The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw held last week in Sydney produced a good result for England, mainly because Wales, their main rivals in Pool F, are going through a rough period.
They are 11th in the world rankings, having lost 20 of 22 Tests since the 2023 World Cup, and will head into the 2026 Six Nations hoping to avoid a third successive wooden spoon.
The other pool bonus for England is that their other opponents, Tonga (18th) and Zimbabwe in (24th), are far lower in the world rankings than Wales.
However, it is still a stretch to look forward two years in advance of the tournament and pre…