World Rugby Criticised Over 2027 World Cup Draw As Springboks or All Blacks Face Quarter-Final Exit
- The Springboks and All Blacks could be drawn into a huge Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash in Australia
- The potential meeting has raised fresh questions about the knockout pathway and the way World Rugby structured the draw
- A blockbuster rivalry could take another dramatic turn before the tournament reaches its decisive stages
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World Rugby is facing criticism over a 2027 Rugby World Cup draw that could send either the Springboks or All Blacks home in the quarter-finals.
If both sides win their pools and then negotiate the new Round of 16, they are on course to meet in the last eight. New Zealand were drawn in Pool A with Australia, Chile and Hong Kong China, while South Africa landed in Pool B alongside Italy, Georgia and Romania.
That means the winner of a potential quarter-final would continue towards the Webb Ellis Cup, while the loser would be eliminated.
World Rugby faces criticism over draw
The prospect has attracted criticism because South Africa and New Zealand are currently among the world's leading teams and have produced some of rugby's biggest World Cup encounters.
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Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett was particularly blunt when discussing the possible meeting.
“It’s scandalous; it’s not a pity,” Mallett said as reported by Planet Rugby.
This was after Victor Matfield described the potential quarter-final as “a pity”.
Matfield added:
“It’s the two best teams in the world; they should get to a final if they win all the games.”
Why the 2027 World Cup format matters
The 2027 tournament has expanded to 24 teams, with a Round of 16 introduced before the quarter-finals. World Rugby says the new format was designed to create more knockout rugby while maintaining player welfare.
World Rugby has also defended the draw principles, saying the seeding system was established in advance and that everyone knew how the rankings would affect the pools.
Planet Rugby, however, argues that the structure risks removing the tournament's biggest potential fixture before the final.
The scenario is not guaranteed. The teams must first top their pools and win their Round of 16 matches.
But if the expected results unfold, one of the Springboks or All Blacks will be eliminated in the 2027 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
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Dave Rennie 'cheating' video resurfaces ahead of Springboks-All Blacks World Cup row
Briefly News previously reported that an old Dave Rennie training video resurfaced online as the All Blacks prepared for their fourth Test against the Springboks in Baltimore.
The footage showed Rennie giving breakdown instructions during his Wallabies tenure, including telling players to “drop the shoulder” when cleaning out opponents. Its timing attracted attention amid the ongoing debate over breakdown and scrum tactics between the two rugby giants.
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Source: Briefly News
