Wales face a big opener vs Argentina but have a strong chance to top this pool. Samoa adds intrigue as the dark horse.
England’s impressive 25-7 win over Australia at Twickenham has propelled them up the World Rugby Rankings, but the shift could actually leave Steve Borthwick’s men facing a
tougher draw when the 2027 Rugby World Cup groups are announced this December.
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ENGLAND ON THE RISE
After a dominant defensive display and clinical finishing, England have leapfrogged France to move into fourth placein the world rankings. The Wallabies, meanwhile, slip to seventh after a bruising defeat in London.
The All Blacks remain second after overturning a 10-point deficit to beat Ireland 26-13 in Chicago, closing the gap slightly on world champions South Africa, who stay top despite earning no ranking points from their 61-7 rout of Japan due to the large gulf in rankings.
UPDATED WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
1️⃣ South Africa – 92.20
2️⃣ New Zealand – 91.00 (+0.98)
3️⃣ Ireland – 88.85 (-0.98)
4️⃣ England – 88.04 (+0.40) ⬆️
5️⃣ France – 87.82 ⬇️
6️⃣ Argentina – 83.82
7️⃣ Australia – 82.90 (-0.40)
8️⃣ Scotland – 81.57
9️⃣ Fiji – 81.16
10️⃣ Italy – 77.77
11️⃣ Georgia – 74.69
12️⃣ Wales – 74.05
13️⃣ Japan – 73.25
14️⃣ Spain – 69.12
15️⃣ USA – 67.40
2️⃣ New Zealand – 91.00 (+0.98)
3️⃣ Ireland – 88.85 (-0.98)
4️⃣ England – 88.04 (+0.40) ⬆️
5️⃣ France – 87.82 ⬇️
6️⃣ Argentina – 83.82
7️⃣ Australia – 82.90 (-0.40)
8️⃣ Scotland – 81.57
9️⃣ Fiji – 81.16
10️⃣ Italy – 77.77
11️⃣ Georgia – 74.69
12️⃣ Wales – 74.05
13️⃣ Japan – 73.25
14️⃣ Spain – 69.12
15️⃣ USA – 67.40
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 DRAW: DATE & FORMAT
Organisers have confirmed the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw will take place on 3 December 2025, with a new six-pool format officially locked in.
But here’s the catch — England’s rise to Band 1 could see them drawn into a more dangerous group, with potential clashes against heavyweights like Italy, Tonga, or even a resurgent Fiji.
Below is a projected draw based on the current rankings ?
2027 Rugby World Cup draw
Pool A – “The Powerhouse Pool”
South Africa (Band 1) — Reigning World Champions, famed for their physical dominance and tactical brilliance.
Australia (Band 2) — Rugby hosts with a rich history and a passionate home crowd.
Japan (Band 3) — High-paced attackers who stunned the world in 2019.
Portugal (Band 4) — Rising force in European rugby, known for their scrappy determination.
? Storyline: South Africa vs Australia could be a World Cup final preview — Portugal and Japan will battle for third place.
Pool B – “The Six Nations Clash”
Ireland (Band 1) — Consistently at the top of world rugby, masters of strategic play.
Scotland (Band 2) — Brave and battle-hardened, with a history of giant-killing performances.
Spain (Band 3) — Emerging side bringing flair and unpredictability.
Romania (Band 4) — Rugby stalwarts with physical forward packs.
? Storyline: Ireland and Scotland renew their rivalry in a high-stakes pool. Spain could cause an upset.
Pool C – “The Wild Card Pool”
New Zealand (Band 1) — The All Blacks, rugby royalty with speed, skill, and killer instinct.
Fiji (Band 2) — Fijian flair and athleticism make them dangerous in any matchup.
USA (Band 3) — Big, athletic squad with growing ambitions.
Hong Kong China (Band 4) — Developing team looking to make an impact on the world stage.
? Storyline: Expect fireworks between New Zealand and Fiji; USA and Hong Kong will battle for the third spot.
Pool D – “The European Throwdown”
England (Band 1) — Powerful, well-drilled side with a deep tactical playbook.
Italy (Band 2) — Tough, resilient side with big scrummaging power.
Tonga (Band 3) — Physical, passionate, unpredictable warriors.
Canada (Band 4) — Experienced team, looking to build consistency.
? Storyline: England should lead this pool, but Tonga’s unpredictability makes this one dangerous.
Pool E – “The Battleground of Grit”
France (Band 1) — World Cup hosts in 2023, dynamic attackers, crowd favourites.
Georgia (Band 2) — Known for a dominant forward pack and fierce defence.
Uruguay (Band 3) — South American fighters with resilience to match their passion.
Zimbabwe (Band 4) — Underdogs aiming to shock the world.
? Storyline: France's depth makes them favourites, but Georgia could make it interesting.
Pool F – “The Wales Challenge”
Argentina (Band 1) — Tough, skilled, and battle-tested with World Cup pedigree.
Wales (Band 2) — Six Nations contenders with a blend of power and precision.
Chile (Band 3) — South American dark horse making their mark.
Samoa (Band 4) — Fierce underdogs with a proud history and attacking flair.
? Storyline:
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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