Champs brace for WC draw

TWO years out from the next Rugby World Cup, the bookies have the Springboks as hot favourites to defend their title once more, but that will not mean coach Rassie Erasmus will be holding thumbs when the pool draw is made in Sydney at 11am today.

- BY MIKE GREENAWAY

The five teams the Boks cannot be drawn against are fellow Band 1 members, thanks to their finish on the 2025 World Rugby Rankings: New Zealand, England, Ireland, France and Argentina. Teams fill into the six pools as each round of draws is made under each pool leader.