The Springboks are striving to finish as high as possible before the group draws are done at the end of the year.
The Springboks currently occupy top spot in the latest World Rugby Rankings.
Meanwhile, New Zealand is closing the gap in second with Ireland (third) and France (fourth) closely behind. England (fifth) and Australia (sixth) are the other sides currently rounding off the top six.
The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw is set to take place in December this year. So, all 24 nations will be striving to win as many games as possible to climb up the rankings to ensure ‘easier’ group stages.
SIX TOP SEEDS – AS IT STANDS
The Springboks (South Africa), New Zealand (the All Blacks), Ireland and France are currently set to be one of the top seeds for the RWC draw in December. They occupy the traditional top seeds positions (the sides ranked first to fourth).
However, the 2027 RWC is set to have six groups. Meaning, there will be six top seeds.
As things stand, these sides will avoid each other in the group stages.
Here’s where things get interesting… Australia are the host nation.
So, they are automatically placed into the top seeds irrespective of their final world rankings at the end of the year. This places more pressure on the likes of England (fifth), Argentina (seventh) and Scotland (eighth) who will all be trying to avoid the group of death.
SPRINGBOKS LIKELY 2027 RUGBY WORLD CUP OPPONENTS
The top six sides cannot face each other as they are going to be drawn from a different pot.
Ultimately, six pots of each consisting of four teams will be drawn. With one team per pot drawn to make up each group.
Therefore, as things stand the Springboks would be drawn alongside Argentina/ Scotland/ Fiji/Italy/Georgia/Wales.
They will be joined by Japan/Portugal/Spain/. As well as South America 1*/Samoa/Tonga/USA/Canada – three of these four will qualify. Whilst the fourth is set for a decisive qualifier against the South American runners-up.
Finally, Romania, Zimbabwe/ Hong Kong/ Namibia and the winner of the South American-Pacific play-off will be the final pot.
*The South Americans are currently fighting to join Argentina as the second South American side to qualify for the 2027 RWC. The Sudamérica Rugby Championship final is set to take place between Chile and Uruguay with the winner booking their spot in Australia.
Meanwhile, the fifth-placed Pacific/Asain side will contest a South America/Pacific play-off against the runners up of the Sudamérica Rugby Championship. Meaning, the top three sides in the 2025 Pacific Nations cup, outside of Fiji, Japan will contest this decider.
WHICH THREE TEAMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DRAWN ALONGSIDE THE SPRINGBOKS IN THE 2027 RUGBY WORLD CUP?
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