All Blacks coach Dave Rennie dismayed at ‘crazy’ Rugby World Cup draw

What happened

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has expressed dismay at the Rugby World Cup draw for next year. If likely results play out early in the tournament, New Zealand will meet South Africa's Springboks in the quarter-finals, eliminating one of the two best teams in the world before the final four. Rennie compared the bracket unfavourably to football's World Cup, where the top four ranked teams meet in the semi-finals. The same pattern occurred at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, when France, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand all met in the quarters. The draw also sees Australia and New Zealand clash in pool play for the first time. Rennie acknowledged that winning a title means beating all opponents anyway. The All Blacks play Australia in a dead-rubber Bledisloe test in Sydney this weekend, with their World Cup campaign opening against Chile on October 2. Damian McKenzie has been named at first five again after an impressive display in Auckland.

Key facts

• All Blacks face Springboks potentially in quarter-finals of next year's Rugby World Cup
• 2023 World Cup saw France, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand all meet in quarters
• All Blacks play Australia in pool play for first time at World Cup
• All Blacks open World Cup campaign against Chile on October 2

What happens next

All Blacks play Australia in Sydney this weekend; All Blacks open World Cup against Chile on October 2.

Primary source: Rugby World Cup draw

Covered byStuff1NewsOtago Daily TimesNot covered byRNZNZ HeraldNewstalk ZBNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz

Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.

What outlets are saying