Springboks, All Blacks in Group B

Cheika is en route to Japan for Wednesday night’s draw in Kyoto, where the Wallabies face the prospect of landing in the same pool as two of their Rugby Championship and 2015 semi-final rivals.

The second band of seeds is Scotland, Wales, South Africa and France, while the third contains risky floaters in Argentina, the 2015 semi-finalists, Georgia, Italy and hosts Japan.

The ninth Rugby World Cup, the first in Asia, takes place from September 20 to November 2, 2019.

New Zealand, who will be bidding for a hat-trick of titles in 2019, face fellow southern hemisphere power South Africa and Italy in Pool B, while hosts Japan will take on Ireland and Scotland in Pool A.

“So we need to change and get better so we can win those seven games in a row when the time comes”.

The pool of death is C with England, France and Argentina grouped together.

Australia and Wales meet again but this time the lack of a third strong Tier One nation will ease the minds of Michael Cheika and Warren Gatland.

Wales have been drawn against Australia for the second successive World Cup, with Georgia also in Pool D.

Another eight teams from Oceania, Europe, the Americas and Africa will be added after qualifying, with 10th-ranked Fiji, Tonga and Samoa among the leading contenders.

Reigning champions New Zealand face South Africa and Italy in Pool B with head coach Steve Hansen insisting there are a number of credible challengers to the All Blacks’ crown.

“We have to finish in the first two to qualify, and if we happen to qualify, we could play Japan and it would be a historic moment”.

Kenya-who will face off with Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Senegal for the sole African ticket-will not avoid New Zealand, Italy, South Africa and the repechage victor if they sail through. Pool D victor v Pool C runner-up 4.

Live Streaming (across the world): Rugby World Cup website.

While they also have had three meetings with Japan in the past two years, after beating them in their pool opener in 2015, Scotland won a two-test series in Japan 2-0 in 2016.

That price makes them fourth favourites, just behind shots Australia. Ireland go into Pool A as the top seed but did lose to Scotland during the recent Six Nations. The Welsh, potential quarter-final opponents for England, can be backed at to win the tournament.

This year, England are the second seeds, only behind New Zealand, who, as the defending champions and the best side in the world, are naturally the top seeds.