While the introduction of the Round of 16 has lessened the jeopardy that was once at play in previous formats of the Rugby World Cup, as two-thirds of the original 24-team line-up will make the knockout stages, the way the World Rugby Men’s Rankings have worked out ensures there are plenty of intriguing permutations ahead of the RWC 2027 draw in Sydney on Wednesday, 3 December.

Australia, as hosts, haven’t been given any preferential treatment, they’re in Band 2, as the seventh-ranked team, but they will be drawn into Pool A. That is the only definite outcome in what is otherwise a completely random draw, which will see the 24 teams placed in six pools of four. But with one team from each of the four bands drawn in the same pool and those positions now ‘locked in’ (Wales’ game against South Africa next Saturday will not lead to a change of positions), it is possible to hazard a guess as to what might happen in nine days’ time.

Teams are placed in the four bands depending on their rankings at the end of this month, and South Africa are confirmed as the highest-ranked team in Band 1. And if they were joined by the top-ranked teams in the three remaining bands when the draw is conducted, you could end up with a scenario of three-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa (ranked 1 and top of Band 1) facing hosts and two-time winners Australia (ranked 7 and top of Band 2), Georgia (ranked 13 and top of Band 3) and Samoa (ranked 19 and top of Band 4). Talk about physicality!

Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA, Chile, Tonga
Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, Canada

South Africa and Australia have only met in the pool stages once before, the Springboks winning 27-18 in Cape Town on their way to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in their debut tournament appearance in 1995. The Springboks will fear no one and famously dusted themselves down from pool stages losses to New Zealand and Ireland to go on and win the last two Rugby World Cups.

On the flipside, if all the lowest-ranked teams were paired together in a pool, Argentina (ranked 6 and last in Band 1) would be joined by Japan (ranked 12 and last in Band 2), Tonga (ranked 18 and last in Band 3) and Canada (ranked 25 and last in Band 4).

Whatever happens some brand new rivalries are bound to be created and some old ones stoked up. And you can watch all the drama unfold live on RugbyPass TV at 09:00 GMT on 3 December.

The World Rugby Men’s Rankings Top 25

1 South Africa 93.94
2 New Zealand 90.33
3 England 89.41
4 Ireland 87.97
5 France 87.24
6 Argentina 84.97
—
7 Australia 81.53
8 Fiji 81.14
9 Scotland 80.22
10 Italy 78.99
11 Wales 74.24
12 Japan 74.09
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13 Georgia 73.18
14 Uruguay 69.19
15 Spain 69.01
16 USA 68.26
17 Chile 66.72
18 Tonga 66.66
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19 Samoa 66.43
20 Portugal 64.98
**21 Belgium** 62.32
22 Romania 61.50
23 Hong Kong China 59.61
24 Zimbabwe 58.80
25 Canada 58.75

*Have not qualified for RWC 2027