Springboks in Rugby World Cup Group of Death? Stats say YES
The Springboks will have their work cut out for them at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France – or face an early flight home.
The Springboks will have their work cut out for them at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France – or face an early flight home.
South Africa have never failed to progress from their group at any World Cup tournament since 1995.
However, Pool B is shaping up to be a test for Jacques Nienaber’s men, despite their trouncing of the All Blacks last Friday night.
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Much has been written about the timing of the draw of the four pools, and World Rugby has taken note and will conduct future draws closer to the tournament rather than 12 months out.
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A look at the current world rankings for each of the 20 teams competing in France makes for interesting reading.
The sum total of the rankings of the five teams in Pool B is 42, making it ‘officially’ the Group of Death.
Pool C totals 53, while Pool A’s sum equals 58.
Pool D at 62 is arguably the ‘easiest’.
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RUGBY WORLD CUP POOLS AND WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
POOL A
| Country | Rank |
| New Zealand | 4 |
| France | 3 |
| Italy | 13 |
| Uruguay | 17 |
| Namibia | 21 |
| TOTAL | 58 |
POOL B
| Country | Rank |
| Ireland | 1 |
| South Africa | 2 |
| Scotland | 5 |
| Tonga | 15 |
| Romania | 19 |
| TOTAL | 42 |
POOL C
| Country | Rank |
| Australia | 9 |
| Wales | 10 |
| Fiji | 7 |
| Georgia | 11 |
| Portugal | 16 |
| TOTAL | 53 |
POOL D
| Country | Rank |
| England | 6 |
| Argentina | 8 |
| Samoa | 12 |
| Japan | 14 |
| Chile | 22 |
| TOTAL | 62 |
SPRINGBOKS’ POOL B FIXTURES
As times SA
Sunday, 10 September – South Africa v Scotland, Stade de Marseille, Marseille – 17:45
Sunday, 17 September – South Africa v Romania, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux – 15:00
Saturday, 23 September – South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France, Saint-Denis – 21:00
Sunday, 1 October – South Africa v Tonga, Stade de Marseille, Marseille – 21:00
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