2021 World Cup Draw Announced – Canada v USA in Pool B; Canadian Coached Japan Likely to Land in Pool B
The pool draw for RWC 2021 was made yesterday and Canada have found themselves in Pool B with North American rivals USA. In RWC 2017 the USA made it through to the final group of four based on bonus points. Canada finished 5th. Both teams had a 2-1 record and both came second in their pool to the eventual finalists, New Zealand and England. That year the format was the top 3 in each pool plus the best 2nd place would go to the final 4.
This World Cup the format is purported to be different, with the top two teams in each pool, plus the best two 3rd place teams going into the quarter-finals. Canada and USA should advance as the top two in Pool B. The other teams in the pool aren’t set yet and will be Europe 1 and Asia 1. Europe 1 will likely come down to Ireland or Italy and Asia 1 as Japan or Hong Kong. Our bet at this time is Ireland and Japan will join Canada and USA in Pool B.
Pool A features New Zealand and Australia as the two teams likely advancing to the QF with Wales trying to get a best 3rd place finish. The repechage winner will also be in this pool.
Pool C will feature England and France as likely advancing to the QF with South Africa and Fiji battling it out for a best 3rd spot. Depending on how the Canada v USA match goes we’re predicting Canada will have to go through either Australia or France in the QFs.
Another interesting twist in Canada’s pool is that if Japan qualify as Asia 1 then they’ll be up against a Canadian coach in Lesley McKenzie. Robin MacDowell and some other guy (just kidding Dallen Stanford) recently interviewed Lesley in their Rugby Hive podcast, embedded below.
Rugby Hive Interview with Lesley McKenzie.
The tournament runs from September 18 to October 16 in New Zealand.