The Springboks have been drawn alongside the All Blacks in Pool B for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan following Tuesday’s draw in Kyoto.

The Boks will also play against Italy in the pool stages, as well as a yet-to-be-determined Africa 1 team and the Repechage winner.

The final eight teams will only be confirmed following the continental qualification process, which will only be fully completed in November 2018.

It will be the first World Cup hosted by Japan and it will be the first time that the All Blacks and the Boks will meet in the pool stages of a World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 2019 pools:

Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, Playoff 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

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England surely in toughest pool

England have been drawn with France and Argentina in a tough Pool C for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Scotland and Ireland are in Pool A, alongside the hosts.

Wales will face Australia in a repeat of the 2015 tournament, where both sides beat hosts England to qualify from the group stage, while Georgia join them in Pool D.

The World Cup runs from 20 September to 2 November 2019.

“It’s massively exciting, a unique country and unique culture,” said England head coach Eddie Jones, who led Japan at the last World Cup.

England face Argentina in two Tests in June with Jones saying they can “practise a little bit” against the Pumas.

Speaking about England’s Pool C opponent, Jones added: “France have really improved over the past two years and are certainly a dangerous team.”

England failed to advance from their “group of hell” in 2015, becoming the first hosts to exit before the knockout stage.

The 12 teams who automatically qualified by finishing in the top three of their groups at the last World Cup have been drawn.

The eight remaining teams have had their slots allocated and will be determined by the qualification process that ends in 2018.

England have also drawn the top North and South America qualifier [either USA or Canada], as well as the second-best Oceania qualifier, which will be one of Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.

England head coach Eddie Jones: “We want to win the World Cup in 2019, and to win it, we need to be ready to play and beat anyone.

“Our pool will be highly competitive and full of intensity, as a World Cup group should be. History shows that you need to win seven games to win the tournament and we will greatly respect every team we play.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “Obviously there’s an excitement as well playing the host nation and it probably guarantees a sell-out game in that fixture and I’m sure there will be a lot of buzz around Japan around the group we’re involved in.

“Whether it’s better for us or Ireland that we know each other so well, we will find out in a couple of years’ time.”

Ireland vice-captain Jamie Heaslip: “Getting to avoid South Africa, France and Wales, that’s a big thing for us.

“We’re happy with it, there are some tougher groups, but you’ve seen what Japan have done in the past 18 months and Scotland we’ve struggled with as well.”

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: “We’ve got Australia and it looks like we could get Fiji again, so a couple of teams from 2015 but we’re happy with the draw.

“It’s going to be tough and competitive, but that’s what you want.”

England could face Wales in quarters

World rugby have confirmed the structure for the knockout stages of the 2015 tournament will remain in place in 2019.

Winners of Pool B would face runners up in Pool A

Winners of Pool C would face runners up in Pool D

Winners of Pool D would face runners up in Pool C

Winners of Pool A would face runners up in Pool B

Teams who played each other in the pool stages also cannot meet again in the semi-finals.

So England and Wales could meet in the quarter-finals, with the winner potentially facing a semi-final against New Zealand. The All Blacks could face either Ireland or Scotland in the quarter-finals.

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