Change for Rugby World Cup draw

[KenyaQuin]

Change for Rugby World Cup draw

4th July 2008, 9:15 WST

The draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will be held in London on December 1 and will be based for the first time on current world rankings.

Tournament chief executive Martin Snedden said today that the 20 teams competing in the tournament will be divided in four pools of five with the top 12 teams at the time of the draw earning automatic qualification.

“For the first time ... the seedings and the pools will be constructed around..

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[Thequeerone]

RB World Rankings - 30 June 2008Position (last week) Member Union Rating Point
1(1) RSASOUTH AFRICA 90.81
2(2) NZLNEW ZEALAND 89.79
3(4) AUSAUSTRALIA 84.56
4(3) ARGARGENTINA 83.42
5(5) ENGENGLAND 83.16
6(6) WALWALES 80.12
7(7) FRAFRANCE 79.24
8(8) IREIRELAND 77.18
9(9) SCOSCOTLAND 76.92
10(10) FJIFIJI 76.77
11(11) ITAITALY 75.57
12(12) SAMSAMOA 72.35
13(14) GEOGEORGIA 69.43
14(15) CANCANADA 68.81
15(13) TGATONGA 68.52
16(16) JPNJAPAN 67.57
17(17) ROMROMANIA 67.20
18(18) RUSRUSSIA 63.94
19(19) URUURUGUAY 63.69
20(20) USAUSA 63.11

So 4 groups would mean that the NO Northern Hemisphere Team looks like leading a group ! How things have changed

[beige]

This is gonna sound like sacrilege coming from me but I hope Asia loses it's automatic qualifying spot. At the moment, Japan dominates the Asian qualifiers without even having to try and then gets smashed at World Cup time. Making them earn their spot in an extra round of qualifying would force them to get their act together quick smart.

[Thequeerone]

They are hoping to have Jimmy Hilgendorf playing for them by RWC so I'm guessing they must have some more notables on their books as well

[slomo]

can't wait.....

[TOCC]

this is a good thing, hopefully Australia maintains there ranking leading into 2011..

It is crazy that in the past the pools have being based on the previous RWC final placings. A lot of things can change in 4 years.

[James]

It is crazy that in the past the pools have being based on the previous RWC final placings. A lot of things can change in 4 years.

Yeah but a lot can happen in three too. Its just really hard what with having to book venues and stuff and sort out all the fixturing.

[jargan83]

even FIFA do their fixtures in advance. They just do it as A1 vs A2, B1 vs B3 etc and just draw teams into each slot when all qualifing is complete.
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