We read pundits talking about building towards the next Rugby World Cup in 2015. This also often has them saying that teams do not necessarily need to win but must get onto a development curve. Well in fact winning match’s is more important than many think as the seeding for the next World Cup will be built around the IRB rankings of the 12 automatic qualifiers from Rugby World Cup 2011. These teams will be “drawn into three bands according to their IRB World Rankings at the end of the autumn internationals in Europe, with each band then being drawn across the four pools”. So if we look at the state of play prior to the Six Nations the banding’s would be: New Zealand, Australia, France and South Africa would form band one, England, Ireland, Argentina and Wales band two and Tonga, Samoa, Scotland and Italy band three.
The top nations will be playing 10 or more internationals over the next 10 months so there is plenty of opportunity for movement among the 12 automatic qualifiers for RWC 2015, after the first couple of games Italy and Scotland are playing catch-up after a losing start to the Six Nations. Whilst England and France enhanced their positions.
France look in a good position to cement their place and England must build on their surprising win away. It will not be easy as they play Italy away and they are no walk overs in Rome. Whilst Ireland and Wales have to build on their last campaigns.
We will report further at the end of the Six Nations in March. But as we said no easy games and winning is important to the exciting Cup in England 2015.
