressoevangelism80]

The state of the draw should not be our main concern. We should ensure that we have the best national team available. In order to play at it’s most efficient and exciting potential. Therefore no matter whoever they might face, they will show a good account of themselves, and everyone is happy.😀

[@davidanderson4091]

Ludicrous!. The RWC draw should be made once the rankings are known at the conclusion of the Six-Nations, which is usually in mid-March, giving a lead time of six to seven months into the tournament, which is usually held sometime from September to November.

[@richarddykes8550]

There is no perfect system, even the time of year in which it played, it could be argued, puts some countries at a disadvantage. To stick up for Wales I do believe that Covid has had a major effect on the game, alongside the problems of the WRU. I think Wales are better than their recent results.

[@michaelmccarthy9411]

This is not the first time. It's always skewed in England's favour

[@calmacmcc6949]

Fair play m8 I looked at those draws and thought England got a gift

[@MW73107]

You can only do it at the end of a year when all the the teams have finished their comps July and November tours. Doing it mid season doesn’t make sense either.

[@EggchasersRugby]

End of 2021. Halfway between last world cup and next RWC

[@catchepicair]

The FIFA World Cup groups were announced on April 1st 2022, 7.5 months ahead. The logistics thing is nonsense. The organisers can books hotels to block them out and assign after the draw is made.

[@Harry-fc5qd]

I totally agree with YOUR draw. The current draw is a sham & total load of crap.!!!

[@johnharris4474]

I just found this video Tim , Just shows ho0w balanced & sensible rugby pundit you are . The Ireland v NZ & France v S africa, are all finals (quartefinals ????? crazy....) John (NZ)

[@ukkbiguy]

Excellent and well reasoned as usual

[@ljw5768]

With all the Wales players wondering if they’d have jobs after the six nations, I suspect their performances weren’t reflective of their actual potential in RWC.

[@hippo5346]

Yes , its tough on some teams , and should have been drawn later , but we`ll still have some great games , hopefully an upset or two , and the best team will win in the end !

[@louisixlefourbe8075]

The truh is nodoby was expecting to see so many teams to be at the higher level

[@EggchasersRugby]

Fair point. It does seem it was fairly easily avoidable though.

[@louisixlefourbe8075]

@@EggchasersRugby not totally agree since we do not have enough good teams to make more pools. Also there's a problem about making more matches with more teams. But it's true that the WR ranking is fucked up. The 6 and 4 nations ranking should be the one used (with why not, a ranking balanced with an overall average of the 4 tournaments played between WCs)

[@VitaKino]

I think the pools are pretty well spread out. The pools usually look the same, so this time its a nice mix up. At the end of the day the best team will win the world cup.

[@user-rv4go7ry3v]

Disagree. Current approach increases the chance for one of the final 8 being a high performing non-top 8 country to make quarters. Why have the top 10 make up all World Cup finals. Boring. Also; a tough pool makes the tournament exciting

[@kevincuckow]

Pretty much no difference between 19 and 21. Just Ireland. However, logistics.. it's no different than booking a holiday. Choose rankings from this Autumn when both hemispheres have played.. football and cricket don't have problems making the draw a few months before..

[@cnoc500]

Like football, it's all about protecting the "big boys". 3 of the World's Top 5 teams in the same Pool is farcical.

[@jimfullam5807]

At the semi final stage - the draw flips. So it would poss be Winner A vs Winner D. Then B vs C. So first match likely to be Eng vs French or NZ.

[@stevetimmons5089]

The top 5 teams are all on the same side of the draw in terms of pools (A and B) but not in the single elimination bracket. They do get split up in the quarterfinals, right? I believe the top half of the bracket is winner C v runner up D and winner B vs Runner up A. I'm not disagreeing with moving the draw up by any means but its not as bad as all 4 of those teams having to fight it out on 1 side of the draw.

