Future Rugby World Cup draws could be held nearer tournament
Tuesday 18 August 2015 22:25, UK
Future draws for the Rugby World Cup could be held nearer the start of the tournament to avoid another 'pool of death' scenario.
Tournament bosses are keen to avoid a repeat of the 2015 draw - held nearly three years ago - which sees hosts England up against Australia, Wales and Fiji.
England, Australia and Wales would all usually expect to reach a World Cup quarter-final without great threat, with Fiji dangerous outsiders, but only two teams can qualify from Pool A at next month's competition.
The seedings for World Cup pool draws are based on world rankings at the time, and Wales' winless November in 2012 had a big hand in the creation of such a daunting line-up.
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper admitted that holding the 2015 World Cup pool draw in December 2012 "did seem a long way out", and the game's governing body will attempt to delay the draw for the 2019 World Cup in Japan for as long as possible.
"It's under discussion, it's not been determined yet," said Gosper of the 2019 draw. "What's important is all the teams know when it happens and they can plan accordingly and play their games accordingly.
"We're going to review what the ideal timing is. We would endeavour to make it a bit later but nothing's been decided at this point."
Hosts England kick-off their World Cup campaign by hosting Fiji at Twickenham on Friday, September 18, with Australia and Wales both also offering severe threats.
England know full well any slip-ups will mean early elimination and red faces when as hosts they ought to be plotting their course to the competition's latter stages.
Australia at world No 3, England as the fifth-best side and Wales the ninth were all drawn from different pots, and eventually mixed together.
"It did seem a long way out," said Gosper of the 2015 draw. "You want it to be a true reflection, I guess, of the position at the time of the tournament.
"You've got to balance the proximity of the tournament with all of the planning that goes into it.
"We'll look at that next time to see if it's possible to make that draw closer to the tournament."
