All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has called the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw “crazy”. New Zealand could face defending champions South Africa in a quarter-final in Australia.
The All Blacks and the Springboks could meet in the last eight if both teams come through their pools as expected. The winner of that match could then play France in the semi-finals.
“Just highlights a crazy draw. You look at the Football World Cup and the top four ranked sides in the world play each other in the semis, and it seems hard to believe that you have got us pitted against South Africa potentially in a quarter-final, and the winner of that plays France,” Rennie said.
Rennie made the comments when he named his team for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies. The match will be played in Sydney on Saturday.
He compared the rugby draw with football’s World Cup. In football, the top sides can often avoid each other until the later rounds of the tournament.
New Zealand’s World Cup pool game against Australia could decide which of the two teams meets the Springboks in the knockout stage. Rennie joked about that game with the media. “Might be a nil-all at full time,” he said.
He also said his team would have to accept the path in front of it. “But, you know, I mean, it is what it is now. It was probably similar to the World Cup before, so to win a title, you have got to beat them all anyway. That’s the path in front of us,” Rennie said.
The All Blacks kept the Bledisloe Cup last Saturday after a 52-19 win over Australia. Rennie made eight changes to his side for the second Test.
He said picking the team was easier this time. “It was a bit easier, but there was a couple of tight positions where we thought we’d make changes in those spots, and there were a couple of injuries,” Rennie said.
“Last week was a big week, with it being our first game back on New Zealand soil after a long tour away and the Bledisloe Cup on the line. We put in a performance befitting the occasion. Now we need to back that performance up,” he said.
“With the Bledisloe secured and the record at Eden Park, we must ensure we do justice to the jersey. We still want to be better,” Rennie added.
Hooker Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks. Beauden Barrett starts at fullback, with Will Jordan and Josh Moorby on the wings. Damian McKenzie and Cam Roigard form the halfback pair.
Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea start in the centres. Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland are the locks, while Wallace Sititi plays at number eight. Rieko Ioane and Shannon Frizell are among the replacements.
Australia will field a couple of inexperienced players. Harry Wilson will captain the Wallabies from number eight, with Declan Meredith at flyhalf and Ryan Lonergan at scrumhalf.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Isaac Henry start in the Australian midfield. Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini are in the loose trio, and Tom Wright plays at fullback.
The second Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia and New Zealand takes place in Sydney on Saturday.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.