Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE captain Hilton Mudariki yesterday put up a brave face as his Sables were handed a tough 2027 Rugby World Cup draw in which they will clash against global giants England.
The Sables, marking a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage after a 34-year absence, were the first name out of the pot after which they were placed in Pool F alongside England, Wales and Tonga during yesterday’s World Cup draw held in Sydney, Australia.
While the global perspective could be fixated on the looming showdown between England and Wales, the Sables will relish their own clash against the Three Lions.
England are favourites for Pool F but another potentially exciting duel will pit Zimbabwe against Tonga.
The pair of England and Wales famously met at the same stage in the 2015 tournament, with a Welsh victory at Twickenham contributing to hosts England’s early exit.
While yesterday’s draw would be an intimidating one on paper, Mudariki refused to rule out the possibility of causing some upsets.
“It’s super exciting that the piece is finally out, I think there’s been a long wait and anticipation for the actual draw,” said Mudariki.
“I think everyone is just really excited that the group is finally out and that we now know who will be playing at the World Cup.
“It is definitely a tough group as England are a quality team.
“They have shown that this year, beating Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
“They are a top team and doing very well, so it will be really a nice challenge for us.
“Wales have been struggling a little bit in recent years, but we know that they are a quality team. They recently played in a World Cup semi-final in 2019, so we know what they can do.
“Tonga will come with physicality as they are big, physical men.
“We are excited for the challenge and will definitely put our best foot forward.
“We definitely don’t want to be at the World Cup just to make the numbers but we want to compete.
“Upsets have happened at the Rugby World Cup, and Zimbabwe can’t go to a World Cup without an upset or two in them. We will be working very hard to put our best foot forward and hopefully get a couple of results,” he said.
Among the other tantalising match-ups from yesterday’s draw is the Ireland against Scotland match-up, which will be a repeat of their 2023 pairing in France.
At that tournament, Ireland won 36-14, and Scotland failed to progress to the knock-out stages.
Uruguay and Portugal, who both impressed as underdogs in France, complete Pool D.
Neither Pool D nor Pool F’s winners can meet the holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.
If the pools play out according to the world rankings, New Zealand and France, leading contenders for the trophy, would also be kept apart from England and Ireland until the final.
Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on England and Ireland’s side of the knockout draw in that hypothetical situation.
Despite their current wretched run of form, with just two wins in 22 Tests over the past two years, Wales have a great chance of progressing as Pool F runners-up at the very least, with Tonga, the lowest-ranked team in band three of the draw, and Zimbabwe, making their first appearance at the tournament since 1991, also in their group.
According to the draw, Pool F’s runners-up will face a last-16 knock-out tie against the runners-up of Pool C, which includes Argentina, Fiji, Canada and Spain.
Should Scotland finish second behind Ireland in their pool, a meeting against France would most likely be their reward.
Hosts Australia have been drawn together with trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.
The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1, 2027, with the full fixture list to be revealed in February.
And it is Pool A, that many believe will be the Group of Death.
“All groups are tough, as I believe that everyone who is participating in the World Cup has done their part and are deserving of being at a World Cup.
“However, if I had to pick out one, then the one with Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Hong Kong will be a very interesting one.
“I would probably say that one is the most interesting and toughest of all the groups,” added Mudariki.
World champions South Africa, have been drawn up against Italy, Georgia and Romania in their pool, while France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the US and Samoa.
The tournament has been expanded to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France in 2023, with a last-16 knock-out rounds included for the first time. While the winner of Pool F, may have been kept apart from some of the Test game’s biggest beasts, they will have to face the runners-up from Pool B — with Italy the potential candidates — in a round of 16 clash.
Four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.
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