Dave Rennie Calls 2027 Rugby World Cup Draw 'Crazy' Over Springboks Quarter-Final Risk
- All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie publicly questioned the structure of the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw after it was released
- New Zealand could face defending champions South Africa in the quarter-finals, with France potentially waiting in the semis
- Rennie made the remarks during his team announcement ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney
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All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has voiced strong concern over the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, describing it as "crazy" after it emerged that New Zealand could face defending champions South Africa as early as the quarter-finals.
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Rennie raised the issue during his team announcement ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday, 18 October 2026. He pointed out that the bracket could pit three of the world's top teams against each other before the semi-finals even begin.
A brutal path to the final
Should both sides advance as expected from their respective pools, the Springboks and All Blacks would meet in the last eight at the tournament in Australia. The winner would then likely face France in the semi-finals, creating what Rennie described as an extraordinarily demanding route to the Webb Ellis Cup.
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Rennie drew a pointed comparison with football's showpiece event, noting that FIFA's World Cup structure typically ensures the top-ranked nations only converge at the final stages.
He also joked about the possibility of a scoreless draw with Australia in their pool fixture, a result that could ultimately determine which side faces the Springboks in the knockouts.
Watch the interview in the post below on X.
Eight changes for Sydney Test
Rennie made eight changes to his starting XV for the Sydney clash, though he noted the selection process was more straightforward than usual. A couple of tight positional calls and injury considerations shaped the revised line-up.
The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup last Saturday following a 52-19 victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park, and Rennie stressed the need to maintain standards despite the silverware already being secured.
Australia will field several inexperienced players in Sydney, a factor that may further favour the visitors heading into the fixture.
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Source: Briefly News
