Rugby World Cup 2027 draw made as England's route to glory becomes clear - The Mirror

England have been drawn in a group with Wales for the Rugby World Cup in 2027 with New Zealand or South Africa among their possible opponents should they reach the final

England have been drawn into a pool with Wales at the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and have dodged world champions South Africa until the final.

The newly expanded tournament features a Round of 16 for the first time, but England have missed out on taking on one of the best third place teams and will instead face the runner-up of Pool B in the knockout stages, should they top Pool F, which they will be favourites to do.

If Steve Borthwick's side do successful negotiate a Pool that includes Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe then they will likely face Italy. The Italians are in Pool B with world champions South Africa.

Come the last eight England are perhaps likely to face Australia. The hosts are in a Pool with the All Blacks and will be tipped to finish second. That would likely lead to a knockout game with Japan, which they'd be expected to win.

Should the English negotiate that, which will be no easy feat with the Wallabies drawing on home advantage, then a semi-final with Argentina or Ireland is likely to be on the cards.

New Zealand, South Africa and France have all been drawn on the opposite side of the knockouts, meaning England will only have to face one of them if they do want to lift the trophy. An All Blacks-Springboks quarter-final is on the cards if both teams keep on winning.

England have made at least the semi-finals of the past two World Cups. Few fancied them heading into 2023, when Borthwick was less than a year into his job and they'd endured a poor preparation, but an impressive win over Argentina helped them top the group.

They beat Fiji in the last eight and threatened to cause a huge shock in the semi-finals against South Africa. England led 15-6 in the second-half but the Springboks eventually pegged them back, kicking a penalty in the final minutes to win by a single point.

Back in 2019 England downed New Zealand and Australia to reach the final under Eddie Jones, but it was South Africa who beat them in emphatic fashion in Japan.

Looking ahead to 2027, England's impressive autumn leaves them with an 11-match winning run as Borthwick's side click into gear. A statement victory over the All Blacks underlined the team's credentials and they are being talked up as genuine contenders.

Of course the last time the Rugby World Cup was held in Australia it was England who triumphed under Sir Clive Woodward. They remain the only Northern Hemisphere nation to claim the William Webb Ellis trophy.

Rugby World Cup 2027 draw

Group A

New Zealand

Australia

Chile

Hong Kong China

Group B

South Africa

Italy

Georgia

Romania

Group C

Argentina

Fiji

Spain

Canada

Group D

Ireland

Scotland

Uruguay

Portugal

Group E

France

Japan

USA

Samoa

Group F

England

Wales

Tonga

Zimbabwe