Springboks set for intriguing 2027 Rugby World Cup pool draw despite top ranking

The Springboks will find out on Wednesday if their No 1 status in the world will carry weight for their pool draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Despite sitting comfortably at the top with over 3% rating points separating them and New Zealand in second, the defending champions enter the draw knowing that reputation alone won’t guarantee a smooth path at the tournament Down Under.

Coming off an unbeaten November tour, where they again underlined their strength and depth ahead of the tournament, and finishing on an 86.7% win record this season, losing only two from 14 Tests, the Boks will have a massive target on their backs going forward.

They defeated Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in Europe in an excellent display of their power, precision, even in adversity, game management and the large player pool under head coach Rassie Erasmus. They also equalled the record for the most tries in a season with 81 (set in 2007 in a 17-Test programme), achieving a record average of 5.78 tries per Test.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander lauded the Boks – who returned home on Monday after – for their resilience, discipline and teamwork.

“We salute the coaches, management and every player for the role you have played in strengthening the Springbok legacy,” he said on the official Springboks website.

“Your efforts have elevated South Africa’s standing on the global stage and reminded us all of the power of rugby and sport to bring people together. This not only defines our rugby heritage, but it’s a reminder that the Springbok jersey represents more than sport; it embodies unity, hope and the pride of our people.”

While certain teams would want to avoid them in the pool draw, others will lick their lips at the prospect of meeting the current holders in the group stages.

The unique seeding format for 2027 means that even the best teams in the world could be navigating tough groups in the competition.

While the Springboks will be seeded in the top band, they could still face hosts Australia in the second band. The Wallabies, who are confirmed in Pool A as host nation and will contest the opening game, are currently rebuilding and will be desperate to deliver in front of home crowds when the tournament arrives.

There is also the possibility of drawing Scotland from band 2. They are a side whose high-tempo, attacking style and physical forwards have troubled several top teams in recent years.

With one of these two a possibility in the group stages, the tournament could take on another dimension for the Boks. But the real wildcard could be Samoa, whose blend of physicality, flair, and unpredictability makes them one of the most dangerous teams outside the traditional powerhouses.

A pool containing South Africa, Australia or Scotland, and Tonga and Samoa would instantly be dubbed the “Group of Death,” adding early drama to a tournament still two years away.

For the Boks, though, tough draws are nothing new.

Their last two World Cup titles have come through grit, precision, and a willingness to embrace pressure rather than avoid it. In the two tournaments in 2019 and 2023, losses in the pool stages did not really set them back.

They went on to defy the odds to claim victories in all the other matches to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

Should it come down to that, another tough pool will only fuel the Springboks’ charge again. Whether the draw is kind or ruthless on Wednesday, South Africa will back their depth, experience, and championship DNA to try and pull off another stunning display.