[@gillmore1830]

My question is, what if the ranking stayed the same as was in 2019, or it happened that fiji, namibia, itally, georgia and wales occupied the top 5 rankings currently, if you want to be the best you must beat the best, cause when you make it otherwise, those smaller nations will complain too, infact it's good to put the lower ranked nations one side of the draw to give them a chance of at least making it in the semi finals, Go Bokke

[@zawalters2156]

If you want to be the best you have to beat the best at every step

[@guillaumeshearmur656]

France and New Zealand (and any other teams) should not be able to meet each other in the pool stage and the knockout rounds. The way it's organised is rubbish.

[@brianmoran1196]

Australia could make it to the final easily and meet a battered NZ,IRE,FRA or SA...not what the fans want...why not generate the groups from the world rankings as they stand six months before the World Cup?

[@user-keepitreal420]

A year out is best. What can't be planned in 365 days x

[@mrgabagoo580]

In fairness, from the perspective of creating well balanced, competitive match ups for the quarters and semis, it's worked out quite well. However, it does seem likely to produce a potentially serious mismatch in the final with a top team against a much lower ranked team.

[@ljtheman7875]

Draw is a disgrace this is why they should do the draw a year before the world cup and then after that make tickets available

[@Irish780]

I absolutely agree why in gods name do they a bloody decision over a year out from they world Cup absolutely madness

[@_Justin_Case]

Looks like the Springboks were always bound for a tough group either way.

[@A-world-of-My-Own]

I think we all want what is best for Rugby, and future of the game for the greater good. To the benefit of world rugby at this tournament.

[@bremCZ]

Let's be honest though. The world rankings don't mean anything today anyway. Any of the tier 1 teams could beat any of the others on any day.

[@pv-mm2or]

The draw decisions should be made on team performances averaged over the previous 2 years, straight forward rankings divided into 4 groups. this is a system that favours no one, what you see is what you get! The rankings should Not! be decided by the administrative body, their job is to make the games happen! not decide arbitrarily who plays who. If the load is to much for them then they should retire and let those who can, do the job!

[@joanlarkin7808]

England big winners when early on Ireland or New Zealand are out. Will lead to an unfair semi final no matter what rugby is played on the field. Will leave the world cup holders questionable worth winners immense damage to the competition they must change it even at this late date.

[@EggchasersRugby]

I think it should be changed for future competitions. Fans have bought tickets, TV broadcasters have bought broadcast rights...can't change now unfortunately

[@ShireenDaniels-vq9fb]

This World Cup draw is to eliminate Southern Hemisphere domination of World Cup. They can't do it on field now they try to do it in the boardroom

[@Norwhally]

Money considerations prioritised above the rugby.

[@MrEagleDragon]

All those years of planning and preparation yet World Rugby couldn't even come up with a contingency plan when the typhoon hit Tokyo in 2019. The draw for the FIFA World Cup takes place 7 months before the tournament actually starts. So any argument in regards to planning, preparation, logistics etc do not wash. Three years is a long time in sport. The end of 2022 after the Autumn Internationals would have been a perfect time to conduct the draw. This would incentivise the qualified teams to fight for a higher seeding in the run up to the draw. Criticisms of the early draw was raised in the 2015 tournament when England, Wales & Australia were drawn together, but this appears to have fallen on deaf ears. As much as I want Wales to do well, I admit we don't deserve anything higher than a 3rd seed, let alone a top one. What happens if we finish fourth place in our pool missing out on automatic qualification for 2027?? This is perfectly feasible based on our current form. I am assuming then we would have to qualify as Europe 1, therefore not even featuring in the draw taking place in late 2024. Another lopsided pool of death? Under this scenario though I imagine that the WRU will lobby World Rugby to delay the draw until Wales qualify or even change the goalposts to allow automatic qualification for the top 4 teams, and not just the top 3. World Rugby is just as corrupt as FIFA.

[@rorykeegan1895]

Making a draw 4 years in advance is just stupid ... Being hopeless at logistics is not a good reason to ruin the competition at all.

[@kreepieters8439]

No, it is all about being able to beat all.

[@robertjohnston5915]

RnglNd are the major beneficiaries of the draw?

[@robertjohnston5915]

England

[@betchaanbetjane7045]

Surely the best team should be the winner, to be that you have to beat the other teams, failing to see what the issue is. If you are one of the weaker nations you aren’t going to win it in any case so learn from the experience

[@GravyDog]

The clever teams haven't begun to find their best form yet. Ireland have peaked too early. Gosh. Some teams have only just decided on a coach.

