Ireland drawn with World Champions and Scotland for 2023 RWC

The draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has been mad with Andy Farrell’s Ireland side drawn with the current World Champions, South Africa.

Joining them in Pool B is Scotland and a qualifier from each of Europe and Asia/Pacific.

The competition will be held in France from September 8 to October 23 in 2023.

When they last met in 2017, Ireland beat the Springboks 38-3 in the Aviva but the appointment of former Munster Head Coach Rassie Erasmus turned their fortunes as they would o on to win the World Cup 24-months later.

Ireland beat Scotland in the Six Nations and the Autumn Nations cup this calendar year. They also beat the Scots in the Pool stages of the 2019 tournament.

Six Nations rivals France and Italy will face New Zealand in Pool 1. Wales are paired with Australia and Fiji in Pool 3. England are drawn in Pool 4 with Japan and Argentina.

Such is the layout of the draw, Ireland are likely to face either France or New Zealand should they advance.

Ireland are yet to reach a World Cup semi-final, falling at the quarter-final stage to New Zealand in the 2019 edition, Argentina in 2015 and Wales in 2011.