[@AxelDejean1]

Don’t see why the rankings couldn’t be drawn at the end of 2022 or even after the 2022 rugby championship. Logistics I understand but there’s still enough time to plan ahead IMO

[@Trajan2401]

Its amazing how England keep getting easy draws in world cups not just in rugby either

[@mackem9873]

I agree and disagree we have won a World Cup In every sport it can’t be Just luck ?

[@MeanAzz_13]

​@@mackem9873 not in every sport lol

[@mackem9873]

@@MeanAzz_13 rugby, football and cricket, the only ones people care about but ur right we’re shite at ice hockey

[@MeanAzz_13]

@@mackem9873 and rugby league and softball and netball and basketball

[@nalindesilva4736]

As of the draw, only one team is plying in the finals among best five teams.

[@fcknoise]

How incredible would it be to see Georgia in the quarter finals though

[@NegativeAccelerate]

It would be incredibly unfair if it means teams who are better than Georgia didnt get to the quarter finals. But in fairness, if Georgia beat Australia Wales or Fiji, It would be exciting.

[@IvanWizard-Karl]

The draw should be done at the end of the 6 nations, the year of the tournament

[@joatmofa0405]

World.rugby's Beaumont does not reflect the passion of rugby at the moment. It resembles an old man's private club of yesteryear.

[@peadarr]

There’s no reason to do the draw more than a year out from the World Cup. You’re not even allowed book flights that early And as for fairness, Portugal only booked their spot in November 22. Why aren’t they given the time to plan like everyone else?

[@TonyODonnell]

Covid had no bearing on giving rankings in world rugby and therefore shouldn't have had an effect on the WRC, but it is always skewd for Commercial reasons.

[@justRedDevil]

So NZ, Ireland, SA or France will have an easier final than quater final 😳

[@EggchasersRugby]

Mad isn't it. Mad but true

[@aaronreid116]

One of them will more than likely meet again in the final🤷‍♂️

[@justRedDevil]

@@aaronreid116 They can't. They're on the same branch to the final.

[@aaronreid116]

@Brian yeah you're right.. sorry, I thought it crosses over for the semis. What a bummer!

[@Camcolito]

@@aaronreid116 They do cross over in the semis as far as I can see from the RWC site.

[@chrisbossman1978]

It is a farce, in no universe should the current Welsh team even make it out of their group, never mind stand a chance of getting to a WC semi final. England are maybe slightly better, but they should be happy with a Quarter final exit on current form, teams like South Africa, Ireland, France and NZ should be the top four fighting it out in the semi's, with potentially Scotland and Australia in the mix as well

[@bluestuable]

world rugby look very stupid for doing the draw so far ahead. Additionally, it reflects badly on the integrity of the tournament having wales as top seed in a group when they have dropped so far in the rankings, and world rugby know this could happen.

[@Nautilus1972]

The draw doesn't make a bad team better. The cream will rise.

[@grahammccready2647]

why are logistics a problem the football world cup seem to manage with teams qualifying only a few months ahead. The venues and games are decided it is just who is playing that is the question.

[@haydenharrington4777]

The football world cup does the draw 7/8 months before the World Cup and manages the logistics with 32 teams. I’m pretty sure they could do the draw at the end of the year before it, very easily. It’s only in France, not like it’s being held across multiple countries. Absolute farce and spoils what should be world rugby showcase event! Yet they shoot themselves in the foot!

[@ChrisBrown-or8ky]

Forgetting all the logic for a minute, how much fun/crazy are these pools and QFs going to be to watch?!

[@Camcolito]

Rugby fans, world's slowest organizers apparently.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Haha. Fair.

[@Simonmoke71]

And so is the game.

[@archierch0463]

1:05 Not semi final as it’s done so you can’t make someone from your pool till the final but it’s still bad

[@stephenjefferies5101]

I blame Gatland for all this. Hes made everything look bad. If he'd stayed with Wales you wouldnt have this mismatch